Strengthening Child Safety: New approach to Child Safety Risk Assessments (CSRA)

 

CFA has introduced a simplified and more consistent Child Safety Risk Assessment (CSRA) process to support safer planning and delivery of activities and programs involving children and young people.

 

The updated approach helps members better identify and manage risks that could lead to harm and ensures a more coordinated approach across CFA.

What’s changing?

• Brigades no longer need to create risk assessments from scratch
• A central CSRA Library with ready-to-use assessments for common brigade activities
• A simple online form to register brigade-level activities and apply the relevant CSRA
• A new standard template for program-level CSRAs (HQ, regional and district programs).

What this means for you

If your activity, event or program involves children or young people, a CSRA must be completed before it begins.

• Brigades: Register activities using the online form and apply the relevant CSRA.
• Program leads: Complete a program-level CSRA for broader programs delivered across CFA.

Brigades remain responsible for:

• Applying controls in practice
• Ensuring safe supervision and environments
• Clearly communicating expectations to members.

Support available

A range of resources has been developed to support the new process:

• CSRA Factsheets: overview and guidance
• CSRA FAQs: answers to common questions
• SMEACS Briefing Template: support team briefings

These tools are designed to make it easier to identify risks, apply controls and deliver activities safely.

Find out more

Visit the Child Safety Risk Management page on Members Online for full details, templates and resources.

For support, contact: ChildSafetyOfficer@cfa.vic.gov.au  

 

Submitted by	Jennifer Clement