Annual child safety statement of compliance

Commitment to child safety

The Australian Public Service Commission (the Commission) remains committed to providing a safe, respectful, inclusive and welcoming environment for children and young people. We recognise that safeguarding children is a shared responsibility and that all Commonwealth entities have a role in preventing harm and promoting child wellbeing.

While the Commission's functions involve limited direct engagement with children and young people, we are committed to maintaining systems, policies and practices that support child safety and align with the Commonwealth Child Safe Framework. We take a proportionate, risk-based approach that embeds child safety considerations into our governance, risk management and organisational culture.

The Commission maintains zero tolerance for child abuse, exploitation and neglect. Any concerns relating to the safety or wellbeing of a child or young person are treated seriously and managed in accordance with established policies, procedures and legislative obligations.

Governance and accountability

Child safety responsibilities are embedded within the Commission's governance framework and form part of our broader commitment to maintaining a safe and respectful workplace.

The Commission recognises that safeguarding children is a shared responsibility across the organisation. To support this commitment, we:

• develop, maintain and review policies, procedures and guidance that support child safety and wellbeing
• ensure staff understand and comply with child safety requirements and expectations
• assess and monitor child safety risks through established risk management processes
• maintain oversight of child safety obligations through relevant governance and assurance mechanisms
• comply with the Commonwealth Child Safe Framework
• implement, where applicable, the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations.

Executive leaders maintain oversight of child safety obligations and support the review of relevant risks, controls and assurance activities as part of broader organisational governance arrangements.

Risk management and suitability assessments

The Commission continues to take a proportionate and risk-based approach to child safety. Child safety risks are assessed through our enterprise risk management processes to ensure potential risks are identified, managed and reviewed as appropriate.

Consistent with previous assessments, the Commission's exposure to child safety risks remains low and generally arises only through limited and infrequent interactions with children and young people.

All Commission staff are required to hold, at a minimum, a Baseline Security Clearance through the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA). These clearances include assessment of suitability and security risks, including any identified concerns relevant to the safety of children and young people.

To manage identified risks and maintain appropriate safeguards:

• child safety considerations are incorporated into relevant workplace practices and activities
• Working with Vulnerable People checks are undertaken where required under the Commission's Child Safe Policy
• suitability requirements are monitored for roles or activities involving engagement with children and young people.

The Commission's most common interaction with young people occurs through participation in the Career Starter Program for young Australians who have recently completed Year 12 (or equivalent).

Child Safe assurance and continuous improvement

During 2025-26, the Commission focused on maintaining and reviewing established child safe practices to ensure they remain fit-for-purpose and proportionate to our operating environment.

Key assurance and continuous improvement activities included:

• ongoing review of child safety risks and controls
• maintenance and review of the Commission's Child Safe policy and related guidance materials
• promotion of staff awareness of child safety obligations and expected behaviours
• maintaining access to child safety learning resources through APSLearn
• monitoring compliance with suitability and screening requirements where applicable
• maintenance of intranet content and resources to support staff understanding of child safety requirements
• consideration of child safety impacts when reviewing relevant workplace practices and programs.

These activities support a continuous improvement approach and help ensure child safety obligations remain visible, understood and appropriately managed across the organisation.

Future priorities

In 2026-27, the Commission will continue to:

• review child safety risks and controls as part of its enterprise risk management processes
• monitor the effectiveness of child safety policies, guidance and supporting resources
• promote staff awareness of child safety responsibilities and reporting obligations
• maintain appropriate screening and suitability requirements where required
• ensure alignment with the Commonwealth Child Safe Framework and relevant legislative requirements.

Ongoing commitment

The Commission acknowledges that safeguarding children is an ongoing responsibility requiring continued review and improvement. We remain committed to maintaining appropriate governance, risk management and assurance arrangements to support the safety and wellbeing of children and young people.

Through regular review of risks, impacts and controls, the Commission will continue to embed child safety considerations into relevant aspects of its operations and foster a culture that supports the protection, dignity and wellbeing of children and young people.