DHS SA Child Safe Environments Program: Lodging your child safe compliance statement

Did you know that if you work with people under the age of 18 years, you are legally required to lodge a child safe environments compliance statement in South Australia? The CSE Program has developed a range of resources to assist with understanding your child safeguarding obligations and the various laws regarding child protection in SA.

Lodging a child safe compliance statement is simple. Visit this page on the Department of Human Services website and click on the link to register with the compliance system. You will need to answer approximately 13 questions (depending on your business type) and provide copies of your policies about child safeguarding as evidence of your answers. To help you meet your legal obligations, the CSE Program has developed a range of resources to assist you.

There are serious consequences for failing to lodge. Under the Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017, your organisation could be exposed to a $10,000 fine. The recent changes to the SA Civil Liability Act have reversed the onus of proof involving allegations of harm to children and young people. Organisations now need to prove that it has taken all reasonable steps to prove that it was not negligent in providing services to children and young people. One of these steps would be having a completed child safe environment compliance statement in place. There are also new provisions in the SA Criminal Law Consolidation act about child sexual abuse that have heavy jail penalties.

If you are unsure if you need to lodge a compliance statement or whether you have already lodged a compliance statement, contact the CSE Program on 8463 6468 or visit the website.