Our role:
- We regulate and oversee select child‑related organisations and certain employers of children to keep children safe
- We administer worker screening checks to identify those who should be prevented from working with children and people with disability
- We ensure out-of-home care agencies meet essential standards in relation to the care they provide
- We have the responsibility to be a leading authority on child safety, shaping NSW and Australian policy and practice.
Our hope for the future
Children, and people with disability, are safe
Our purpose
We work with others to keep children, and people with disability, safe in NSW
Our priority areas
- Being a model administrator and oversight body
- Increasing awareness of, and building capability in, Child Safe practice
- Shaping policy and practice
- Improving First Nations outcomes
- Enhancing internal collaborative practice
- Supporting our people
Read more about Our strategy 2024-27 (PDF, 339.05KB).
Our work is guided by comprehensive policies and procedures.
Our values
Open allWe are guided by our values of integrity, trust, service, accountability, respect and empathy.
- Integrity
We act with honesty and transparency with each other and the individuals and organisations we serve.
- Trust
We work together as one team for each other and the individuals and organisations we serve.
- Service
We are easy to engage with for each other and the individuals and organisations we interact with in creating child-safe organisations.
- Accountability
We are accountable for our own actions, transparent in our decisions and authentic in our behaviour.
- Respect
We respect ourselves, each other and the individuals and organisations we serve.
- Empathy
We listen with care to understand perspectives with each other and the individuals and organisations we serve.
Ethics and Conduct
All employees must also comply with the Code of Ethics and Conduct. Our Business Ethics Statement guides commercial partners and suppliers on how to work with us.
Children's Guardian and leadership team
Steve Kinmond OAM is Children's Guardian in NSW.
Before taking up the position on 16 January 2023, Steve was CEO of the Association of Children’s Welfare Agencies (ACWA) and before that was Deputy Ombudsman in NSW.
The Office of the Children's Guardian is made up of business units that deliver services to the people of NSW.
The leadership team is:
- Steve Kinmond, Children's Guardian
- Larissa Johnson, Director, OOHC Regulation
- Natasha Mewing, Director, Reportable Conduct
- Ricky Hennessey, Director, Reportable Conduct
- Michael Rosmalen, Director, NDIS Worker Check
- Steve Gholab, Director, Working with Children Check
- Sharminie Niles, General Counsel
- Ada Leung, Director, Corporate Services
- Melina Milojevic, Director, People and Culture
- Vanessa Ford, Director, Strategic Projects, Child Safe Organisations
- Nadine Woodward, Director, Strategic Projects, Child Safe Organisations
- Helen Price, Director, Strategic Projects, Child Safe Organisations
- Rosemary Gerardis, Director, Strategic Projects, Child Safe Organisations
- Leanne Kinsella, Director, Strategic Projects, Child Safe Organisations