Safeguarding and child safety

ACU is actively committed to the safety, wellbeing and empowerment of all children, young people and adults at risk who participate and engage in our university’s courses, programs, activities and events. It is our responsibility to deliver a safe, inclusive and enjoyable environment for all.  

ACU’s Safeguarding Children, Young People and Adults at Risk Framework builds on our capacity to protect children, young people and adults at risk from harm and abuse by providing resources, education and support to staff and students to provide a safe environment for everyone at ACU.

The framework involves: 

• implementing a Safeguarding Code of Behaviour that establishes clear expectations for appropriate behaviour when dealing with children, young people and adults at risk
• developing and implementing human resources practices, including recruitment, screening and training, to reduce the risk of harm posed to children, young people and adults at risk by new and existing personnel
• teaching ACU staff and students to recognise signs of child abuse
• mandatory reporting of all suspected child abuse
• regularly communicating about ACU’s Safeguarding Children, Young People and Adults at Risk Framework
• developing and implementing strategies to identify and remove risks for children, young people and adults at risk
• developing and implementing strategies to communicate and promote the participation and empowerment of children, young people and adults at risk. 

ACU has developed resources and an online training course to help all university members to achieve the standards outlined in the framework.

Visit ACU’s Safeguarding Children and Young People Portal to view ACU’s safeguarding resources and access tools that can help your understanding of child safety.

For more information about the online training course, please email respectandsafety@acu.edu.au.

ACU’s Safeguarding Children, Young People and Adults at Risk Framework is underwritten by ACU’s Safeguarding Children, Young People and Adults at Risk Policy and Procedure.