This episode discusses why and how the Royal Commission was set up, the implications of the Commission’s findings across child safe organisations, the challenges that some organisations faced in updating their policy and practice, and where organisations can now find support and other helpful resources to become more child safe.

CONTENT WARNING: This episode discusses themes and topics that may be upsetting for some audiences. We encourage you to look after your mental health and seek help if necessary.

BEYOND BLUE: 1300 22 4636 https://www.beyondblue.org.au/

LIFELINE: 131 114 https://www.lifeline.org.au/about/our-services/

NSW MENTAL HEALTH LINE: 1800 011 511 https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/mentalhealth/Pages/mental-health-line.aspx

KIDS HELPLINE: 1800 551 800 https://kidshelpline.com.au/

We’d like to thank our guest speakers on this episode:

Justice Peter McClelland was a Judge of Appeal in New South Wales. Prior to this, he was the Chief Judge at Common Law of Supreme Court of New South Wales, a Judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, Chief Judge of the Land and Environment Court of New South Wales, Chairman of the Sydney Water Inquiry and Assistant Commissioner at the Independent Commission Against Corruption. He was also the head of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses into Child Sexual Abuse.

Richard Weston is the first Deputy Children’s Guardian for Aboriginal Children and Young People in New South Wales, bringing more than 25 years of experience in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs to the role. The 20 years prior to this role he has held a number of CEO positions in First Nations peak bodies focused on health, healing and children. He is an experienced leader who has worked in very challenging social and political environments and delivered measurable social, health and economic outcomes. He has also been part of a number of advisory groups and committees working on national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander policy matters. Most recently has been appointed to the Federal Governments Referendum Engagement Group to support Constitutional Recognition of a First Nations Voice to Parliament.

Karen Jones is the Chief Executive of the NSW Office of Sport, leading 400 employees across 18 locations, to set the state sport policy agenda and provide direct service delivery to communities throughout NSW. Karen’s role is to work with government, the sport sector and key partners to create healthier people, connect communities and make a stronger NSW through the power of sport and recreation. Despite significant challenges in recent years, Karen is proud to have continued serving communities and supporting the sport sector. Throughout various adverse weather events, including bushfire, flood and drought, the Office of Sport has operated its sport and recreation centres as evacuation centres to provide displaced community members with accommodation and assist emergency services workers. In addition, the Office of Sport has offered relief programs for youth who were directly impacted during these difficult times and administered grant programs to support the repair and restoration of vital sport infrastructure.

Support and Resources:

Find out more about the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses into Sexual Abuse - https://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/

Office of the Children’s Guardian resources - https://ocg.nsw.gov.au/our-resources

Office of Sport - https://www.sport.nsw.gov.au/

Play by the Rules resources - https://www.playbytherules.net.au/

Looking for support from an OCG Child Safe Officer specific to your sector, or book a training webinar for your staff - childsafe@ocg.nsw.gov.au