Defence Youth Safety Framework

Defence does not tolerate abuse or neglect of children and is committed to taking all reasonably practicable steps to ensure the safety and wellbeing of youth with whom it comes into contact through the development of a youth safety culture and the promotion of individual and collective responsibility for youth safety.

Taking into account the unique context of ADF activities, Defence will:

• manage youth safety risks appropriate to the Defence context;
• require all ADF members, APS employees, volunteers including members of the ADF Cadets, and contractors to demonstrate their commitment to youth safety through their agreement to undertake their duties in accordance with the appropriate Defence or ADFC youth safety code of conduct;
• complete appropriate suitability screening for all adults working with youth in the Defence environment;
• require all ADF members, APS employees, volunteers including members of the ADF Cadets, and contractors to complete appropriate youth safety education and training;
• engage proactively with parents, guardians, specified next of kin and other agencies involved in the protection of young people;
• develop and implement a clear process for reporting and responding to disclosures, suspicions and allegations of abuse or neglect in accordance with state and territory legislation;
• develop and implement processes to identify and address breaches of the DYSF;
• maintain compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolutions related to children and armed conflict; and
• undertake regular review of the youth safety framework to ensure it remains current and reflects emerging requirements and leading practice.

The DYSF is underpinned by ten principles derived from the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations:

1. Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in organisational leadership, governance and culture.
2. Children and young people are informed about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.
3. Families and communities are informed and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing.
4. Equity is upheld and diverse needs respected in policy and practice.
5. People working with children and young people are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice.
6. Processes to respond to complaints and concerns are child focused.  
7. Staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education and training.
8. Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for children and young people to be harmed.
9. Implementation of the national child safe principles is regularly reviewed and improved.
10. Policies and procedures document how the organisation is safe for children and young people.

Youth policy is contained in the Defence Youth Policy Manual (YOUTHPOLMAN). The Defence youth safety policy suite includes:

• The Defence Youth Safety Commitment Statement which articulates the Defence commitment to promoting wellbeing of youth and protecting young people from abuse through a focus on preventing, identifying and treating youth safety risks.
• Defence Youth Safety Governance which outlines how the framework is implemented, monitored and assessed for its impact on youth safety outcomes over time. The governance policy includes the vision for Defence Youth Safety, the purpose, youth safety principles in action and details of specific governance action.
• Defence Youth Safety Risk Management which details the approach, roles and responsibilities for managing risks associated with youth safety.
• Defence Youth Safety Incident Management which details the actions required to ensure all incidents affecting young people are managed effectively and consistently from initial response and reporting action, through to closure and acting on lessons learned.
• Defence Youth Safety – Use of Social Media which focuses on safe social networking and the safe use of social media;
• Defence Youth Safety – Relationships which provides guidance on age of consent, special care provisions and non-attribution of blame.