Commonwealth Child Safe Framework Compliance Statement

The DVSC is committed to the Commonwealth Child Safe Framework and the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations.

A statement of compliance is published each year which outlines our ongoing commitment to child safety, outcomes of the annual child safety risk assessment and compliance with the framework.

Statement of compliance with the Commonwealth Child Safe Framework 2025-26

The Defence and Veterans’ Service Commission (DVSC) is committed to promoting and maintaining a culture that supports the safety and wellbeing of children and young people.

DVSC was established on 29 September 2025 as a non-corporate Commonwealth entity. As part of its establishment, DVSC has taken steps to implement the Commonwealth Child Safe Framework and embed child safe practices into relevant governance, policies, risk management and employee capability arrangements.

DVSC recognises the importance of ensuring children and young people are safe, protected and respected in any interaction they may have with DVSC, whether direct, indirect, incidental, physical or online.

Implementation of the Commonwealth Child Safe Framework

During its establishment, DVSC adopted and commenced implementation of the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations through the development of a Child Safe Policy. The policy sets out DVSC’s expectations for child safe conduct, governance, and employee responsibilities.

DVSC is also establishing a system of training and compliance to support employees to understand their obligations under the Commonwealth Child Safe Framework and the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations. This includes making child safe training available to relevant employees and supporting awareness of child safety responsibilities across DVSC.

DVSC has undertaken child safety risk assessments of its activities to identify where children and young people may interact with DVSC or be affected by DVSC’s work. These assessments considered potential areas of direct, indirect, or incidental contact with children and young people, and the controls required to prevent and manage risk. 

Child safety risk assessment

DVSC’s initial child safety risk assessment considered the nature of DVSC’s work, its operating environment, and the likelihood of interaction with children and young people.

The assessment found that DVSC has limited direct interaction with children and young people in its day-to-day operations. However, contact may occur in specific circumstances, including:

• attendance at hearings, roundtables or stakeholder engagement hosted by the DVSC 
• in the DVSC office such as ‘School Leaver’ Program participation, or children of staff members
• written correspondence 
• attendance at an event hosted by DVSC
• work from home while children are present.

DVSC is implementing controls and strategies proportionate to these risks. These include child safe policy requirements, employee training and awareness, risk assessments for relevant activities, reporting and escalation pathways, and consideration of child safety in relevant procurement, engagement and governance processes.

DVSC will continue to review its child safety risk profile as its functions and activities develop.

Ongoing commitment

DVSC is committed to continuing to strengthen its child safe culture and practices. Over the next reporting period, DVSC will focus on:

• continuing to embed the Child Safe Policy and National Principles for Child Safe Organisations into relevant governance, risk and operational processes
• monitoring completion of child safe training and supporting employee awareness of obligations
• reviewing child safety risks as part of relevant activity planning and risk assessment processes
• ensuring child safe considerations are addressed where third parties undertake activities on DVSC’s behalf
• reviewing and improving child safe controls as DVSC grows and its operating model matures.

DVSC considers that it has taken proportionate steps to comply with the Commonwealth Child Safe Framework and will continue to monitor, review and strengthen its arrangements to support the safety and wellbeing of children and young people.