Annual Statement of Compliance with the Commonwealth Child Safe Framework 2025

The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) is committed to creating and maintaining a child safe organisation, consistent with the Commonwealth Child Safe Framework (CCSF) and the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations.

In accordance with the CCSF, the OAIC publishes an annual statement of compliance with the Framework including an overview of the entity’s child safety risk assessment.

Our commitment to the Commonwealth Child Safe Framework

The OAIC is committed to promoting the safety and wellbeing of children and young people who may engage with our work.

In accordance with the Commonwealth Child Safe Framework, the OAIC:

• undertakes annual risk assessments to identify, evaluate and manage risks to child safety
• adopts and aligns its policies and practices with National Principles for Child Safe Organisations
• publishes an annual statement of compliance on its website.

OAIC Child Safe Policy

The OAIC has a Child Safe Policy that reinforces our commitment to the National Principles. The Policy:

• clarifies roles and responsibilities of staff, contractors and third parties
• outlines how risks to child safety are identified and managed
• sets expectations for staffing including recruitment, training and conduct
• explains reporting obligations and how reports are managed
• provides access to support staff through employee assistance services.

These measures help ensure personnel understand their obligations and contribute to maintaining a child safe culture.

Our interaction with children as part of our work

While the OAIC does not routinely engage directly with children, its work influences the privacy, safety and experiences of children and young people through policy, regulation and guidance. In recognition of this, the OAIC is committed to reviewing its environment to identify and address risks to ensure appropriate protections for children.

As part of its commitment to continuous improvement, the OAIC has undertaken a targeted child safety risk assessment in relation to the Children’s Online Privacy Code which focuses on building a safer more transparent online environment for children and young people.

Risk assessment

The OAIC has undertaken a child safety risk assessment in accordance with the Commonwealth Child Safe Framework to identify, evaluate and manage risks to child safety across its functions and activities. The overall risk to child safety and wellbeing is effectively managed with measures in place to mitigate identified risks.

The assessment considers the OAIC’s operating environment, structure and activities for 2025-26. The assessment reflects the nature and level of the OAIC’s interactions with children and young people, including through its regulatory, policy, and guidance functions. With consideration of the following:

• the OAIC’s activities and functions rarely involve direct contact with children and are likely to be brief
• most engagements, if they were to occur, would generally be through an adult representative or under the supervision of other people.

The assessment identifies a range of strategic and operational risks that may impact child safety and wellbeing, along with the controls and treatments in place to manage those risks. This includes measures to ensure that:

• all staff are appropriately vetted and trained for their roles, including undertaking pre-employment suitability assessment and receiving a satisfactory National Police Check prior to employment
• all staff are required to adhere to the OAIC’s policies, procedures and the APS Code of Conduct, child safe policy created in line with the CCSF
• consultation takes place with bodies representing the interests of children and young people to help inform policy proposals and developments, and the drafting of guidance material relating to the safety, wellbeing, and rights of children
• continuous improvement is applied through annual review and oversight by governance committees.

The outcomes of the 2025-26 assessment are used to inform the OAIC’s broader approach to child safety governance and capability, including policy updates, training, and ongoing monitoring activities. Recognising that managing child safety is an ongoing process, the OAIC will monitor and review its assessment to address any future changes in its operating environment.