Defence Youth Safety Framework Update

Tuesday, January 7, 2020

Reserve Youth Division is currently focused on continuous improvement in youth safety performance. It is working on reviewing and updating the Defence Youth Safety Framework (DYSF) to comply with the Commonwealth Child Safe Framework, including the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations (NPCSO) by 29 February 2020.
 
The DYSF was launched in December 2015 and was further developed to address shortfalls identified as part of Defence’s appearance at the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. 2019 provided timely review of the DYSF as part of the Government’s commitment for Departments to align and comply with the Commonwealth Child Safe Framework and recommendations from the Royal Commission into Institutional responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
 
Following the establishment of ‘Youth Safety’ as a Defence Work Health and Safety Management System Safety Domain owned by Chief of Joint Capabilities, Reserve Youth Division is updating the DYSF including YOUTHPOLMAN. As part of this development, YOUTHPOLMAN Part 1 will be updated to align with contemporary safety management system approach and a new YOUTHPOMAN part 3 dedicated to Defence Work Experience Program will be established to support the expansion and safe delivery of the program. 2020 will also see the start of the redevelopment and then the release of Defence Youth Safety training
packages.
 
In addition, Defence Working with Vulnerable People and Children Suitability Assessment policy has been revised and has been renamed as Working with Children Check policy. The revised policy underwent comprehensive stakeholder engagement and was signed off at the Enterprise Business Commitment on the 27 November 2019.

To find out if you require a Working with Children Check card under the new policy, please visit https://defenceyouth.gov.au/youth-safety