2024 Department of Defence Annual Child Safety Statement of Compliance with the Commonwealth Child Safety Framework
The Department of Defence is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and to creating and maintaining a child safe environment where children and young people feel and are safe, and their voices are heard about decisions that affect their lives. Defence does not tolerate abuse or neglect of children and is committed to taking all reasonably practicable steps to ensure the safety and wellbeing of youth with whom it comes into contact. We do this through supporting a youth safety culture and the promotion of individual and collective responsibility for youth safety and protection. Defence's commitment to youth safety was further with the release of the Youth Engagement Policy which outlines key principles.
The Department's primary engagement with youth is through participation in the Service Cadet programs. Program numbers as at 30 June 2024 includes 31,616 youth participants and 4,770 adult volunteers across 589 locations. Uniformed Defence youth totals less than 200. The majority of interaction is in person. Defence also engages with youth through the conduct of work experience programs and through targeted industry, school and university programs.
Defence has developed an enterprise risk assessment level risk assessment identifying seven risks with the highest residual rating at medium. All risk controls are within the Department's capacity to address and are managed so far as is reasonably practicable.
In 2024, Defence further strengthened its incident reporting capacity through the introduction of a Department wide incident management system and undertook a review and updated youth training.
Taking into account the unique context of the Department's activities, Defence will continue to:
- require all ADF members, Australian Public Service employees, volunteers including members of the ADF cadets, and contractors to demonstrate their commitment to youth safety through their agreement to undertake their duties in accordance with the appropriate Defence or ADF Cadet youth safety code of conduct
- continue to invest in training and skilling our workforce in youth safety
- complete suitability screening for adults working with youth in the Defence environment and require ADF members, ADF employees, volunteers including members of ADF Cadets, and contractors to complete appropriate and relevant youth safety training
- engage proactively with parents, guardians, specified next of kin, and other agencies involved in the protection of young people, whilst ensuring we maintain compliance with United Nations Council Resolutions related to children and armed conflict
- maintain clear processes for reporting and responding to disclosures, suspicions and allegations of abuse or neglect in accordance with state and territory legislation.
LTGEN Natasha Fox, AO, CSC
Chief of Personnel
7 October 2024