Annual Statement of Compliance with the Commonwealth Child Safe Framework

Commitment to safety

The Director of National Parks (DNP) is committed to building a positive and proactive child safe culture to support child safety and wellbeing. It endeavours to ensure children and young people feel safe, supported and respected, and that their rights, needs and interests are met.

The DNP believes it is the shared responsibility of all employees who work within Parks Australia to keep children and young people safe, and commits to protecting and safeguarding children and young people by:

• creating policies and procedures to protect children and young people
• ensuring all staff are aware of the policies and procedures and abide by them
• creating conditions that reduce the likelihood of harm
• regularly undertaking a risk assessment of all child safety related risks, and acknowledging and managing any child safety incidents effectively
• undertaking requirements of the Commonwealth Child Safe Framework (the Framework)
• adopting and implementing the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations  (the National Principles).

Interaction with children and young people

The DNP, through Parks Australia, undertakes a number of activities that either directly or occasional involve children and young people. These include:

Direct

• Parks Australia endorsed events, stalls and exhibitions where children and young people may visit stands, displays and booths.
• Parks Australia endorsed events whereby children and young people may visit workplaces.
• Parents occasionally bring children and young people onto Parks Australia premises for short periods while working. For example, to use the carers room between end of school hours and end of work hours.
• National Park school group visits, work placements, student-based apprenticeships, group tours, lost children, first responders to emergencies, junior rangers, incidental interaction with children while performing work duties.
• School/educational institution visits, community events and expos to discuss Parks Australia work.

Occasional

• Staff may have indirect contact with children and young people whilst assisting with security implications or employees working arrangements.
• Christmas parties and team building events where children and young people may attend.

Risk assessment and mitigations

The DNP has completed its annual child safe risk assessment for the period commencing 31 October 2023.  The assessment determined our level of risk to be medium.

The key risk to child safety identified in the risk assessment is injury to a child whilst involved in any of the activities noted under ‘interactions with children and young people’ within this statement. The consequences include:

• physical injury or abuse
• psychological/emotional abuse
• neglect
• lack of cultural respect, racism or other vilification
• exposing child to or involving them in sexual acts, direct or indirect sexual exploitation and/or grooming
• reputational damage
• other crimes committed.

The DNP has undertaken measures to address and mitigate these risks.

Compliance with the Framework and future improvements

There are four core requirements under the Framework:

1. Undertake risk assessments annually in relation to activities of the entity, to identify the level of responsibility for, and contact with, children, evaluate risks to child safety, and put in place appropriate strategies to manage identified risks.
2. Establish and maintain a system of training and compliance, to make staff aware of, and comply with, the Framework and relevant legislation, including Working with Children Checks (WWCCs) / Working with Vulnerable People (WWVP) Checks and mandatory reporting requirements.
3. Adopt and implement the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations.
4. Publish an annual statement of compliance with the Framework, including an overview of the entity’s child safety risk assessment (conducted under Requirement 1).

The DNP, through Parks Australia is committed to exercising continuous efforts to be a child safe organisation through implementation of the Framework. Compliance with Requirements 1 and 4 of the Framework has been demonstrated by completing the 2023 Annual risk assessment and publicising this Statement of Compliance on the Parks Australia internet page.

Over the past 12-months, the DNP, through Parks Australia:

• reviewed and promoted the department’s ‘Working with Children and Vulnerable People Policy’ (and other child safety related policies) to ensure alignment with the Framework
• distributed communications aimed at supporting greater awareness and understanding of our obligations under the Framework and promoting the department’s commitment
• included working with children training requirements in the Training Need Assessment for Parks Australia
• implemented a process within the department’s online recruitment system, eRecruit, to identify if a Working with Children Checks and Working with Vulnerable People Checks is a requirement for the role.

To ensure compliance with Requirement 2 and 3 of the Framework the DNP, through Parks Australia will undertake the following child safety measures and activities:

• continuing to improve staff awareness of the department’s Child Safety Policy and obligations
• reviewing internal systems to enhance processes relating to training and maintaining relevant checks
• ensuring child safe clauses are included in grants or procurement documents for funded third parties where required.

Sean Sullivan, Acting Director of National Parks