RTOs - child safety in physical and online environments

About the Standard

RTOs must be aware of the risks associated with both physical and online environments. They should take steps to remove risks of child abuse.

RTOs are required to:

consider online environments in addition to physical environments
identify and reduce risks in these environments without compromising a child’s:
- right to privacy
- access to information
- social connections
- learning opportunities
promote child safety and wellbeing and minimise the opportunity for children to be harmed
have procurement policies that ensure the safety of children if the RTO contracts facilities and services from third parties.

An RTO must be able to provide evidence of:

a risk management plan that identifies and reduces risks of child abuse and harm in both physical and online environments including third parties
implemented processes to monitor online and physical interactions
a Child Safety Code of Conduct for all students, staff, volunteers and visitors to keep children safe in physical and online environments
third party engagement policies and agreements that set out processes that protect children from risks of child abuse and harm.

An RTO complying with this Standard may protect child safety in physical and online environments through its:

In complying with Child Safe Standard 9, an organisation must, at a minimum, ensure:
- staff and volunteers identify and mitigate risks in the online and physical environments without compromising a child’s right to privacy, access to information, social connections and learning opportunities
- the online environment is used in accordance with the organisation’s Code of Conduct and child safety and wellbeing policy and practices
- risk management plans consider risks posed by organisational settings, activities, and the physical and online environment
- organisations that contract facilities and services from third parties have procurement policies that ensure the safety of children and young people.
- The Commission for Children and Young People (CCYP)(opens in a new window) — provides resources and support for the Child Safe Standards including a 'Guide for creating a Child Safe Organisation' which contains advice on identifying and mitigating risks of abuse.
- The eSafety Commissioner(opens in a new window) provides extensive advice on keeping children safe online.

Updated 24 June 2022