CDPP Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy
The safety and wellbeing of children and young people is a priority for our leadership team and staff with particular emphasis in providing support for victims of child abuse crime. This policy is to be read in conjunction with our Victims of Crime Policy and is an essential resource for everyone in the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (CDPP).
As Australia’s Federal Prosecution Service, we have a significant role and responsibility for ensuring that all CDPP staff treat victims with courtesy, compassion, cultural sensitivity and respect for their dignity and entitlements. Ensuring the safety of children and respecting their rights underpins the important work of this Office.
The CDPP Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy acknowledges and demonstrates our commitment to the safety of children and young people. This policy is to be used by staff as a practical guide in ensuring that all child-related work with children and young people is conducted in a safe manner.
OUR COMMITMENT TO CHILD SAFETY
The CDPP is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people and has a zero-tolerance approach to child abuse. The CDPP recognises it is the shared responsibility of all individuals to promote the rights of children and young people in Australia and prevent child abuse.
The CDPP’s Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy is guided by the following considerations:
- Recognise children’s rights and interests;
- Build and maintain a child safe culture and environment;
- Ensure all staff are aware of and comply with relevant requirements; and
- Provide support and protection to staff who report incidents under this policy.
The CDPP aims to create and maintain a child safe organisation which:
- Empowers and values children and young people;
- Engages with families and the broader community in relation to child safety issues;
- Adopts and implements strategies to ensure the safety of children and young people; and
- Takes appropriate action to promote child safety and wellbeing at all levels of the CDPP.
The CDPP Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy articulates the CDPP’s commitment to upholding the ten National Principles for Child Safe Organisations. These principles were developed as a key national response to the recommendation of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse to make organisations safe for children. Our policy includes the actions that will be taken to meet these national principles. It provides clear guidance and demonstrates how the CDPP across its operations, will ensure children and young people’s safety and wellbeing and that they are protected from child abuse in the delivery of its prosecution services.