No images? Click here
SSRC Newsletter - for providers of Specialised Substitute Residential Care (SSRC)
Welcome to the latest edition of the SSRC Newsletter.
This issue focuses on the organisational culture needed to support safe and high-quality care.
Policies and compliance are important, but their effectiveness depends on whether your organisation’s culture consistently prioritises child safety above convenience or routine.
In this edition, we explore how culture underpins:
- safeguards for children with disability, who face higher risks of harm
- supervision and support for staff in high-risk care settings
- verification of Working With Children Checks (WWCC)
- continuous improvement through the Child Safe Self-Assessment (CSSA)
- training opportunities to build stronger, safer environments.
Children with Disability - Higher Risk, Stronger Safeguards Needed
Research consistently shows that children with disability are at significantly greater risk of abuse and neglect than their peers without disability.
A major World Health Organisation review (Jones et al., 2012) found that children with disability are:
3x more likely to experience physical violence
Nearly 3x more likely to experience sexual violence
4x more likely to experience emotional abuse and neglect.
The Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) has developed a comprehensive practice guide, Understanding safeguarding practices for children with disability when engaging with organisations, which aims to support organisations in creating child-safe environments that are inclusive and responsive to the unique needs of children with disabilities (AIFS, 2023).
For SSRC providers, this means safeguarding strategies must go beyond compliance to actively prioritise the safety and wellbeing of children with disability.
Providers should make sure that staff have relevant skills, training and qualifications to work with vulnerable children.
Supervision is central to the care framework. It is not only about supporting staff performance but also a critical safeguard for children, who face higher risks and depend on adults to advocate for their safety.
Organisational culture as the Foundation
Organisational culture is critical. A culture of transparency, openness, and accountability ensures that risks are recognised early and that children’s voices are heard and taken seriously.
Practical steps for SSRC providers include:
- ensuring staff are trained to identify and report risks of significant harm
- providing regular supervision and support to staff working directly with children
- supervising staff closely in high-risk situations, such as one-on-one care in closed environments
- leadership actively monitoring risk factors, staffing levels, and care environments.
The OCG publication Child Safe Recruitment and the Working with Children Check: A Handbook for Child-Related Organisations provides a range of useful and relevant information.
When culture, supervision, and training align, risks are reduced, and children with disability are safer and better supported.
Spotlight: Working With Children Check (WWCC) verification requirements
Verifying WWCC clearance is not just an administrative step, it reflects your organisation’s culture of accountability and commitment to child safety.
Requirements for SSRC providers:
- Verify the WWCC of all paid staff, volunteers and contractors engaged in child-related work before they commence.
- Ensure WWCC verifications are recorded and monitored.
- Embed WWCC compliance into your induction and recruitment culture.
Legal obligations: Under Section 9A of the Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012 (NSW), failure to verify WWCC clearance details can result in penalties of:
100 penalty units for a corporation
50 penalty units for individuals
(A penalty unit is currently valued at $110 in NSW, as of 2025)
Verification is more than compliance - it’s about reinforcing a culture where no child’s safety is left to chance.
Continuous Improvement: Child Safe Self-Assessment (CSSA)
The Child Safe Self-Assessment (CSSA) is an important tool to assess your child safety practices, identify gaps and take corrective action. A strong organisational culture ensures that the CSSA is not seen as a “tick-box” exercise, but as a meaningful process of reflection and improvement.
It is recommended that the CSSA be reviewed every 1–2 years to ensure practices remain effective, current, and aligned with the Child Safe Standards.
The CSSA supports a culture of accountability by linking self-assessment to action and improvement.
By embedding the CSSA into your organisation’s practice, you demonstrate to staff, children and families that safety is at the centre of your culture.
Training and Resources
Building and maintaining a strong child safe culture requires continuous learning.
Upcoming webinars and training sessions include:
- 01 September - Developing a Child Safe Code of Conduct
- 04 September - Child Safe Reporting Obligations and Processes
- 09 September - SAFE Series Protective-behaviours Program
- 16 September - Developing a Child Safe Risk Management Plan
Contact us
If you have any questions about Specialised Substitute Residential Care (SSRC), please get in touch:
✉️ Email: ssrc@ocg.nsw.gov.au
🌐 Website: Home | Office of the Children's Guardian
