Child protection
Child-safe reporting and record keeping resources are available that support non-government schools to maintain child protection and student well-being.
Mandatory reporting
Any concerns about actual or possible risk of significant harm to a child must be reported to the NSW Department of Communities and Justice using the NSW Mandatory Reporter Guide.
The Office of the Children's Guardian resources
The Office of the Children’s Guardian provides a range of resources to support schools in implementing the Child Safe Standards, the reportable conduct scheme and Working with Children Check obligations. The resources include online training modules, factsheets, and policy and record-keeping templates.
Record keeping
The Final Report of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse made 5 record-keeping recommendations, including one specific recommendation that non-government schools be required to comply with minimum standards in relation to the creation, maintenance and disposal of records relevant to child safety and wellbeing, including child sexual abuse.
In response to this, the Australian Society of Archivists developed their Records Retention and Disposal Schedule, 2nd Edition, released in April 2018. The resource will help people in non-government schools who work with risk management, compliance requirements, records management and archives. It is designed to help promote good governance in organisations.
NSW State Archives and Records has also compiled and published a list of useful resources, including links to relevant online learning, to assist government and non-government organisations in implementing all 5 record-keeping recommendations.