Complying with Child Safe Standard 5 – People (for transport providers)

Standard 5 – People working with children are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing vales in practice.

How you can comply

Ensure you and those who work for you (workers as defined in the Child Safe Organisations Act 2024) have the appropriate screening checks to be working with children (any person under 18) and are aware of their responsibilities.

How you may already be complying

As part of your recruitment, you would already verify that:

  • drivers hold a valid driver authorisation for passenger transport services as required
  • supervisors on specialist school transport services hold a Working with Children Check (blue card) as required.

Continue to monitor the expiry dates of these checks and meet other obligations as required.

You may also provide induction/training to ensure drivers understand their roles and responsibilities, which you can build on.

Best-practice ideas

Make sure your recruitment policies and processes:

  • include mandatory background checks such as
    • reference checks
    • Working with Children Check (blue card) for roles working directly with children (e.g. supervisors in buses providing specialist school transport services must have a blue card or exemption).
  • promote the employment of Aboriginal workers and Torres Strait Islander workers, including in leadership roles so that Aboriginal children and Torres Strait Islander children have access to relevant workers and support networks when they need it
  • promote the employment of people from minority groups such as people with disability and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) people, including in leadership roles, so that children from minority groups have access to relevant workers and support networks when they need it.

Develop or adjust your existing induction/onboarding policies and processes so they include:

  • your organisation's child safety and wellbeing policies and procedures, including complaints management procedures
  • worker responsibility to keep children safe
  • acceptance and inclusion of all cultures, religions, nationalities, disabilities and differences
  • opportunities for your workers to provide feedback on the induction to help its quality and relevance.

Visit the Queensland Family and Child Commission's (QFCC) training hub for ideas about content and methods to use in your induction.

Cultural safety and this Standard

Train your workers in culturally safe practices with regard to Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islander people to build cultural awareness, sensitivity and competency.

For larger organisations, look for opportunities for Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islander people to hold leadership positions or participate in decision making with the organisation.

Related Standards

Complying with this Standard can also help you comply with:

Also consider...