DYSF Evaluation - ADF Cadets Adult Volunteers and Parents/Guardians

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why is the evaluation of the Defence Youth Safety Framework (DYSF) being undertaken?

The Department of Defence and the Australian Defence Force (ADF) Cadet Organisations are committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people.

In 2015, Defence launched the Defence Youth Safety Framework (Framework) which sets out Defence policies and procedures concerning youth safety.

We are undertaking a review of the Framework to evaluate its effectiveness from the point of view of ADF Cadets Adult Volunteers, parents and guardians and have engaged KPMG to carry out this work. This supplements our review undertaken in 2019 from ADF Cadets perspective.

This important project will help us understand how we can best make sure that young people feel safe, and are safe, when they participate in the Cadet program. It will also form the basis of future Framework evaluations.

Who will undertake the evaluation?

The Department of Defence Joint Support Services Division (JSSD) has appointed KPMG to complete the evaluation. KPMG will work closely with JSSD and the ADF Cadet Organisations to deliver the evaluation.

When will the evaluation take place?

The evaluation project will run between March – December 2020. The survey will be open from April 27 for a minimum of four weeks, and the site visits will be held by the end of 2020 subject to COVID-19.

How has this project been approved?

The Departments of Defence and Veterans’ Affairs Human Research Ethics Committee considered the project on 17 February 2020 and deemed it an assurance activity.

What information will be collected and how will privacy and security of the data be maintained?

KPMG won’t provide ADF Cadets Adult Volunteers, Cadets, parents or guardians names to the Department of Defence, but if a participant provides responses to questions which are specific, detailed, or relate to particular events, this information may lead to identification.

Participant confidentiality is assured in the following ways:

• The survey is anonymous;
• Names will not be attached to the data;
• Identifiable information about cadets will be screened and not shared with the Department of Defence;
• The name of the Cadet unit will not be provided to the Department of Defence;
• The name of the Cadet unit will be coded with exclusive access being given to the investigators from KPMG;
• The Department of Defence will be provided de-identified raw data and will have access to summarised and analysed data;
• All data will be password protected and stored in a secure drive.

Further information about how KPMG will collect and use personal information is available in KPMG’s Privacy Statement.

Can participants opt out of the survey or site visits?

Yes participants can choose to skip any questions in the survey and can withdraw from the survey or site visit at any time. Data collected before they withdraw will still be used in the evaluation.

What is the process when a participant discloses abuse or neglect as part of the survey or site visits or if abuse or neglect is suspected?

If a participant reports abuse or neglect of a cadet, or if abuse or neglect of a cadet is suspected, KPMG Staff, Department of Defence staff and ADF Cadet Organisation staff have mandatory reporting requirements to alert the relevant authorities.

Support will be provided to the cadet and family in those cases where the participant has chosen to disclose the cadet’s name.

What other support is available to participants?

In addition to the support provided by the Command and volunteers of their Cadet Unit, participants and their immediate families can access the following services provided by Defence at no cost.

Defence Employee Assistance Plan (EAP) offers counselling support.

Call 1300 687 327 or www.convergeinternational.com.au for counselling.

Defence Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response Office (SeMPRO) offers 24/7 support, advice and guidance to anyone affected by sexual misconduct.

Call 1800 736 776 or text 0429 600 800

They can also access external support lines:

• Headspace is a youth mental health foundation that helps young people aged 12-25 years who are going through a tough time.

Call 1800 650 890.

• Lifeline is an anonymous and confidential 24 hour crisis support line you can call to discuss all types of personal difficulties.

Call 13 11 14.

• Kids Helpline is a 24 hour telephone service that is available for young people between 5-25 years who need advice, counselling or just someone to talk to.

Call 1800 55 1800.

• Youth beyondblue is a 24 hours online and telephone service for young people experiencing depression, anxiety or other mental health issues.

Call 1300 22 46 36.

• National Sexual Assault, Family & Domestic Violence Counselling Line is a 24 hour online and phone service for anyone who is impacted by family violence or sexual assault.

Call 1800 RESPECT or 1800 737 732.

Additional Information – Surveys and Site visits?

The survey will remain open for participation for a minimum of 4 weeks.

Site visits will run for approximately 60 minutes and will be held before, after or during scheduled cadet unit activities at a time suitable for each site including weekly parades.

Site visit participants and locations will be determined in consultation with JSSD and the cadet organisations in order to ensure the participation of a broad cross section of ADF Cadets Units across all three services.

In the event of an adult disclosing that a child or someone they know has been, or is at risk of harm KPMG will take the following actions.

• Listen carefully to what the adult is saying; let them use their own words.
• Tell them they did the right thing by telling them.
• Let them know what will happen next.
• Escalate to the relevant law enforcement, family support/child protection services, JSSD and ADF Cadets organisation incident management POC.
• In the event that the disclosure does not constitute current risk, and it is safe to do so, the Unit Commander will be notified about the concerns raised.

All disclosures

Escalation protocols externally and internally when a disclosure is made.

In the event of an adult disclosing that a child or someone they know have been abused (including all types of abuse) KPMG staff will not take the following actions:

• Make promises they cannot keep, such as promising that they will not tell anyone.
• Push them into giving details of the abuse. Their role is to listen to what the adult wants to tell them and make observations – not to conduct an investigation.
• Indiscriminately discuss the circumstances of the incident with others not directly involved with the child.

KPMG and Child Wise have policies and procedures which clearly outline the roles and responsibilities of staff where they become aware of allegations or concerns regarding potential abuse and neglect. This includes the following:

• Should it be required, the report to either police or child protection authorities will be made. JSSD, ADF Cadets organisation management and the adult will be informed that a report has been made where that will not pose harm to the young person.
• The ADF Cadets Adult Volunteer will be provided with counsel by Child Wise, should this be required.
• In accordance with Defence Youth Safety and Incident Management Policy, Joint Support Services Division have nominated the following POC for critical incident reporting.

Director Youth – Joint Support Services Division via the following email address: youthsafetysurvey@cadetnet.gov.au

This key contact will be notified of any critical incidents, including disclosure of child abuse, and will be responsible for escalating critical incidents within Defence.