Complying with Child Safe Standard 2 – Voice of children (for transport providers)

Standard 2 – Children are informed about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.

How you can comply

Make sure your communications with children (any person under 18) are appropriate and they have ways to share their input and feedback on their interactions with your service. Their insights should be used to inform improvements in the service.

How you may already be complying

You may already invite feedback from children on your services at the end of the school year. Under the Code of conduct for school students travelling on buses there is an expectation that:

  • you treat school students fairly and with respect
  • when you are responding to misconduct, students are given an opportunity to be heard and respond.

Best-practice ideas

Share your organisation's approach to child safety and wellbeing with the children using your service. For example, you could:

  • encourage children to provide feedback, such as
    • give school students using a school bus service a feedback form at the end of each term or school year, so they can have their say on services
    • provide an opportunity for children using taxi and booked hire services specifically for children to provide a rating at the end of the trip using in-app features
  • consider other methods of gathering feedback, ensuring they are accessible for children with disability or from non-English speaking backgrounds
  • encourage Aboriginal children and Torres Strait Islander children to provide feedback about your organisation's level of cultural safety, if they feel like they belong and are treated fairly when interacting with your organisation, or where you could improve – ensure the activity is undertaken in a way that is culturally safe
  • ensure children know who they can talk to if they need to report a concern or complaint about one of your workers (as defined in the Child Safe Organisations Act 2024)
  • track and respond to feedback you receive
  • use the feedback information when you review and update your policies and procedures
  • attend as a guest speaker at your local schools to discuss your approach and students' responsibility for safe travel.

Cultural safety and this Standard

Co-develop resources and information with Aboriginal children and families and Torres Strait Islander children and families.

Value and respond to the contributions of Aboriginal children and Torres Strait Islander children to build their trust and confidence to take part.

Related Standards

Complying with this Standard can also help you comply with:

Also consider...