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Statement of commitment to child safety and wellbeing

Volume 6 (external site) of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (external site) highlighted the importance of community prevention in ensuring institutional child safety, leading to the creation of 10 Child Safe Standards. In 2018, the Australian Human Rights Commission built on these with 10 National Principles for Child Safe Organisations (external site), which also aligned with the 2005 National Framework for Creating Safe Environments for Children. By 2019, the Council of Australian Governments, including the Western Australian Government, endorsed these principles.

In November 2023, the WA State Government issued a Statement of Commitment to Child Safety and Wellbeing (external site), outlining the collective responsibility of government agencies in child-related work to ensure the safety and well-being of children. Although the Department of Health is not a direct service provider, it plays a crucial role in child safety as the system manager of the WA health system, a contractor of services and a host for workplace experiences. Embedding child safety and wellbeing in organisational leadership, governance and culture necessitates the department making a public commitment to child safety.

Statement of commitment

All children and young people have the right to feel safe and be believed, informed and heard. The Department of Health recognises that these rights are fundamental to the protection of children in healthcare settings, and essential for delivering safe health care to all Western Australian children and young people.

In alignment with the department's values of being purposeful, caring, collaborative, open and outcomes focused, we affirm our commitment to:

prioritise the safety and wellbeing of all children
respect and promote the rights of children, ensuring their voices and choices are heard and upheld
implement rigorous screening, training and policies that ensure staff and volunteers meet the highest standards of child safety and care
promote an environment of accountability and continuous improvement, in which safeguarding children is everyone's responsibility
respond promptly and effectively to concerns and incidents related to child safety and wellbeing, with a focus on healing and justice for the affected child.

We are committed to leading and driving systemwide reform, that is informed by the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, survivors of child abuse and those experiencing social disadvantage, to ensure our actions are as inclusive as they are impactful.

We will work together with our partners across government and the community, to share lessons and experiences, develop and implement processes, and deliver on programs to enhance child safety across the department, WA health system and broader community.

This statement represents the department's values in action and is a pledge to the children, families, carers and communities we serve.