The Office of the Child Safety Commissioner was established in December 2004 to monitor the out of home care system in Victoria. (The Office was formally created in April 2005, and the first Child Safety Commissioner was appointed in May 2005). The legislative functions and powers of the Child Safety Commissioner are set out in the Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005. The Child Safety Commissioner provides advice to relevant Ministers in the Victorian Government on issues impacting on the lives of children, in particular vulnerable children.
From 2005, the Office of the Child Safety Commissioner played a key role in the development of the ‘Charter for children in out-of-home care’. This document lists what any child living in out-of-home care should expect from people looking after them and working with them.
The development of the charter involved extensive consultations with individuals and organisations, including direct discussions with 107 children and young people who resided in out-of-home care as well as young adults who recently left care.
Although the publication and promotion of the charter is the responsibility of the Secretary of the Department of Human Services, the Office of the Child Safety Commissioner is one of many stakeholders working together to assist the Department with the publication and promotion of the charter.
The Office of the Child Safety Commissioner was replaced by the Commission for Children and Young People on 1 March 2013.