Last week, we proudly unveiled the Child Safeguarding Business Principles, setting a new standard for how Australian businesses can ensure their products and services do not inadvertently put children and young people at risk. The launch event, hosted and sponsored by GPT at their Space&Co Darling Park venue, was a resounding success, with leading organisations coming together to discuss why safeguarding children must be a priority for all businesses – whether or not they work directly with children.
The Four Principles: A Framework for Change
The event showcased the Child Safeguarding Business Principles which provide a clear, actionable framework for businesses to embed child safeguarding into their operations, addressing risks and promoting a culture of safety across industries. These principles focus on:
- Principle 1 – Governance and Leadership: We recognise that we have a role to play in promoting the safety and wellbeing of children and young people.
- Principle 2 – People and Practices: We recognise that it is important for our people and business practices to be safe for children and young people.
- Principle 3 – Children and Young People’s Voice: We seek to include the voice of children and young people when making decisions that may affect their safety and wellbeing.
- Principle 4 – Collaboration and Continuous Improvement: We recognise the importance of collective action, and that it is on all of us to keep children and young people safe.
These principles are designed to guide businesses in creating tangible change, ensuring their products, services, supply chains, operations and people cause no harm to children and young people.
Highlights from the Launch Event
The event featured a dynamic panel discussion facilitated by Phil Doorgachurn, Executive Director of On Us coalition, with insights from key leaders across various sectors:
- Caroline Brunne, a business owner with lived experience, passionately emphasised the importance of children’s voices, stating that children grow up with brands and are loyal to those they trust and feel safe with—while abandoning those they don’t.
- Angela Crossland, National Sustainability Manager at GPT Group, shared how being part of the On Us coalition has helped GPT collaborate with organisations like Westpac to create their first child safeguarding action plan to embed child safeguarding across their assets such as their shopping centres.
- Michael Dalton, Director of Risk and Security for IHG Hotels & Resorts, highlighted how the On Us coalition has empowered their young staff to act on safeguarding concerns and helped create child safeguarding hubs in their hotels.
- Dr Kavitha Suthanthiraraj from Westpac discussed how the On Us coalition has supported Westpac to embed child safeguarding into their products and services through safety-by-design principles and comprehensive training.
The panel demonstrated how the Child Safeguarding Business Principles will help all Australian business to drive meaningful action and create an Australia where all business come together so children and young people are safe.
Media Coverage and Momentum
The launch generated significant media coverage, including features in The Daily Telegraph, Herald Sun, The Courier-Mail, The Advertiser, and The Mercury. This spotlight is amplifying the importance of child safeguarding and encouraging more businesses to take action.
What’s Next?
Looking ahead, we are excited to:
- Launch of the Child Safeguarding Business Principles Self-Assessment Tool to support business identify how their current practices align against the Principles.
- Launch of an e-learning training course to raise awareness of child safeguarding in business environments
- Launch of the Child Safeguarding Business Toolkit in early 2024 to help businesses implement the Principles.
Next Event
We are pleased to be hosting our third Masterclass with Tony’s Chocolonely, who will be joining us from Amsterdam on the evening of the 27th February 2025. The Masterclass will support business to delve into Child Safeguarding Business Principle 1 with a specific focus on supply chains and how Tony’s Chocolonely has created their open-source chain to significantly reduce child exploitation in supply chains. Join us for the event by emailing info@onus.org.au to find out more.
Thank You
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to this incredible milestone. Your passion and leadership are helping pave the way for a safer future for children and young people.
If your business is ready to take the next step in safeguarding children, we encourage you to join On Us: Australian Business Coalition for Safeguarding Children today.
For more information, visit OnUs.org.au.
