Child Safety & Safeguarding Services in Victoria
We help Victorian organisations prevent, comply with, and respond to child safety and safeguarding challenges with expert legal support.
Access Expert Guidance
Legal expertise with up-to-date education allows your organisation to adeptly navigate mandatory reporting obligations.
Flexible Delivery
Comprehensive in-person and online training that suits your organisation’s budget, ensuring hassle-free compliance with mandatory training requirements.
Compliance Assurance
Stay ahead of mandatory reporting requirements with our training programs, guaranteeing that your organisation consistently meets compliance standards.
Your Free Consultation
We invite you to contact Safe Space Legal to book a free 30-minute consultation to discuss your orgainsation's safeguarding needs
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Understanding Your Child Safety Obligations In Victoria
Victoria has some of Australia’s most comprehensive child safety legislation. Following the Royal Commission, significant reforms have transformed how organisations must approach child safety and safeguarding. Key legislation includes the Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005 (establishing the Child Safe Standards), Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 (creating mandatory reporting obligations), and the Crimes Act 1958 (failure to disclose and protect offences).
Since July 2022, 11 Child Safe Standards apply across Victoria, requiring organisations to establish child safe cultures, embed safety in governance, empower children, engage families, implement equity principles, ensure suitable recruitment, provide training, maintain complaint processes, manage environments, implement recordkeeping, and foster continuous improvement.
Our Child Safety & Safeguarding Services in Victoria
Safe Space Legal offers comprehensive support across three key areas:
Prevention
We help Victorian organisations develop robust child safe systems through Child Safe Standards implementation, policy development, risk assessment, recruitment procedures, and governance support.
Compliance & Training
We provide expert guidance on Victorian mandatory reporting requirements and deliver comprehensive training for teachers, early childhood professionals, healthcare workers, and other mandated professionals. Our training covers recognising abuse indicators, reporting obligations, failure to disclose and protect offences, the Reportable Conduct Scheme, and creating child safe cultures.
Response
When child safety concerns emerge, we provide immediate incident response guidance, investigation support, Reportable Conduct Scheme navigation, regulatory response assistance, and crisis management to help your organisation respond appropriately and strengthen systems.
Victorian Sectors We Support
We work with organisations across all sectors including:
- Aged Care
- Children & Young People
- Disability
- Day Care Centres/Early Childhood
- Schools
- Out of Home/Youth Services
- Religious Organisations
- Sports and Recreation Associations
- Private Therapy and Counselling Practices
- Community Organisations
- Health Services
- NDIS Providers
- Government Organisations
Mandatory Reporting in Victoria
Victoria has specific mandatory reporting requirements for teachers, principals, medical practitioners, nurses, midwives, police officers, out-of-home care workers, youth justice workers, and registered psychologists. Our training ensures you understand when and how to report to Child Protection and Victoria Police.
The Reportable Conduct Scheme
The Reportable Conduct Scheme requires certain Victorian organisations to notify the Commission for Children and Young People about allegations of child abuse or misconduct involving their employees, volunteers, contractors, and office holders. Reportable allegations include sexual offences, sexual misconduct, physical violence, behaviour causing significant emotional or psychological harm, and significant neglect.
Organisations must investigate allegations and provide updates to the Commission. We help organisations navigate their notification obligations, conduct compliant investigations, and respond to Commission findings.
Our Services
Child Safety Policies
Developing child safety policies, procedures, codes of conduct, and complaints handling processes
Child Safety Investigations
Child safety investigations compliant with Reportable Conduct Schemes
Audits
Audits against Child Safety Standards with practical safeguarding advice
Child Safety Training
Tailored child safety training, including training compliant with the child safe standards and Ministerial Order 1359
Legal Advice
Expert safeguarding legal advice and representation for Early Childhood and Day Care Centres
Incident Management
Root cause analyses of critical child safety incidents and assistance with crisis management
Contact Information
Take the first step and schedule your free 30-minute consultation. We cater to organisations across Australia, providing in-person and online assistance tailored to your requirements. Get in touch today to learn more about how to get started with our Mandatory Reporting Training module.
Contact us
office@safespacelegal.com.au
We're here to help
Get started on strengthening your organisation's compliance and increasing your team's skills and knowledge with our Mandatory Reporting Training. Safe Space Legal invites you to connect with our team for a complimentary 30-minute consultation to discuss how our training can meet your organisation's needs.
Discover Frequently Asked Questions about Our Victorian Child Safety and Safeguarding Services
The 11 Victorian Child Safe Standards are mandatory requirements that apply to organisations working with children in Victoria. They create minimum standards for how organisations must prevent, identify, and respond to child abuse and create child safe cultures.
In Victoria, mandatory reporters include teachers, principals, registered medical practitioners, nurses, midwives, police officers, out-of-home care workers, youth justice workers, and registered psychologists. These professionals must report suspected child abuse to Child Protection.
The Reportable Conduct Scheme requires certain organisations to notify the Commission for Children and Young People of allegations of child abuse or misconduct involving their employees or volunteers, and to investigate these allegations. The scheme applies to schools, early childhood services, and many other organisations.
These are criminal offences under the Crimes Act 1958 (Vic). Failure to disclose requires any adult who forms a reasonable belief that a sexual offence has been committed against a child by an adult to report to police. Failure to protect requires people in positions of authority in organisations to protect children under 16 from sexual abuse by taking reasonable steps to reduce or remove a known risk.
The Child Safe Standards apply to most organisations that provide services to children in Victoria, including schools, early childhood services, sporting clubs, religious organisations, health services, and many others. If your organisation is registered or funded by government and works with children, you likely need to comply. We can help assess your obligations.
No. If you form a reasonable belief that a child has been abused, you must report to the appropriate authority immediately. For mandatory reporters, this means reporting to Child Protection and/or Victoria Police. Internal investigations should not delay reporting. The Reportable Conduct Scheme requires notification to the Commission within three business days of becoming aware of a reportable allegation.