Victorian Current Acts

CHILD WELLBEING AND SAFETY ACT 2005 - SECT 3

    (1)     In this Act—

S. 3(1) def. of applicable entity inserted by No. 63/2015 s. 5(2), amended by No. 4/2018 s. 3(1)(a).

"applicable entity" means—

        (a)     an incorporated body or association; or

        (b)     an unincorporated body or association (however structured); or

        (c)     an individual who—

              (i)     carries on a business; and

              (ii)     engages contractors, employees or volunteers to assist the business in providing services or facilities or in producing or providing goods;

S. 3(1) def. of authorised officer inserted by No. 23/2021 s. 5(2).

"authorised officer" means a person appointed to be an authorised officer under section 27;

S. 3(1) def. of authorised person repealed by No. 79/2012 s. 74(1),
new def. of authorised person inserted by No. 63/2016 s. 5, substituted by No. 23/2021 s. 5(3).

"authorised person" means—

        (a)     an authorised person within the meaning of the Commission for Children and Young People Act 2012 ; or

        (b)     a person authorised under section 26;

S. 3(1) def. of authorised representative inserted by No. 11/2018 s. 5(a).

"authorised representative", in relation to an individual, means a person—

        (a)     who is an authorised representative, within the meaning of section 28(6) of the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 , of that individual; and

        (b)     who is not a person of concern within the meaning of section 144B of the Family Violence Protection Act 2008 ; and

        (c)     who is not alleged to pose a risk of family violence;

S. 3(1) def. of authorising Act inserted by No. 23/2021 s. 5(2).

"authorising Act", in relation to an integrated sector regulator, means—

        (a)     the Act under which the integrated sector regulator is established or continued; or

        (b)     an Act prescribed for that integrated sector regulator;

S. 3(1) def. of category 1 entity inserted by No. 63/2015 s. 5(2), amended by No. 4/2018 s. 3(2)(a), repealed by No. 23/2021 s. 5(1).

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S. 3(1) def. of category 2 entity inserted by No. 63/2015 s. 5(2), amended by No. 4/2018 s. 3(2)(b), repealed by No. 23/2021 s. 5(1).

    *     *     *     *     *

S. 3(1) def. of category of entity inserted by No. 23/2021 s. 5(2).

"category of entity" means—

        (a)     an item in Schedule 1; or

        (b)     any other category (however described) of relevant entity in relation to which a sector regulator—

              (i)     is prescribed; or

              (ii)     is allocated under Part 6;

S. 3(1) def. of central register substituted by No. 96/2005 s. 604(1)(a), repealed by No. 79/2012 s. 74(1).

    *     *     *     *     *

S. 3(1) def. of Chief Commis-sioner of Police inserted by No. 4/2017 s. 5(1).

"Chief Commissioner of Police" means the Chief Commissioner of Police appointed under section 17 of the Victoria Police Act 2013 ;

S. 3(1) def. of child amended by Nos 11/2018 s. 5(b), 23/2021 s. 5(4).

"child" means (other than in Part 6A) a child or young person who is under the age of 18 years;

S. 3(1) def. of child abuse inserted by No. 63/2015 s. 5(2), amended by No. 47/2016 s. 33.

"child abuse" includes—

        (a)     any act committed against a child involving—

              (i)     a sexual offence; or

              (ii)     an offence under section 49M(1) of the Crimes Act 1958 ; and

        (b)     the infliction, on a child, of—

              (i)     physical violence; or

              (ii)     serious emotional or psychological harm; and

        (c)     the serious neglect of a child;

S. 3(1) def. of Child Safe Standards inserted by No. 63/2015 s. 5(2).

"Child Safe Standards "means the standards made under section 17(1) ;

S. 3(1) def. of Child Safety Commis-sioner repealed by No. 79/2012 s. 74(1).

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S. 3(1) def. of Commission inserted by No. 63/2016 s. 5.

"Commission" means the Commission for Children and Young People established by section 6 of the Commission for Children and Young People Act 2012 ;

S. 3(1) def. of confidential information inserted by No. 11/2018 s. 5(a).

"confidential information" means—

        (a)     health information; or

        (b)     personal information; or

        (c)     sensitive information within the meaning set out in Schedule 1 to the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 ; or

        (d)     unique identifiers; or

        (e)     identifiers within the meaning of the Health Records Act 2001 ;

S. 3(1) def. of council amended by No. 9/2020 s. 390(Sch. 1 item 15).

"council" has the same meaning as it has in the Local Government Act 2020 ;

S. 3(1) def. of court inserted by No. 63/2016 s. 5, amended by No. 11/2018 s. 5(c).

"court "means (other than in Parts 6A and 7A) the Magistrates' Court;

S. 3(1) def. of Department inserted by No. 63/2016 s. 5.

"Department "has the same meaning as it has in the Public Administration Act 2004 ;

S. 3(1) def. of employee inserted by No. 4/2017 s. 5(1), amended by No. 4/2018 s. 3(1)(b).

"employee", in relation to an entity to which the reportable conduct scheme applies, means a person of or over the age of 18 years who is—

        (a)     employed by the entity, whether or not the person is employed in connection with any work or activities of the entity that relate to children; or

        (b)     engaged by the entity to provide services, including as a volunteer, contractor, office holder or officer, whether or not the person provides services to children; or

        (c)     if the entity is a religious body (within the meaning of section 81 of the  Equal Opportunity Act 2010 )—a minister of religion, a religious leader or an employee (within the meaning of paragraph (a) or (b)) or officer of the religious body; or

        (d)     either—

              (i)     a foster carer approved by the entity under section 75 of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 with whom a child is or has been placed under that Act or in accordance with an order made under that Act; or

              (ii)     a family member or other person of significance to a child with whom the child is or has been placed in out of home care, or who is supervised in that care, by the entity, or the head of the entity, under the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 or in accordance with an order made under that Act—

and—

              (iii)     a permanent care order has not been made in respect of the child; or

              (iv)     a permanent care order has been made in respect of the child and a reportable allegation in relation to the child is made concerning the permanent carer in respect of the period before the making of the order;

S. 3(1) def. of entity to which the reportable conduct scheme applies inserted by No. 4/2017 s. 5(1).

"entity to which the reportable conduct scheme applies" means—

        (a)     on and after the commencement of Part 5A, an entity referred to in Schedule 3; and

        (b)     on and after 6 months after the commencement of Part 5A, an entity referred to in Schedule 4; and

        (c)     on and after 18 months after the commencement of Part 5A, an entity referred to in Schedule 5; and

        (d)     on and after a prescribed date in relation to that entity or class of entities, a prescribed entity or an entity belonging to a prescribed class of entities;

S. 3(1) def. of family violence inserted by No. 11/2018 s. 5(a).

"family violence" has the same meaning as in the Family Violence Protection Act 2008 ;

S. 3(1) def. of guardian inserted by No. 23/2021 s. 19.

"guardian "includes—

        (a)     a guardian within the meaning of the Guardianship and Administration Act 2019 ; or

        (b)     in the case of a child, a person with parental responsibility for the child;

S. 3(1) def. of head inserted by No. 4/2017 s. 5(1), substituted by No. 4/2018 s. 3(1)(c).

"head", in relation to an entity to which the reportable conduct scheme applies, means—

        (a)     if the entity is a Department, the Secretary to the Department or the delegate of the Secretary; or

        (b)     if the regulations prescribe a person or a class of persons as the head of an entity, the prescribed person or a person belonging to the prescribed class of persons; or

        (c)     in any other case—

              (i)     the chief executive officer of the entity (however described); or

              (ii)     if there is no chief executive officer, the principal officer of the entity (however described); or

              (iii)     if there is no chief executive officer or principal officer, a person, or the holder of a position, in the entity nominated by the entity and approved by the Commission;

S. 3(1) def. of head of a relevant entity inserted by No. 63/2016 s. 5.

"head of a relevant entity "means—

        (a)     an individual who is primarily responsible for—

              (i)     engaging and terminating the engagement of the relevant entity's employees; and

              (ii)     managing the relevant entity's employees; or

        (b)     a person nominated by the relevant entity; or

        (c)     a person or class of person prescribed to be a head of a relevant entity;

S. 3(1) def. of health information inserted by No. 11/2018 s. 5(a).

"health information" has the same meaning as in  section 3(1) of the Health Records Act 2001 ;

S. 3(1) def. of health professional substituted by Nos 97/2005 s. 182(Sch. 4 item 9), 13/2010 s. 51(Sch. item 11.1), repealed by No. 79/2012 s. 74(1).

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S. 3(1) def. of health service repealed by No. 79/2012 s. 74(1).

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S. 3(1) def. of human service amended by Nos 23/2006 s. 233, 80/2011 s. 79(Sch. item 1), repealed by No. 79/2012 s. 74(1).

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S. 3(1) def. of independent investigator inserted by No. 4/2017 s. 5(1).

"independent investigator" means an independent body or person with appropriate qualifications, training or experience to investigate reportable allegations;

S. 3(1) def. of information sharing entity inserted by No. 11/2018 s. 5(a).

information sharing entity has the meaning set out in section 41R ;

S. 3(1) def. of integrated sector regulator inserted by No. 23/2021 s. 5(2).

integrated sector regulator has the meaning set out in section 25F;

"Maternal and Child Health Centre" means a centre where health advice is given to the parents and other caregivers of children under 6 years of age;

S. 3(1) def. of medical practitioner inserted by No. 13/2010 s. 51(Sch. item 11.2), repealed by No. 79/2012 s. 74(1).

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S. 3(1) def. of midwife inserted by No. 13/2010 s. 51(Sch. item 11.2).

"midwife "means a person registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law—

        (a)     to practise in the nursing and midwifery profession as a midwife (other than as a student); and

        (b)     in the register of midwives kept for that profession;

S. 3(1) def. of municipal district amended by No. 9/2020 s. 390(Sch. 1 item 15).

"municipal district" has the same meaning as it has in the Local Government Act 2020 ;

S. 3(1) def. of notice to comply inserted by No. 63/2016 s. 5.

"notice to comply", in Part 6, means a notice given to a relevant entity under section 31;

S. 3(1) def. of notice to produce , in Part 5A inserted by No. 4/2017 s. 5(1).

"notice to produce", in Part 5A, means a notice given to an entity under section 16ZG;

S. 3(1) def. of notice to produce , in Part 6 inserted by No. 63/2016 s. 5.

"notice to produce", in Part 6, means a notice given to a relevant entity under section 30;

S. 3(1) def. of nurse inserted by No. 13/2010 s. 51(Sch. item 11.2), amended by Nos 79/2012 s. 74(2), 63/2015 s. 5(1).

"nurse "means a person registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law to practise in the nursing and midwifery profession as a nurse (other than as a midwife or as a student);

S. 3(1) def. of occupier inserted by No. 23/2021 s. 19.

"occupier" in relation to any premises or place, includes a person present at the premises or place who is in apparent control of the premises or place;

S. 3(1) def. of
out of home care service substituted by No. 96/2005 s. 604(1)(b), repealed by No. 79/2012 s. 74(1).

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S. 3(1) def. of performance standards substituted by No. 96/2005 s. 604(1)(c), repealed by No. 79/2012 s. 74(1).

    *     *     *     *     *

S. 3(1) def. of permanent care order inserted by No. 4/2017 s. 5(1).

"permanent care order" has the same meaning
as in the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 ;

S. 3(1) def. of personal information inserted by No. 11/2018 s. 5(a).

"personal information" has the same meaning as in section 3 of the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 ;

S. 3(1) def. of post-secondary qualification repealed by No. 79/2012 s. 74(1).

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S. 3(1) def. of psychologist inserted by No. 13/2010 s. 51(Sch. item 11.2), repealed by No. 79/2012 s. 74(1).

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S. 3(1) def. of public sector body inserted by No. 23/2021 s. 5(2).

"public sector body" has the same meaning as in the Public Administration Act 2004 ;

S. 3(1) def. of public sector body Head inserted by No. 6/2024 s. 9.

"public sector body Head" has the same meaning as it has in the Public Administration Act 2004 ;

S. 3(1) def. of registered health practitioner inserted by No. 4/2017 s. 5(1).

"registered health practitioner" has the same meaning as in the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law;

S. 3(1) def. of regulator inserted by No. 4/2017 s. 5(1).

"regulator", for the purposes of the reportable conduct scheme—

        (a)     in relation to an entity to which the reportable conduct scheme applies, means any of the following—

              (i)     a Department that is responsible for regulating the entity;

              (ii)     a Department that provides funding to the entity;

              (iii)     the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority established under section 4.2.1 of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 if the entity is referred to in item 1, 2, 3 or 4 of Schedule 3;

              (iv)     any other body—

    (A)     that regulates or funds the entity; and

    (B)     that is prescribed to be a regulator in respect of the entity;

        (b)     in relation to an employee, means any of the following, as the case requires—

              (i)     the Suitability Panel established by section 98 of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 ;

              (ii)     the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency established by section 23 of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law;

              (iii)     a National Health Practitioner Board established by section 31 of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law;

              (iv)     the Victorian Institute of Teaching continued in operation by section 2.6.2 of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 ;

              (v)     any other body that is prescribed to be a regulator in respect of the employee;

S. 3(1) def. of Regulatory Authority inserted by No. 23/2021 s. 5(2A) (as amended by No. 43/2022 s. 11).

"Regulatory Authority"—

        (a)     in relation to a relevant entity referred to in item 9 of Schedule 1, means the Regulatory Authority within the meaning of the Education and Care Services National Law (Victoria); and

Note

Section 8 of the Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 defines the Regulatory Authority for the purposes of the Education and Care Services National Law (Victoria).

        (b)     in relation to a relevant entity referred to in item 10 of Schedule 1, has the same meaning as in section 3(1) of the Children's Services Act 1996 ;

S. 3(1) def. of relevant authority inserted by No. 63/2016 s. 5,
repealed by No. 23/2021 s. 5(1).

    *     *     *     *     *

S. 3(1) def. of relevant entity inserted by No. 63/2016 s. 5, amended by No. 4/2018 s. 3(2)(c).

relevant entity means—

        (a)     an entity that is required under section 19, 20 or 21 to comply with the Child Safe Standards; or

        (b)     an individual who is required under section 23 to comply with the Child Safe Standards;

S. 3(1) def. of reportable allegation inserted by No. 4/2017 s. 5(1).

"reportable allegation" means any information that leads a person to form a reasonable belief that an employee has committed—

        (a)     reportable conduct; or

        (b)     misconduct that may involve reportable conduct—

whether or not the conduct or misconduct is alleged to have occurred within the course of the person's employment;

S. 3(1) def. of reportable conduct inserted by No. 4/2017 s. 5(1).

"reportable conduct" means—

        (a)     a sexual offence committed against, with or in the presence of, a child, whether or not a criminal proceeding in relation to the offence has been commenced or concluded; or

        (b)     sexual misconduct, committed against, with or in the presence of, a child; or

        (c)     physical violence committed against, with or in the presence of, a child; or

        (d)     any behaviour that causes significant emotional or psychological harm to a child; or

        (e)     significant neglect of a child;

S. 3(1) def. of reportable conduct scheme inserted by No. 4/2017 s. 5(1).

"reportable conduct scheme" means the scheme set out in Part 5A;

S. 3(1) def. of restricted information sharing entity inserted by No. 11/2018 s. 5(a).

restricted information sharing entity has the meaning set out in section 41S;

S. 3(1) def. of Secretary repealed by No. 79/2012 s. 74(1).

    *     *     *     *     *

S. 3(1) def. of sector regulator inserted by No. 23/2021 s. 5(2).

sector regulator has the meaning set out in section 25B;

S. 3(1) def. of sexual misconduct inserted by No. 4/2017 s. 5(1).

"sexual misconduct" includes behaviour, physical contact or speech or other communication of a sexual nature, inappropriate touching, grooming behaviour and voyeurism;

S. 3(1) def. of sexual offence inserted by No. 4/2017 s. 5(1).

"sexual offence" means an offence referred to in clause 1 of Schedule 1 to the Sentencing Act 1991 ;

S. 3(1) def. of significant inserted by No. 4/2017 s. 5(1).

"significant", in relation to emotional or psychological harm or neglect, means that the harm or neglect is more than trivial or insignificant, but need not be as high as serious and need not have a lasting permanent effect;

S. 3(1) def. of State contract repealed by No. 79/2012 s. 74(1), new def. of State contract inserted by No. 63/2015 s. 5(2), amended by No. 4/2017 s. 5(2).

"State contract" has the same meaning as it has in the Commission for Children and Young People Act 2012 ;

S. 3(1) def. of statutory office inserted by No. 23/2021 s. 5(2).

"statutory office" has the same meaning as in the Public Administration Act 2004 ;

S. 3(1) def. of unique identifier inserted by No. 11/2018 s. 5(a).

"unique identifier" has the same meaning as in Schedule 1 to the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 ;

S. 3(1) def. of Victoria Police inserted by No. 4/2017 s. 5(1).

"Victoria Police" has the same meaning as in the Victoria Police Act 2013 ;

S. 3(1) def. of VRQA inserted by No. 23/2021 s. 5(2).

"VRQA" means the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority established under Chapter 4 of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 ;

S. 3(1) def. of welfare practitioner repealed by No. 79/2012 s. 74(1).

    *     *     *     *     *

S. 3(1) def. of working with children check inserted by No. 4/2017 s. 5(1), repealed by No. 34/2020 s. 169(b).

    *     *     *     *     *

S. 3(1) def. of WWC check inserted by No. 34/2020 s. 169(a).

"WWC check" has the same meaning as in the Worker Screening Act 2020 .

S. 3(2) inserted by No. 63/2015 s. 5(3), substituted by No. 4/2018 s. 3(3), amended by No. 23/2021 s. 5(5).

    (2)     A reference in this Act to the provision of a service or facility or the production or provision of goods by a relevant entity or applicable entity is, in relation to an individual who carries on a business, a reference to the provision of the service or facility or the production or provision of goods by the business.

Part 2—Principles for children