Key government agencies delivering action to keep children safe
The steering group that guides the progress of key NSW government agencies as they fulfil their responsibilities under the NSW Child Safe Scheme met for the second time this month: Steve’s update.
As I discussed in August, the Child Safe Scheme provides a rigorous regulatory focus for identified government service-providers.
These prescribed agencies must complete, and deliver on, Child Safe Action Plans to meet their requirements under the scheme.
The agencies are:
- Department of Communities and Justice
- Ministry of Health
- Department of Education (including the Early Childhood Education and Care Regulatory Authority)
- Office of Sport
- Office of Local Government
- Inspector of Custodial Services
- NSW Education Standards Authority.
Our August meeting, among other things, acknowledged the milestone that each agency had completed and published their action plan and were moving ahead with implementation.
During a November meeting, senior representatives of each agency discussed ways to develop consistent approaches to meeting their requirements for supporting the safety of children.
Our meetings are a chance for me to gather information from these agencies to help us maintain momentum for the implementation of the Child Safe Scheme across NSW.
These agencies also have organisations and services which they in turn regulate or oversee. So it’s vital that all actions, planning and reporting flow back through all service levels consistently and effectively.
With our next meeting set for early February, the group will meet again to discuss implementation progress, and to hear more about what NSW will be aiming to achieve throughout 2025.
In my last update for 2024 let me thank you for your interest and support throughout the year. And I wish you a happy and safe holiday season and a wonderful new year to come.
