Child Safety

Charles Sturt University is committed to keeping children and young people safe. We follow the Child Safe Standards and the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations. These guide how we create safe environments, reduce risks and respond to concerns.

Child safety applies across our teaching, research, placements, events, online spaces, services and child care centres.

Why it matters

Children and young people may interact with the University as students, visitors, research participants, placement clients, online users or children attending our child care centres.

Everyone has a role in helping keep children safe, including staff, students, affiliates, contractors and partners.

What the University is doing

Charles Sturt supports child safety by:

  • maintaining a Child Safety Policy
  • providing child safety training for staff and students
  • requiring Working With Children Checks where needed
  • managing risks in activities involving children
  • providing clear ways to report concerns
  • reviewing and improving child safety practices in line with the University's Risk Management policy.
  • operating child care centres that meet national requirements

Some of our major work towards this include:

Report a child safety concern

If you think a child or young person is at risk of serious harm, contact the NSW Child Protection Helpline on 13 21 11 or the relevant child protection service in your state or territory.

If the concern involves a Charles Sturt staff member, student, affiliate or partner, report it as soon as possible to your manager and/or the Executive Director, Safety, Security and Wellbeing.

In addition to the information about reporting child protection breaches in the University’s Child Safety Policy, if you are concerned that a University staff member, student or affiliate has potentially caused harm to a child, this needs to be managed and reported via the Executive Director, Safety, Security and Wellbeing (or nominee) to the Office of Children’s Guardian

Access support and resources

If someone is in immediate danger, call Triple Zero (000).

  • Complete the child safety module in Brightspace.
  • Access student counselling: complete the online referral form.
  • Call 24/7 student wellbeing support: 1300 572 516.
  • Check placement requirements: refer to your Course Handbook, subject information or placement materials.
  • Lodge a complaint: contact the University Ombudsman.

Before starting child-related research, make sure you:

  • have a valid Working With Children Check, if required
  • have ethics approval
  • have considered and managed child safety risks
  • follow the Child Safety Policy and relevant research procedures

Charles Sturt operates two child care centres:

  • Murray Children’s Centre at the Albury-Wodonga campus
  • Early Learning and Nurture Centre at the Wagga Wagga campus

Both centres meet national early childhood education and care requirements. Staff, educators and volunteers must hold a valid Working With Children Check.

Families can contact their child care centre directly for information about child safety, centre procedures or reporting concerns.

Key documents and more information

  • Fair Work Ombudsman: learn about workplace rights, pay and conditions.
  • Study Australia: access information for international students.
  • Department of Education: access information about international student rights.
  • Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions: learn about protections against slavery, forced labour and deceptive recruitment.
  • Attorney-General’s Department: access information about protection from exploitation, violence and abuse.