CHILD WELLBEING AND SAFETY ACT 2005

Table of Provisions

PART 1--PRELIMINARY

• 1 Purposes  
• 2 Commencement  
• 3 Definitions  

PART 2--PRINCIPLES FOR CHILDREN

• 4 Principles are for guidance  
• 5 Principles for children  
• 5A Principles for compliance with Child Safe Standards  

PART 3--CHILD WELLBEING AND SAFETY

• 6 The role of the Minister  
• 7 Role of the Secretary in relation to Aboriginal communities  

PART 4--VICTORIAN CHILDREN'S COUNCIL

• 8 Establishment of Victorian Children's Council  
• 9 Constitution of Council  
• 10 Functions of the Council  
• 11 Sub-committees  
• 12 Procedure of the Council  

PART 5--CHILDREN'S SERVICES CO‑ORDINATION BOARD

• 13 Establishment of Children's Services Co-ordination Board  
• 14 Constitution of Board  
• 15 Functions of the Board  
• 16 Procedure of the Board  

PART 5A--REPORTABLE CONDUCT SCHEME

• 16A Definition  
• 16B Principles  
• 16C Application of reportable conduct scheme  
• 16D Administration, oversight and monitoring of scheme  
• 16E Avoiding unnecessary duplication  
• 16F Objectives of Commission under this Part  
• 16G Functions of Commission under this Part  
• 16H Powers of the Commission  
• 16I Exemption by Commission  
• 16J Exemption from whole of scheme  
• 16K Head of entity to have systems in place  
• 16L Disclosure to Commission of reportable allegation  
• 16M Head of entity to notify Commission of reportable allegation  
• 16N Head of entity to respond to reportable allegation  
• 16O Commission may investigate reportable allegation  
• 16P Commission may visit entity  
• 16Q Commission may interview employee  
• 16R Commission may interview child  
• 16S Commission may interview employee subject of reportable allegation  
• 16T Commission may obtain information from Victoria Police  
• 16U Victoria Police investigation has priority  
• 16V Commission may request regulator to investigate or provide information and documents  
• 16W Commission may monitor regulator's investigation  
• 16X Regulator may disclose information or documents to Commission  
• 16Y Disclosure of information or documents  
• 16Z Protection against self-incrimination  
• 16ZA Assistance to be provided  
• 16ZB Disclosure of information about investigations to children, parents and carers  
• 16ZC Disclosure of information to the Commission, the head of an entity, a regulator, Victoria Police and others  
• 16ZD Commission to notify Secretary after finding of reportable conduct  
• 16ZE Prohibition on publishing certain information  
• 16ZF False or misleading information  
• 16ZG Notice to produce  
• 16ZH Application for declaration and order that entity pay a civil penalty  
• 16ZI Internal review  
• 16ZJ Review by VCAT  
• 16ZJA Delegation  
• 16ZK Service of documents  
• 16ZKA Power to bring a proceeding  
• 16ZKB Time for commencing proceeding for offence against section 16M(4)  
• 16ZL Annual reports and other reports  
• 16ZM Giving a report to Parliament  
• 16ZN Review of reportable conduct scheme after 5 years of operation  

PART 6--CHILD SAFE STANDARDS

Division 1--Child Safe Standards

• 17 Minister may make Child Safe Standards  
• 19 Schedule 1 entities must comply with Child Safe Standards  
• 20 Prescribed applicable entity must comply with Child Safe Standards  
• 21 Applicable entity belonging to a prescribed class must comply with Child Safe Standards  
• 22 Exemption from requirement to comply with Child Safe Standards  
• 23 Application of Child Safe Standards to businesses not carried on by certain entities  
• 23A Compliance with Child Safe Standards generally  

Division 2--The Commission

• 24 Objectives of Commission  
• 25 Functions and powers of the Commission  
• 25A Guidance notes on Child Safe Standards  

Division 2A--Sector regulators and integrated sector regulators

• 25B Sector regulators  
• 25C Multiple sector regulators or integrated sector regulators  
• 25D Functions and powers of sector regulators  
• 25E Delegation by certain sector regulators  
• 25F Integrated sector regulators  
• 25G Functions and powers of integrated sector regulators  
• 25H Delegation by certain integrated sector regulators  

Division 3--Monitoring and enforcement of compliance with the Child Safe Standards

• 26 Sector regulator may authorise persons to assist  
• 27 Appointment of authorised officers  
• 28 Identity cards  
• 29 Production of identity card  
• 29A Powers of authorised officers to enter premises  
• 29B Notice required for entry with consent  
• 29C Powers after entry and consent  
• 29D Acknowledgement of document or thing seized during entry with consent  
• 29E Application for warrant  
• 29F Entry under warrant  
• 29G Powers after entry under warrant  
• 29H Failure to provide assistance  
• 29I Powers after entry without consent or warrant  
• 29J Acknowledgment of seizure during entry without consent  
• 29K Failure to provide assistance  
• 29L Authorised officer may interview child  
• 29M Affidavits  
• 29N Seizure of documents and things  
• 29O Destruction of seized document or thing  
• 29P Offence to obstruct authorised officer  
• 29Q Offence to impersonate authorised officer  
• 29R Complaints  
• 29S Power to bring proceedings  
• 30 Notice to produce  
• 31 Notice to comply  
• 32 False or misleading information  
• 32A Criminal liability of officers of relevant entities—failure to exercise due diligence  
• 32B Immunity  
• 32C Nomination of proper defendant  
• 33 Application to court  
• 34 Civil penalty  
• 34A Injunctions  
• 34B Interim injunctions  
• 34C Adverse publicity orders  
• 34D Offence to fail to comply with notice to produce or notice to comply  
• 34E Pending criminal or civil proceedings  
• 35 Reasonable excuse  
• 36 Assistance to be provided  
• 36A Official warnings  
• 36B Infringement notices  
• 36C Enforceable undertakings  
• 36D Sector regulators must maintain register of undertakings  
• 36E No proceedings while enforceable undertaking in force  
• 36F Proceedings following withdrawal of enforceable undertaking  
• 36G No further proceedings if enforceable undertaking complied with  
• 36H Enforcement of undertakings  
• 36I Sector regulator may publish details of non-compliance  
• 39 Service of documents under Part 6  

Division 4--Information collection, use and disclosure powers of Commission, sector regulators and integrated sector regulators

• 40 Definitions  
• 40A Request by relevant person for information or documents  
• 40B Notice of use of information or document  
• 41 Matters relevant to disclosures of information or documents  
• 41A Disclosures made in good faith  
• 41B Disclosure for purposes of functions or powers permitted  
• 41BA Disclosure to certain individuals permitted  
• 41C Disclosure by relevant person of protected information to another relevant person  
• 41D Disclosure to report concerns permitted  
• 41E Disclosure to protect child permitted  
• 41F Disclosure to court or tribunal permitted  
• 41G Disclosure to obtain legal advice permitted  
• 41H Disclosing information to other authorities  
• 41HA Disclosure of protected information by relevant persons prohibited  

Division 5--Review

• 41I Internal review  
• 41J Application to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal  

Division 6--Reporting

• 41K Report of compliance by relevant entities with Child Safe Standards  
• 41KA Commission may request information for reports  
• 41L Matters to be included in annual report must not include identifying information  
• 41M Opportunity to respond to adverse comment or opinion in report  

Division 7--Reporting to Parliament

• 41N Application of Division  
• 41O Giving the report to Parliament  

PART 6A--INFORMATION SHARING

Division 1--Preliminary

• 41P Definitions  
• 41Q Meaning of excluded information  
• 41R Meaning of information sharing entity  
• 41S Meaning of restricted information sharing entity  
• 41T Application of this Part to courts and tribunals  
• 41U Principles  

Division 2--Information sharing

• 41V Voluntary disclosure for wellbeing or safety of children  
• 41W Request for confidential information for wellbeing or safety of children  
• 41X Further disclosure of confidential information  
• 41Y Voluntary disclosure to child or person with parental responsibility or with whom child is living  
• 41Z Collection and use of confidential information  

Division 3--Guidelines, protected disclosures and recording requirements

• 41ZA Guidelines  
• 41ZB Use and disclosure in good faith protected  
• 41ZC Recording requirements  

Division 4--Relationship of this Part with other Acts

• 41ZD Information sharing entities under the Family Violence Protection Act 2008  
• 41ZE Part does not affect handling of confidential information permitted by other Acts  
• 41ZF Restrictions on access to confidential information  
• 41ZG Application of Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 to certain information sharing entities and restricted information sharing entities  
• 41ZH Information sharing entities and restricted information sharing entities authorised to disclose confidential information despite specified provisions  
• 41ZI Disclosure of confidential information is not breach of Family Violence Protection Act 2008  
• 41ZJ Disclosure of confidential information is not breach of Judicial Proceedings Reports Act 1958  

Division 5--Offences

• 41ZK Unauthorised use and disclosure of confidential information collected under this Part  
• 41ZL Intentional or reckless unauthorised use and disclosure of confidential information  
• 41ZM False claim that person is or represents an information sharing entity or a restricted information sharing entity  

Division 6--Review

• 41ZN Review of operation of Part within 2 years  
• 41ZO Review of operation of Part within 5 years  

PART 7--BIRTH NOTIFICATION

• 42 Application of Part  
• 43 Early notification of births  
• 44 How must the birth notice be given?  
• 45 What must be done once notice is received?  
• 46 Offence to fail to give notice  

PART 7A--CHILD LINK REGISTER

Division 1--Definitions

• 46A Definitions  

Division 2--The Child Link Register

• 46B The Child Link Register  
• 46C Secretary must create Child Link entry and allocate Child Link identifier  
• 46D Particulars to be included in the Register  
• 46E Secretary may decide not to record information on the Register  
• 46F Entry in the Register for child who turns 18, leaves school or dies  

Division 3--Secretary authorised to collect, use and disclose information for Register purposes

• 46G Secretary authorised to collect, use and disclose information for purposes of establishing and maintaining the Register  
• 46H Secretary authorised to collect and use information for purposes of data management  
• 46I Disclosure of information to the Secretary  
• 46J No consent required  

Division 4--Access to Child Link Register and use and disclosure of information contained in the Register

• 46K Who is a Child Link user?  
• 46L Delegation  
• 46M Child Link users may access and use confidential information in the Register  
• 46N Secretary may remove Child Link user access to the Register  
• 46O Use and disclosure of de-identified information derived from the Register  
• 46P Restrictions on access to confidential information  
• 46Q Person authorised to disclose confidential information despite specified provisions  
• 46R Application of Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 to certain Child Link users  

Division 5--Guidelines

• 46S Guidelines  

Division 6--Offences

• 46T Unauthorised access to the Register  
• 46U Access to the Register for unauthorised purpose  
• 46V Unauthorised use and disclosure of confidential information contained in the Register  
• 46W Intentional or reckless unauthorised use and disclosure of confidential information contained in the Register  

Division 7--Review of operation of Part

• 46X Review of operation of Part within 2 years  

Division 8--Transitional provisions

• 46Y Secretary may create entries in the Register  
• 46Z Appointed days for application of section 46M and Schedule 6 to Child Link users  

PART 7B--QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH NURSES

• 46ZAA Maternal and Child Health Centres  
• 46ZAB State-wide telephone services  
• 46ZAC Part not to affect employment contracts or workplace instruments  

PART 8--GENERAL

Division 1--Offences by bodies corporate

• 46ZA Imputing conduct to bodies corporate  
• 46ZB Criminal liability of officers of bodies corporate—accessorial liability  

Division 2--Regulations

• 46ZC Information sharing and Child Link regulation making power  
• 46ZD Maternal and child health nurse regulation making power  
• 46ZE Child Safe Standards regulation making power  
• 47 General regulation making power  

PART 9--TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS

Division 1--Children Legislation Amendment (Reportable Conduct) Act 2017

• 48 Children Legislation Amendment (Reportable Conduct) Act 2017  

Division 2--Children Legislation Amendment (Information Sharing) Act 2018

• 49 Children Legislation Amendment (Information Sharing) Act 2018  

Division 3--Child Wellbeing and Safety (Child Safe Standards Compliance and Enforcement) Amendment Act 2021

• 50 Definitions  
• 51 Pending investigations  
• 52 Investigation of conduct before commencement day  
• SCHEDULE 1
• SCHEDULE 3
• SCHEDULE 4
• SCHEDULE 5
• SCHEDULE 6
• SCHEDULE 7
ENDNOTES