Child Safety.

Child safety is a core legal, governance and cultural responsibility for organisations working with children and young people. It requires more than compliance. It demands informed oversight, consistent decision making and systems that prevent harm.

Moores is a national leader in child safety law and advisory. We work with organisations across Australia to design, implement and strengthen child safety frameworks that are practical, defensible and aligned with evolving regulatory expectations.

Our work spans prevention, capability building and response. We support organisations to manage child safety as a systemic risk, shaped by culture, governance, and the way authority and discretion are exercised in practice.

We regularly work alongside regulators, boards, executives and investigators to address complex and sensitive matters in a way that protects children, supports those involved and safeguards organisational integrity.

What we do

We provide end-to-end child safety support across the full lifecycle of risk management and response, including:

• designing and implementing child safety frameworks aligned with best practice and regulatory expectations;
• delivering tailored training for Boards, executives, staff, volunteers and Child Safety Officers;
• advising on child safety obligations, including Child Safe Standards, reportable conduct schemes and Working With Children requirements across jurisdictions;
• conducting and overseeing complex investigations, including harm between children and reportable conduct matters;
• drafting and uplifting policies, procedures, codes of conduct and governance frameworks; and
• advising on sensitive and high-risk matters, including historical abuse, regulator engagement, crisis response and litigation.

What you can expect

National expertise in child safety

Child safety law is complex and varies across jurisdictions. Moores is one of the few firms with deep, practical expertise advising nationally.

We work with schools, not-for-profit organisations, peak bodies and national organisations to develop consistent, legally compliant approaches that operate effectively across multiple states.

A trauma-sensitive approach

Child safety requires a trauma-informed and legally sound response. Our approach is practical, strategic and collaborative.

We support organisations to respond to concerns in a way that balances:

• the safety and wellbeing of children;
• fair and defensible processes;
• regulatory obligations; and
• reputational risk.

Recent experience

Our recent work includes:

• advising organisations on national child safety and worker screening obligations;
• conducting complex investigations into child safety issues and responding to regulator inquiries and compliance action, and supporting employers to take disciplinary action in relation to substantiated findings;
• delivering training to thousands of board members, senior leaders, staff and volunteers on child safety and online safety;
• designing tailored child safety frameworks for state, and national organisations;
• advising on appropriate responses to allegations of harm between children, including on intersectional issues; and
• conducting audits and uplift programs for major charities, peak bodies, and education providers.

Safeguarding

Safeguarding extends beyond child safety. It encompasses the systems, culture and governance required to protect children and vulnerable people from harm, abuse, neglect and exploitation. We advise across sectors where safeguarding is both critical and complex, including organisations working with children or across the disability sector, aged care providers and social housing providers. Further information about our safeguarding expertise can be found here.

Childcare and Early Education – Reforms

Both the Commonwealth and the Victorian Government have committed to reforms within the Childcare and Early Education sector.

To support organisations in taking immediate necessary steps to mitigate risk, help prepare for legal reforms and equip them to take a proactive approach to keeping children safe, our team have developed a Childcare and Early Education – Reforms webpage. Containing resources, articles and regular updates, make sure you subscribe to stay in-the-know.