Child Safe Environments Policy

As Association and Driver Training Industry Members, we are committed to the safety and well-being of all children or young people accessing our services. The welfare of all children or young people in our care will always be our first priority.

In South Australia, the Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017 states organizations providing services to children and young people must provide child safe environments and must lodge a compliance statement with the Department of Human Services.

Child or young person means a person who is under 18 years of age.

“Organizations” in this context, includes (but is not limited to):

• coaching or tuition services for children;
• disability services for children
• commercial services provided directly to children (including recreational, entertainment, photographers and others)
• clubs and associations with a significant membership of children who provide sporting, recreational, cultural or artistic services or activities
• education services
• transport services for children
• any other service or activity declared by section 7 of the Child Safety (Prohibited Persons) Act 2016.

This includes state authorities, non-government organisations, sole traders and people working in partnerships.

Section 6 of the Child Safety (Prohibited Persons) Act 2016 tells you which organisations are included.

The main requirements to providing child safe environments include:

• have a child-safe environments policy /procedures in place and at a minimum, review them once every 5 years; Creating a policy | DHS
• meet Working with Children Check obligations, GOV.AU – Working with Children Checks; and
• lodge a child-safe environments compliance statement with the Department of Human Services and lodge a new statement each time policy/procedures are reviewed and updated. Child safe environment compliance (CSEC) statements | DHS

Lodging a compliance statement is free.

Industry members whom work with children under the age of 18 must ensure that they meet their legal obligations and lodge their Child Safe Environments Policy and Compliance Statement directly with DHS.

Failure to lodge a child safe environments compliance statement places organizations (including sole traders) at risk of a $10,000 fine (Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017 s.114(6)).

For further information or queries, contact DHS directly or visit their website.
Child Safe Environments Program

Department of Human Services
T: 1800 371 113  E: dhs.childsafe@sa.gov.au