Our Commitment
Carers SA has zero tolerance for harm to children and young people. Every allegation and every concern is acted on.
If a child is in immediate danger, call 000.
To report a concern about a child or young person in South Australia, call the Child Abuse Report Line on 13 14 78, at any time.
If your concern is about a Carers SA worker or volunteer, or about something that happened while a child was in our care, tell us. Call 1800 422 737 or use our feedback form. You can do this anonymously.
We will listen, take what you tell us seriously, and act. Where the law requires us to report to authorities, we will. We will keep what you tell us confidential unless someone’s safety means we cannot, and you will not be treated differently for raising a concern.
How we keep children and young people safe
Carers SA has implemented the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations in full. We comply with the Commonwealth Child Safe Framework, and with the South Australian Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017, which requires organisations delivering child related work to provide a child safe environment.
Our governance. Our Board Code of Conduct states that protecting the reputation of Carers SA will never be prioritised ahead of the safety of children, young people and vulnerable adults. Our Board is accountable for child safety at Carers SA, and child safety incidents are reported to them.
Our people. Everyone who works or volunteers with us holds a current Department of Human Services Working with Children Check and a National Police Check, and completes Through their Eyes, the State endorsed child safe training. Child facing roles include behaviour based child safe questions at interview and reference checks covering child safety.
Our practice. Every child focused activity requires a risk management plan, and our Risk Register carries a child safety category reviewed annually or as required. Any concern about a child is treated as an incident, reported and recorded. Our staff know their obligation under the Act to report any reasonable suspicion that a child is being harmed or is at risk of harm, and they act on it.
Our environments. We work to make our services safe for every child and young person, including those who are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, who identify as LGBTIQA+, or who live with disability. Safety means cultural and psychological safety, not only physical safety.
Young Carers shape this work. The Young Carer Collective brings together Young Carers aged 12 to 18 to guide the services Carers SA offers young people. We seek feedback from children and young people in a child friendly way, and we act on what they tell us.
Information for Young Carers. Many of the Carers we support are under 18. We have information for Young Carers about staying safe and telling us when something is wrong.
Additional Information for Parents and Carers
The Australian Human Rights Commission publishes practical information for parents and Carers on keeping children safe in organisations.
Carers SA also supports the Bright Futures project, a Daniel Morcombe Foundation initiative addressing harmful sexual behaviours and child sexual exploitation.