Commonwealth Child Safe Framework Annual Statement

The Commonwealth Child Safe Framework 2022 (CCSF) sets minimum standards for creating and maintaining child safe culture and practices for Australian Government entities, and is mandatory for all Commonwealth non-corporate entities.

Under Requirement 4 of the CCSF, Commonwealth entities are required to publish an annual statement of compliance with the Framework, including an overview of the entity’s child safety risk assessment. Entities with minimal interaction with children may have a simple, high level statement of commitment.

Statement of compliance

Our commitment to the Commonwealth Child Safe Framework

The Productivity Commission (PC) is committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children and young people in connection with our work and our employees. We aim to foster behaviours, practices and a culture that prioritises child safety.

We affirm our obligations under the Commonwealth Child Safe Framework and embed these responsibilities across all areas of our operations.

Implementation of Child Safe Principles

The PC has adopted and continues to implement all National Principles for Child Safe Organisations, including:

• undertaking an annual child safety risk assessment to identify and evaluate potential risks of harm to children and young people
• embedding child safety risk management into relevant project oversight processes to proactively identify, monitor and manage risks
• maintaining a pro-integrity culture with central oversight of child safety arrangements and controls proportionate to identified risks
• providing training, information and guidance to ensure staff understand and meet child safety requirements.

Staff responsibilities and training

All employees that have plans to engage with children, either directly, or indirectly, as part of their work, must read the Commonwealth Child Safe Framework and complete the APS Child Safe module.

Employees are required to immediately report any suspected or alleged breach of child safety commitments to the Assistant Commissioner, Corporate Group.

Risk assessment – October 2025

In October 2025, the PC reviewed its child safety risk assessment as part of our Enterprise Risk Management Framework. The review found that the overall risk to child safety and wellbeing is low and that sufficient controls are in place to monitor and manage this risk.

If any future activities are identified as having potential impact on children, a child safety risk assessment will be conducted. Appropriate protocols will be implemented based on the level of risk.

During the reporting period (1 November 2024 to 31 October 2025), in our attendance at the Garma Festival in August, PC attendees interacted with children respectfully, sensitively and responsibly.

We continue to uphold pre-employment criminal history screening and require all staff to comply with our ongoing integrity framework.

The PC remains committed to embedding child safety and wellbeing as a priority across our leadership, governance and organisational culture.