GOVERNANCE TOOLKIT: SAFEGUARDING VULNERABLE PEOPLE

Abstract

This section of the Governance Toolkit examines safeguarding vulnerable people and outlines practical steps to ensure your charity is doing this effectively.

Checklists and tools are available to assist your organisation to develop this policy.

Read the guide and then check your understanding by taking the assessment available at the bottom of this page.

You do not need to submit this assessment to the ACNC – it is optional and designed to help you measure your understanding of the topic and identify areas for training or improvement.

Safeguarding is protecting the welfare and human rights of people that are, in some way, connected with your charity or its work – particularly people that may be at risk of abuse, neglect or exploitation.

The definition of safeguarding used to be narrower – it used to refer to protecting children or vulnerable adults. However, Australian legislation broadened the definition to include everybody.

As such, safeguarding is part of a charity’s primary duty of care.