The attention of all organisations involved in delivering services to children and young people is drawn to this information sheet released by the Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women about key changes introduced in response to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (Royal Commission) aimed at improving access to justice for people who have experienced institutional child sexual abuse. This includes key changes to civil litigation processes in relation to institutional liability for child abuse. Organisations delivering services to children and young people need to be able to demonstrate all of the steps they have taken to keep children safe from abuse. Where an allegation of abuse has been made, the Civil Liability and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2019 sets out some of the things that would be taken into consideration by a court in looking at whether an institution took ‘all reasonable steps’ to prevent the abuse in question. One way that organisations can proactively improve their child safe culture and practices beyond compliance with existing obligations is to implement the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations. Find out more.
