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The Child Safety Commissioner

The Office of the Child Safety Commissioner is an organisation that makes children a priority. The Commissioner provides advice to both the Minister for Community Services and the Minister for Children on issues impacting on the lives of children, in particular vulnerable children. This is achieved through listening to children, advocating on their behalf, being impartial, leading on child-safe practices, acting with integrity, and being held accountable.

Our core functions include:

	Promoting child-safe environments
	Monitor Victoria’s out of home care system and promote a quality service system and effective mechanisms to address the needs of Victoria’s most vulnerable children who are in the care of the state
	Conduct inquiries into the deaths of children known to the child protection service system and into matters that relate to current and past child protection clients as referred by the Minister for Community Services
	Reviewing the administration of the Working with Children Act 2005 and educating and informing the community about the Act
	Providing advice to the Minister for Community Services

what we're currently doing
	Collaborating on a policy that will support children in care having suitable access to computers
	Evaluating the impact of a performance in schools about 'keeping safe and showing respect for others'
	The CREATE Foundation is preparing a final report on the Be.Heard survey conducted across the Southern Metro and Hume regions of Victoria in partnership with this office, that involved children talking about their experiences of living in care.
recently completed
	Finalised a draft Victorian Infant Safe Sleeping Policy, including minimum standards and practice guidelines for health and welfare practitioners working with infants and their families. For further information contact Dr Priscilla Seyfort on 86015817.
	In partnership with the West Heidelberg Community Legal Service, and the Law School of Latrobe University developed a legal resource for grandparents and relative carers - Legal resources for grandparents and carers , which is the third in a series of resources for grandparents and relative carers. The resource can be ordered online. A media release is attached. Media release - New Legal Resource for Grandparents and Relative Carers 24 July 09 (MS Word 307kb)
	A Statutory Declaration for Informal Carers to help grandparents, other relative carers and family members have their carer status recognised and gain better access services and information for children in their care. The new statutory declaration includes identification details of the carer and the child, and is to be signed by the carer and witnessed. An Information Booklet provides details of when and how to use the statutory declaration. Copies of the statutory declaration form and booklet are now available for download or they can be ordered for free.
	Co-hosted with DHS a forum: Kinship Care - making a difference. A two day forum held on 24-25 June for kinship carers and professionals. Papers presented are available.
	Hosted a debutante ball for children in care at the Melbourne Town Hall on Thursday 21 May, attended by 600 people. Featured on the front page of the Sunday Age on 24 May 2009.
	Hosted a young people's photo exhibition at The Atrium, Fed Square on Tuesday 10th Feb at 11 am
	Facilitated a public forum on FGM (Female Genital Mutilation) on 27 February 2009
	Finalised a research report with the Felton Chair re the impact of frequency of court-ordered access on infants
	Submissions
	National Human Rights Consultation [pdf, 32kb]
	Sentencing Advisory Council's discussion paper: Maximum penalities for sexual penetration with a child under 16
	Victorian Government's Vulnerable Youth Framework discussion paper
	Australian Government's Quality Standards & the Early Years Framework
	Victorian Government: Tobacco Control Strategy 2008-13
	Australian Government's paper - Australia's children: safe and well. A national framework for protecting Australia's children.
	Victorian Government's paper - Because Mental Health Matters: a new focus for mental health and wellbeing in Victoria.