Ausdance submission to the National Office for Child Safety

The national Ausdance network has made a landmark submission for Dance to the National Office for Child Safety in response to its Child Safety Annual Reporting Framework consultation paper.

It is not possible to overstate the urgency expressed by Ausdance members to comprehensively address the issue of child safety. The overwhelming response of the dance sector – following substantial consultation over more than four years – is that it should be better regulated so the safety of children in organisations is improved.

The national Ausdance network has championed ‘Safe Dance’ since 1990. Currently, improving safety in dance environments, particularly for children, is a key priority for the network.

The National Office for Child Safety’s proposed child safety annual reporting framework aims to encourage and support organisations through capability building to implement good practice child safety policies and processes to embed cultures that prioritise the best interests of all children.

Ausdance holds continuous consultations on the subject of child safety. A survey of members to address this consultation paper was circulated nationally in December with substantial sector participation.