School-Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships

Child safety and duty of care

The Child Safe Standards are compulsory minimum standards for organisations which provide services for children, to ensure they are well prepared to keep children and young people safe and protect them from abuse.

Ministerial Order 1359 – Implementing the Child Safe Standards – Managing the Risk of Child Abuse in Schools and School Boarding Premises outlines minimum requirements schools and school boarding premises must meet to comply with the Child Safe Standards. The child safety obligations under the Child Safe Standards and Ministerial Order 1359 apply to all school environments, including workplace learning environments where students undertake work experience, structured workplace learning, school community work (volunteering) and SBATs. Schools must develop and implement risk management strategies regarding child safety in school environments.

Specific risks of abuse may arise in the context of SBATs. Child safe strategies, policies and procedures must address and respond to those risks. For example, schools must ensure that:

• there are clear processes for responding to and reporting allegations or disclosures of abuse that affect children participating in the SBAT program (Child Safe Standard 11)
• complaints procedures and processes are accessible, child-friendly and easily understood (Child Safe Standard 7)
• students are informed about their rights to safety and the process for raising concerns or making complaints (Child Safe Standard 3)
• particular risks of child abuse at an SBAT employer’s premises are identified, and strategies are put in place to reduce or remove them (Child Safe Standard 9)
• the effectiveness of risk controls is monitored and evaluated (Child Safe Standard 10)
• record-keeping, reporting, privacy and employment law obligations are met when responding to complaints or concerns (Child Safe Standard 7)
• steps are taken to ensure that SBAT students feel empowered and comfortable raising concerns about their safety (Child Safe Standard 3).

Schools must work closely with SBAT employers to make sure that the employment environment is safe for children. The employer must provide a safe workplace and ensure appropriate supervision of the student.

The RTO must comply with the Child Safe Standards including ensuring all staff meet Working with Children requirements.