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).
Read our mid-year business plan report. (PDF, 287.53KB)
Our work is guided by comprehensive policies and procedures.
Our values
We are guided by our values of integrity, trust, service, accountability, respect and empathy.
We act with honesty and transparency with each other and the individuals and organisations we serve.
We work together as one team for each other and the individuals and organisations we serve.
We are easy to engage with for each other and the individuals and organisations we interact with in creating child-safe organisations.
We are accountable for our own actions, transparent in our decisions and authentic in our behaviour.
We respect ourselves, each other and the individuals and organisations we serve.
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.
![Rachael Ward, Acting Children's Guardian]()
Children's Guardian and leadership team
Children's Guardian and leadership teamMs Rachael Ward is Acting Children’s Guardian while a Special Ministerial Inquiry is conducted into the Office of the Children’s Guardian.
Mr Steve Kinmond, who commenced as Children’s Guardian in January 2023, has agreed to step aside from that role for the duration of the inquiry.
Ms Ward has more than 23 years’ experience specialising in child protection law and is a member of the Children’s Court Advisory Committee. Most recently, Ms Ward served as Director of Child Law, Department of Communities and Justice.
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:
- Rachael Ward, Acting 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
- Jill Adams, Director, People and Culture
- Virginia Maguire, Director, Child Safe Organisations
- Leanne Kinsella, Director, Strategic Projects, Child Safe Organisations
