Annual Statement of Compliance
National Archives of Australia (National Archives) is committed to meeting the core requirements of the Commonwealth Child Safe Framework (the Framework), and to providing an environment where children are safe.
National Archives delivers national public engagement program services to enable all Australians to access and use the national archival collection, including children. Well-established processes and child safe practices enable children to engage with exhibitions, lifelong learning, and school programs, which are supported by policies developed with respect for diversity. These engagements may occur in all State and Territory offices across Australia. National Archives also collaborates with other national cultural institutions around similar programs for children.
In recognising that National Archives delivers a range of activities and programs that children may access, the agency takes an activity-specific approach to implementation of the Framework. National Archives overarching risk rating is low, with each program for younger audiences being assessed at all stages of planning and implementation.
Risk assessment and policies for school visits are published on National Archives' website and the Book Canberra Excursions website, which is used for all school program bookings. Risk assessments are conducted for all public programs that include younger audiences. Identified risks to children include accidental harm through collision hazards and cultural abuse through lack of cultural respect.
Mitigation strategies include staff training and induction (on role requirements, policy), low staff to child ratios, Working with Vulnerable People (WWVP) registration, responsible adults always being present, equipment assessments, trauma-informed practices, first aid training, program review and continuous improvement. Any third parties engaging with children at National Archives must have a WWVP registration and are accompanied by trained National Archives staff during programs. All staff and contractors are required to adhere to the APS Values and Code of Conduct, as well as provide excellent service regarding visitor experience, safety and wellbeing.
In 2024 public programs staff attended a workshop delivered by the Australian Childhood Foundation which covered safeguarding roles that staff working with children are responsible for, and safeguarding legislation and reporting responsibilities.
National Archives is fully compliant with the framework requirements to undertake an annual risk assessment and publish an annual statement of compliance. Whilst development of a child safe policy did not progress in 2024, plans to develop a child safe policy in 2025 aim to improve compliance with the framework through reference to the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations and exploring further training opportunities for staff.
Publishing date Friday 13 December 2024