Commonwealth Child Safe Framework
The Australian Financial Security Agency (AFSA) is dedicated to ensuring the safety of children, in line with the Commonwealth Child Safe Framework. We have assessed that we are fully compliant with all four requirements of the framework.
AFSA conducts an annual review of its risk register to ensure that risks related to child safety are documented, and mitigation strategies are implemented to reduce risk levels. A risk assessment was conducted in October 2024, which rated our agency’s child safety risk as low. While AFSA staff typically have limited or no interaction with children, contact many occur in situations such as:
- when a minor applies for bankruptcy
- a child is present during a compliance visit at the premises of an adult person who is bankrupt
- a child accompanies their carer to the workplace
- staff engaging in work in the presence of children (e.g. home-based work)
- a person under the age of 18 undertakes work for AFSA (e.g. work experience, graduate programs).
In areas where there may be occasional or limited contact with children, or when AFSA engages third parties, including registered trustees, we have implemented measures to ensure that risks are effectively managed. These include:
- AFSA conducts suitability assessments and, at a minimum, Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) Baseline Security Clearances are required for all AFSA staff, which include assessment of security risks including any identified actual or potential risk to children
- interviews with non-adult persons who are bankrupt (typically 17 years of age) are interviewed only when a parent, guardian or legal representative is present
- providing all staff with access to targeted training and information, including access to eLearning modules provided by the Human Rights Commission
- ensuring contracts and agreements with third parties include clauses related to child safety and vulnerable people
- ensuring that children visiting the workplace are accompanied by a parent or guardian
- ensuring that workers under the age of 18 have adequate support and supervision
- requiring staff who work with vulnerable people, including children, to obtain a Working with Children Check (WWCC) or a Working with Vulnerable People (WWVP) check, according to jurisdictional requirements.