Child and youth risk management strategies
Safe service environments don’t just happen; they require ongoing planning, commitment and maintenance.
Creating safe environments for children
The blue card system aims to create safe, supportive spaces where children can access services and participate in activities essential to their development and wellbeing.
Organisations, employers and sole traders who run regulated activities must have a child and youth risk management strategy in place.
What is a child and youth risk management strategy
A child and youth risk management strategy is a framework that helps organisations:
- identify potential risks of harm to children
- implement solutions to minimise risks
- create consistent practises for staff and volunteers.
The 8 mandatory requirements
Your child and youth risk management strategy must include the following eight mandatory requirements. These mandatory requirements align with the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations and include:
- Statement of commitment.
- Code of conduct.
- Recruitment, selection, training and management.
- Reporting disclosures and suspicions of harm.
- Managing breaches.
- Risk management plan for high-risk activities.
- Managing compliance with the blue card system.
- Communication and support.
How to develop your child and youth risk management strategy
We have developed a set of resources to help you apply these requirements in your daily operations:
- CYRMS: Toolkit
- CYRMS: Self-assessment checklist
- CYRMS: Sole operator supplement outlines the requirements for business owners who do not engage other workers
- Template: Employee register to manage your employees blue card information
- Template: High-risk activities and special events
- Template: Checklist/Action plan
- Template: Restricted employment declaration available in digital and manual formats to help organisations confirm a person relying on an exemption is not restricted person.
Child Safe Standards
The Queensland Family & Child Commission (QFCC) has introduced new child safeguarding laws — the Child Safe Organisations Act 2024. These new laws will soon replace existing child and youth risk management strategy requirements and instead replace them with 10 Child Safe Standards.
The transition for a business to require a child and youth risk management strategy to implementing the Child Safe Standards will occur in a phased approach. Please refer to the QFCC timeline for when your industry will be impacted.
QFCC provide practical advice and tools to help organisations understand their responsibilities and build safe environments for children and young people.
For comprehensive guidance and best-practice information, we strongly encourage you to visit QFCC Child Safe Organisations website.