Non-school providers - diversity and equity

About the Standard

Equity is upheld and diverse needs of children are respected in policy and practice.

This Standard requires non-school providers to pay particular attention to the needs of vulnerable students. Non-school providers will often have vulnerable student cohorts.

The Royal Commission found that vulnerable children are at greater risk of harm. Non-school providers must support vulnerable children and make sure that all children feel welcome and supported in policy and practice.

How to comply

A non-school provider must ensure that they:

make sure all staff and volunteers understand the diverse circumstances of children and how to support and respond to those children
review existing documents or strategies to meet requirements or develop a new policy or document
provide support, information and complaints processes for all students that are:
- accessible to children
- culturally safe
- easy to understand
support and respond to the needs of vulnerable children, including children who are:
- Aboriginal
- from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
- have a disability
- unable to live at home
- lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex.

Examples of compliance

A non-school provider complying with this Standard may:

discuss needs of vulnerable students with families or carers and implement supports or provide access and information about services for those students
develop complaints processes and procedures that:
- are available in a range of different languages (as appropriate)
- make it easy for students to raise concerns
- are child-centred
- are culturally safe
- involve parents or carers in the process
- consider the support children may need to raise a complaint
have youth workers or other supports for children, or provide information about where children can access support services
communicate zero tolerance for discrimination and bullying
publish diverse images of students in publications.

In complying with Child Safe Standard 5, an organisation must, at a minimum, ensure:
- the organisation, including staff and volunteers, understands children and young people’s diverse circumstances, and provides support and responds to those who are vulnerable
- children and young people have access to information, support and complaints processes in ways that are culturally safe, accessible and easy to understand
- the organisation pays particular attention to the needs of children and young people with disability, children and young people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, those who are unable to live at home, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex children and young people
- the organisation pays particular attention to the needs of Aboriginal children and young people and provides or promotes a culturally safe environment for them.
- The Commission for Children and Young People (CCYP)(opens in a new window) — provides support for the Child Safe Standards including a 'Guide for creating a Child Safe Organisation' with useful guidance on supporting the needs of diverse groups of young people, especially Aboriginal children, culturally and, or linguistically diverse children and children with disability.
- The Department of Education provides guidance for schools about meeting the diverse needs of students(opens in a new window).

Education

Updated 13 January 2023