Self-assessment tool empowers businesses to strengthen child safeguarding practices

The On Us coalition, led by the Australian Childhood Foundation, has launched a free, easy-to-use self-assessment tool to help businesses identify and address potential risks to children’s safety. Designed for organisations of all sizes and industries including those not working directly with children, the tool takes just 20 minutes to complete and provides a personalised report to guide meaningful action.

While many associate child safeguarding with education, health or social services, the reality is that businesses across all sectors can unintentionally expose children to harm through their operations, products, services, staff or supply chains. This tool supports a whole-of-community approach to child safety, aligned with national efforts to embed protective frameworks and promote a child-safe culture.

For early childhood education and care (ECEC) services, the tool complements existing obligations under the National Quality Framework (NQF) and supports services working towards a rating of Exceeding the National Quality Standard (NQS).

In particular, it reinforces the Exceeding themes of embedded practice, meaningful engagement, and reflective practice offering a practical opportunity to critically assess safeguarding processes and engage staff and stakeholders in continuous improvement.

ECEC services might also consider how their commitment to child safety could be extended through existing relationships with external businesses such as grocery suppliers, resource vendors, cleaning companies, IT providers or maintenance contractors etc.

Sharing the self-assessment tool with these partners could open up important conversations and encourage a shared approach to safeguarding.

It’s an opportunity to build child-safe principles into the broader network of businesses that support the day-to-day operations of a service, aligning with the intent of the Child Safe Standards and strengthening community-wide responsibility for children’s wellbeing.

The tool is also consistent with the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations, which align with the Child Safe Standards developed following the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. It enables businesses to take active steps toward meeting their duty of care to children and young people and demonstrates a commitment to building safer communities.

Whether you’re a small operator or a large organisation, this resource provides valuable insight into how your workplace can strengthen its child safety posture.

Access the tool and get your free report here.