Royal Commission into Child Sex Abuse Looks at 'Child-Safe' Policy

By Pia Akerman
The Australian
August 8, 2013

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/royal-commission-into-child-sex-abuse-looks-at-child-safe-policy/story-e6frg6nf-1226693487523

THE Royal Commission examining child sex abuse has called for community input on how organisations can keep children safe.

The commission's third issues paper, released today, has declared a focus on 'child safe organisations' as the inquiry seeks to examine effective policies and procedures to protect children from sexual abuse.

"Conducting employment screening checks is only one aspect of keeping children safe from sexual abuse in institutions," the paper says.

"Good child safe policies and practices are needed to reduce potential risks and keep children safer in institutions."

The Royal Commission is specifically interested in whether there are essential core strategies which are needed to establish a 'child safe organisation' that protects children from sexual abuse, how the effectiveness of 'child safe' strategies can be tested, and how 'child safe' policies and procedures work in practice.

It is also looking at the role of governance and management leadership in creating and maintaining a 'child safe' organisational culture and whether there should be any additional enforceable requirements for institutions to maintain a 'child safe' environment.

Individuals, institutions, government and non-government organisations are invited to make their submissions by October 11.

The call for input comes a month after the Royal Commission issued its second issues paper asking victims who had participated in the Catholic Church's Towards Healing program to make submissions.

It specifically asked about the options for compensation, whether apologies were offered and any conditions including confidentiality agreements imposed.

The commission is due to prepare an interim report by no later than June 30 next year