Child protection and the Australian aid program

Quick links

› Lodging a child protection notification
› Standards for NGOs and contractors
› AusAID's Child Protection Policy

All children have the right to be protected from abuse and violence, and to be treated with respect regardless of race, religion, or background.

Orphaned, displaced, homeless and abandoned children are particularly vulnerable to sexual exploitation and abuse, as are children with disabilities. Children are also highly vulnerable during emergency and disaster situation (natural or conflict based), because they are often separated from their parent and other caregivers who would normally protect them from harm.

AusAID’s Child Protection Policy articulates our zero tolerance approach to child abuse and child pornography. It provides a framework for managing and reducing risks of child abuse by persons engaged in delivering aid program activities.

The policy’s overall goal is to protect children from abuse of all kinds in the delivery of Australia’s overseas aid program.

This policy applies to all AusAID staff, including those based overseas, and to all contractors and NGOs funded by AusAID.

If you have any further questions, you can contact AusAID’s child protection team at cpo@ausaid.gov.au.

Child protection updates

NSW Ombudsman workshops

With over ten years of experience in the oversight of reportable conduct allegations, the NSW Ombudsman runs workshops that are designed for those who undertake and review investigations of reportable conduct allegations involving employees. As well as providing an overview of employer’s obligations under the Ombudsman Act, participants also examine the steps in the investigation process, risk assessment and management.

More information on the NSW Ombudsman’s workshops (external website)

Protecting Australia’s children research audit

This audit, jointly funded by the Australian Government and state and territory governments, was conducted by the Australian Institute of Family Studies and the Social Policy Research Centre. The audit identified what research had been done within Australia, and to help identify those research areas for which an evidence base is needed to fill a high priority gap in policy or practice knowledge.

Topics range from universal preventative initiatives through to statutory child protection and out-of-home care. The audit reflects the six supporting outcomes in the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2009–2020 (external website).

More information on the research audit (external website)

Last reviewed: 24 January, 2012