LCA Child Safety Standards updated

In preparation for round two of the Child Safety Self-Assessments and Child Safety Standards Action Plans, the LCA Child Safety Standards have been reviewed to check they continue to be fit for purpose and cover all the changes occurring in child safety requirements across Australia.

The LCA’s updated Child Safety Standards were approved by the General Church Board (GCB) at its June meeting. The standards are available at www.lca.org.au/css

The online tools for submitting Child Safety Self-Assessments and Child Safety Standards Action Plans and some resources have been removed from the Child Safety webpages while they are updated.

We will have them back in place as soon as possible so congregations can begin their round two self-assessments.

Child Safety Standards Action Plans for round two are due to be submitted by 31 March 2025.

Congregation leadership can begin preparing for round two now by:

• doing a final review of their 2022–23 Child Safety Standards Action Plans
• familiarising themselves with the updated Child Safety Standards
• starting the process of selecting assessors, ready to begin their self-assessments.

Leadership and assessors are advised to wait until all updated resources are available on the website (including the updated portal) before beginning their self-assessments. Once this has occurred, it will be announced in LCA eNews.