Protecting Australia's Children

The National Framework for Protecting Australia's Children 2009-2020

On 30 April 2009, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) endorsed the first National Framework for Protecting Australia's Children 2009–2020 (the National Framework).

In response to the increasing number of Australian children who are being exposed to child abuse and neglect, the Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments and the non-government sector through the Coalition of Organisations Committed to the Safety and Wellbeing of Australia’s Children are working together to implement a comprehensive national approach to protecting Australia’s children.

The National Framework outlines an ambitious, long term national approach to ensuring the safety and well-being of Australia’s children.  It aims to deliver a substantial and sustained reduction in levels of child abuse and neglect over time.  The National Framework is being implemented through a series of three-year action plans.

Achievements under the National Framework are outlined in the National Framework Annual Reports.

The Third Action Plan: 2015–2018

The Third Action Plan (2015–2018) under the National Framework was endorsed by Commonwealth, state and territory Ministers in 2015.  

Three strategies are included in the Plan:

  1. early intervention, with a focus on the early years — particularly the first 1000 days for a child
  2. helping young people in out-of-home care to thrive in adulthood
  3. organisations responding better to children and young people to keep them safe.

There are two cross-cutting focus areas:

  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families
  • research and reporting under the Third Action Plan.

The Plan has co-operative and flexible governance arrangements that cut across government and non-government boundaries to achieve the aims and cross-cutting objectives of the Plan.

A summary for children and young people has been developed.

The Second Action Plan: 2012–2015

Implementation of the second three-year action plan (Second Action Plan 2012–2015) has been completed.  The Second Action Plan emphasised the need to develop local partnerships to deliver local solutions, recognising that a ‘one-size fits all’ approach does not work across Australia’s diverse communities.

Key achievements under the Second Action Plan 2012–2015 include:  

The First Action Plan: 2009–2012

Implementation of the first three-year action plan (First Action Plan 2009–12) has been completed.   

It outlined 12 National Priorities that focused action by the Commonwealth, state and territory governments and the non-government sector during the first three years of the National Framework. An additional National Priority, Working with Children Checks, was identified by Ministers in 2010.

Key achievements under the First Action Plan 2009–12 include:

Annual reports

Further information

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