We have consulted with the department and the regulator and we considered their views when reaching our audit conclusions. As required by section 16(3) of the Audit Act 1994, we gave a draft copy of this report, or relevant extracts, to those agencies and asked for their submissions and comments.

Responsibility for the accuracy, fairness and balance of those comments rests solely with the agency head.

Responses were received as follows:

Under the Victorian Government's current statement of expectations framework for regulators, departments must evaluate the statement of expectations for regulators within their portfolios.

The evaluation requirements are intended to ensure an objective review of the framework's success in improving regulator performance and outcomes and reducing costs for regulated parties.

To assure the minister that schools comply with the minimum standards for registration, the regulator must first satisfy itself that schools comply with the 57 ministerial order requirements. To do so, the regulator needs to specify how it determines whether a school complies. This is also important for assuring the commission that schools comply with the seven child safe standards.

The child safe standards are mandatory, yet are written as broad, flexible statements that each organisation can apply within their operating environment.

To operate in Victoria, schools must also comply with the child safe standards requirements for registration. To register a school, the regulator must be satisfied that the school has developed policies, procedures, measures, and practices in accordance with the ministerial order for managing the risk of child abuse.

1.1 Victoria's child safe standards

In 2015, the Victorian Government introduced seven mandatory child safe standards (the child safe standards) for more than 50 000 Victorian organisations that supply services or facilities to children, such as schools, kindergartens, hospitals, churches, and sporting, recreation and youth clubs.

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