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The Victorian Child Safe Standards Faith Communities Toolkit and Training Portal have been created to assist all Faith Communities in Victoria meet the legislative requirements for organisations that provide services to children.  

The Victorian Council of Churches (VCC,) in partnership with the National Council of Churches in Australia - Safe Church Program, have collaborated together to provide this toolkit and the Training Portal to ensure that all Faith Communities in Victoria have the opportunity to ensure that they are prepared to implement the Child Safe Standards in their Faith Community.

On 1 January 2017, all organisations that provide services are required to meet the seven Standards, incorporating three overarching principles:

• the cultural safety of Aboriginal children
• the cultural safety of children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds
• the safety of children with a disability

The seven standards are:

1. Standard 1: Strategies to embed an organisational culture of child safety, including through effective leadership arrangements
2. Standard2: A child safe policy or statement of commitment to child safety
3. Standard 3: A code of conduct that establishes clear expectations for appropriate behaviour with children
4. Standard 4: Screening, supervision, training and other human resources practices that reduce the risk of child abuse by new and existing personnel
5. Standard 5: Processes for responding to and reporting suspected child abuse
6. Standard 6: Strategies to identify and reduce or remove risks of child abuse
7. Standard 7: Strategies to promote the participation and empowerment of children

The Victorian Council of Churches (VCC) is pleased to partner with the Commission for Children and Young People in assisting faith based organisations to meet the Child Safe Standards by providing a range of faith-generic resources, tools and supports.

For more information about this Toolkit and the Training Portal, please contact VCC on (03) 9650 4511 or email vcc@vcc.org.au.

To access an online copy of the toolkit and Training Portal, please click here.