{"id":"sr:child-wellbeing-and-safety-regulations-2017","name":"Child Wellbeing and Safety Regulations 2017","slug":"child-wellbeing-and-safety-regulations-2017","collection":"regulation","jurisdiction":"vic","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":181437,"registerId":"vic-sr:child-wellbeing-and-safety-regulations-2017-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-05","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Child Wellbeing and Safety Regulations 2017","content":"Version No. 007\n\n**Child Wellbeing and Safety Regulations 2017**\n\n**S.R. No. 62/2017**\n\nVersion incorporating amendments as at  \n3 February 2026\n\n**TABLE OF PROVISIONS**\n\n*Regulation Page*\n\n1 Objectives 1\n\n2 Authorising provision 2\n\n3 Commencement 2\n\n4 Revocation 2\n\n5 Definition 2\n\n6 Prescribed date for definition of employee 2\n\n7 Prescribed entity to which the reportable conduct scheme applies 2\n\n7A Prescribed sector regulators in relation to relevant entities 3\n\n7B Prescribed integrated sector regulator in relation to relevant entities 3\n\n7C Prescribed regulator for entities for the purposes of the reportable conduct scheme 4\n\n7D Prescribed regulator for employees for the purposes of the reportable conduct scheme 4\n\n8 Exemption from requirement to comply with Child Safe Standards 5\n\n9 Disclosure of information to Victorian entities 5\n\n9A Disclosure of information to entities of other jurisdictions 6\n\n10 Early notification of births 6\n\n11 Prescribed applicable entities with functions of a public nature 6\n\n12 Infringement offences and infringement penalties 7\n\nSchedule 1 8\n\nSchedule 2—Prescribed entities to which reportable conduct scheme applies 10\n\nSchedule 3—Disclosure of information to persons or bodies within Victoria 11\n\nSchedule 4—Disclosure of information to persons or bodies in other jurisdictions 13\n\nSchedule 5—Infringements 14\n\n═════════════\n\nEndnotes 15\n\n1 General information 15\n\n2 Table of Amendments 17\n\n3 Explanatory details 18\n\n**Version No.** **007**\n\n**Child Wellbeing and Safety Regulations 2017**\n\n**S.R. No. 62/2017**\n\nVersion incorporating amendments as at  \n3 February 2026\n\n\t1 Objectives\n\nThe objectives of these Regulations are—\n\n(a) to prescribe 1 July 2017 as the date from which foster carers or persons who engage in certain child related work are employees for the purposes of the reportable conduct scheme under the **Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005**;\n\nReg. 1(b)  substituted by S.R. No. 85/2019 reg. 4(a).\n\n(b) to prescribe entities to which the reportable conduct scheme under the Act will apply, and the relevant dates on and after which it will apply;\n\nReg. 1(ba) inserted by S.R. No. 62/2021 reg. 4, substituted by S.R. No. 25/2022 reg. 5.\n\n(ba) to prescribe sector regulators in relation to the relevant entities referred to in Schedule 1 of that Act;\n\nReg. 1(bb) inserted by S.R. No. 25/2022 reg. 5.\n\n(bb) to prescribe offences in respect of which an infringement notice may be issued under that Act and penalties for those offences;\n\n(c) to prescribe Victoria Police as a body that is exempt from the requirement under that Act to comply with the Child Safe Standards;\n\nReg. 1(d)  amended by S.R. No. 85/2019 reg. 4(b).\n\n(d) to prescribe persons and bodies to whom certain information may be disclosed under section 16ZC of that Act;\n\n(e) to prescribe the form of notice of birth under section 43(2) of that Act; and\n\n(f) to prescribe the applicable entities for the purposes of item 5 of Schedule 5 to that Act to which the reportable conduct scheme applies on and from 1 January 2019.\n\n\t2 Authorising provision\n\nThese Regulations are made under section 47 of the **Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005**.\n\n\t3 Commencement\n\nThese Regulations come into operation on 1 July 2017.\n\n\t4 Revocation\n\nThe following Regulations are **revoked**—\n\n(a) the Child Wellbeing and Safety Regulations 2007[[1]](#endnote-2);\n\n(b) the Child Wellbeing and Safety Amendment (Child Safe Standards) Regulations 2015[[2]](#endnote-3).\n\n\t5 Definition\n\nIn these Regulations—\n\n***the Act*** means the **Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005**.\n\n\t6 Prescribed date for definition of employee\n\nFor the purposes of paragraph (d) of the definition of ***employee*** in section 3(1) of the Act, the prescribed date is 1 July 2017.\n\nReg. 7  substituted by S.R. No. 85/2019 reg. 5.\n\n\t7 Prescribed entity to which the reportable conduct scheme applies\n\nFor the purposes of paragraph (d) of the definition of ***entity to which the reportable conduct scheme applies*** in section 3(1) of the Act—\n\n(a) an entity specified in Column 1 of Schedule 2 is prescribed; and\n\n(b) the prescribed date is the date specified in Column 2 of Schedule 2 in relation to that entity.\n\nReg. 7A inserted by S.R. No. 62/2021 reg. 5, substituted by S.R. No. 25/2022 reg. 6.\n\n\t7A Prescribed sector regulators in relation to relevant entities\n\nFor the purposes of section 25B(1)(a)(i) of the Act, the prescribed sector regulator is—\n\n(a) for a relevant entity referred to in item 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 or 34 of Schedule 1 to the Act, the Secretary to the Department of Health; or\n\nReg. 7A(b) amended by S.R. Nos 118/2022 reg. 4(1), 16/2024 reg. 4(a).\n\n(b) for a relevant entity referred to in item 41 of Schedule 1 to the Act, the Wage Inspectorate Victoria.\n\nReg. 7A(c) inserted by S.R. No. 118/2022 reg. 4(2), revoked by S.R. No. 16/2024 reg. 4(b).\n\n* * * * *\n\nReg. 7B inserted by S.R. No. 16/2024 reg. 5.\n\n\t7B Prescribed integrated sector regulator in relation to relevant entities\n\n(1) For the purposes of section 25F(1)(b) of the Act, the prescribed integrated sector regulator for the following relevant entities is the Social Services Regulator—\n\n(a) a relevant entity referred to in item 22, 32, 33, 35, 36, 37, 39 or 40 of Schedule 1 to the Act;\n\n(b) the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing.\n\n(2) For the purposes of section 25G of the Act, the prescribed functions and powers of the Social Services Regulator are the functions and powers set out in section 14 of the **Social Services Regulation Act 2021**.\n\nReg. 7C inserted by S.R. No. 1/2026 reg. 4.\n\n\t7C Prescribed regulator for entities for the purposes of the reportable conduct scheme\n\nThe Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority within the meaning of the **Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority Act 2025** is prescribed to be a regulator for the purposes of paragraph (a)(iv)(B) of the definition of ***regulator*** in section 3(1) of the Act in respect of—\n\n(a) an approved provider within the meaning of the Education and Care Services National Law (Victoria) of an approved education and care service within the meaning of that Law; and\n\n(b) an approved provider within the meaning of the **Children's Services Act 1996** of an approved children's service within the meaning of that Act.\n\nReg. 7D inserted by S.R. No. 1/2026 reg. 4.\n\n\t7D Prescribed regulator for employees for the purposes of the reportable conduct scheme\n\nThe Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority within the meaning of the **Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority Act 2025** is prescribed to be a regulator for the purposes of paragraph (b)(v) of the definition of ***regulator*** in section 3(1) of the Act in respect of an employee of—\n\n(a) an approved provider within the meaning of the Education and Care Services National Law (Victoria) of an approved education and care service within the meaning of that Law; and\n\n(b) an approved provider within the meaning of the **Children's Services Act 1996** of an approved children's service within the meaning of that Act.\n\n\t8 Exemption from requirement to comply with Child Safe Standards\n\nFor the purposes of section 19(1)(b) of the Act, Victoria Police (within the meaning of the **Victoria Police Act 2013**) is exempt from the requirement referred to in section 19(1) of the  \nAct.\n\nReg. 9  substituted by S.R. No. 85/2019 reg. 6.\n\n\t9 Disclosure of information to Victorian entities\n\n(1) For the purposes of section 16ZC(2)(f) of the Act, a person or body specified in Column 1 of Schedule 3 is prescribed in relation to a matter or class of matter specified in Column 2 of Schedule 3.\n\n(2) Despite subregulation (1)—\n\n(a) the body referred to in Item 2 of Schedule 3 is only prescribed on and from 1 July 2020; and\n\n(b) the body referred to in Item 3 of Schedule 3 is only prescribed on and from 1 July 2020; and\n\n(c) the body referred to in Item 4 of Schedule 3 is only prescribed on and from 1 July 2020.\n\nReg. 9A  inserted by S.R. No. 85/2019 reg. 6.\n\n\t9A Disclosure of information to entities of other jurisdictions\n\nFor the purposes of section 16ZC(2)(g) of the Act, a person or body specified in Column 1 of Schedule 4 is prescribed in relation to a matter or class of matter specified in Column 2 of Schedule 4.\n\n\t10 Early notification of births\n\nFor the purposes of section 43(2) of the Act, the form set out in Schedule 1 is prescribed.\n\n\t11 Prescribed applicable entities with functions of a public nature\n\nFor the purposes of item 5 of Schedule 5 to the Act, the following applicable entities are prescribed—\n\n(a) the Australian Centre for the Moving Image established by section 21 of the **Film Act 2001**;\n\n(b) the Council of Trustees of the National Gallery of Victoria constituted by  \nsection 5 of the **National Gallery of Victoria Act 1966**;\n\n(c) the Geelong Performing Arts Centre Trust established by section 3(1) of the **Geelong Performing Arts Centre Trust Act 1980**;\n\n(d) the Library Board of Victoria constituted under section 16 of the **Libraries Act 1988**;\n\n(e) the Museums Board of Victoria established by section 10 of the **Museums Act 1983**;\n\n(f) the Victorian Arts Centre Trust constituted by section 4 of the **Victorian Arts Centre Act 1979**;\n\n(g) the Phillip Island Nature Park Board of Management Incorporated declared as a corporation under section 14A(1) of the **Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978** by order of the Governor in Council dated 3 September 1996;\n\n(h) the Royal Botanic Gardens Board established under Part 2 of the **Royal Botanic Gardens Act 1991**;\n\n(i) the Zoological Parks and Gardens Board established under Part 2 of the **Zoological Parks and Gardens Act 1995**.\n\nReg. 12 inserted by S.R. No. 25/2022 reg. 7.\n\n\t12 Infringement offences and infringement penalties\n\n(1) For the purposes of section 36B(1) of the Act, an offence specified in Column 1 of the Table in Schedule 5 is a prescribed offence for which an infringement notice may be served.\n\n(2) For the purposes of section 36B(3) of the Act, the infringement penalty prescribed for an infringement offence is the amount specified in Column 2 of the Table in Schedule 5 in respect of that infringement offence.\n\nSchedule 1\n\nRegulation 10\n\nNotice of birth under section 43(2) of the Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005\n\n(a) *To the Chief Executive Officer of the council of the municipal district of [*insert name of municipal district*], being the municipal district in which the mother of the child usually resides.\n\nor\n\n(b) *[*If (a) is not known*] To the Chief Executive Officer of the council of the municipal district of [*insert name of municipal district*], being the municipal district in which the birth occurred.\n\nor\n\n(c) *[*If the mother of the child usually resides outside Victoria*] To the Secretary to the Department of Education and Training.\n\nFull name of mother:\n\n*Any other name(s) by which the mother is known:\n\nHome address:\n\nTelephone number:\n\nGave birth to a child: *Male/*Female/*Other\n\n*Live born/*Stillborn\n\n*Full term/*Premature\n\n*Singleton/*Multiple\n\n*Aboriginal\n\n*Torres Strait Islander\n\nChild's full name (where known):\n\nChild's date of birth:\n\nTime of birth: *a.m./*p.m.\n\nAt: Postcode:\n\nIn attendance: *Doctor [*insert name of doctor*]\n\n*Midwife [*insert name of midwife*]\n\nInterpreter required: *Yes/*No [*if yes, please specify the language*]\n\nBaby in special care nursery: *Yes/*No  \n[*if yes, please specify the nursery site*]\n\nSignature of responsible person:\n\nFull name of responsible person:\n\n***Responsible person*** means—\n\n(a) in the case of a child born in a hospital or brought to a hospital within 24 hours after birth, the chief executive officer of the hospital; or\n\n(b) in any other case—\n\n(i) the doctor or midwife responsible for the professional care of the mother at the birth or a doctor who examined the body of the still‑born child after the birth; or\n\n(ii) if no doctor or midwife was in attendance at the birth, any other person in attendance at the birth.\n\n* Delete if not applicable\n\nSch. 2  inserted by S.R. No. 85/2019 reg. 7.\n\nSchedule 2—Prescribed entities to which reportable conduct scheme applies\n\nRegulation 7\n\n\t1 Definition\n\nIn this Schedule—\n\n***youth organisation*** means a youth organisation—\n\n(a) in which children participate; and\n\n(b) that provides activities in which children participate.\n\n**Examples**\n\n1 The Girl Guides Association of Victoria incorporated by section 3 of the **Girl Guides Association Act 1952**.\n\n2 The Boy Scouts Association, Victorian Branch incorporated by section 3 of the **Scout Association Act 1932**.\n\n| *Item* | *Column 1*<br>*Entity* | *Column 2*<br>*Prescribed date* |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| 1 | A public health service listed in Schedule 5 to the **Health Services Act 1988** | 1 January 2018 |\n| 2 | A youth organisation that provides overnight camps for children as part of its primary activity | 1 May 2020 |\n\n\nSch. 3  inserted by S.R. No. 85/2019 reg. 7.\n\nSchedule 3—Disclosure of information to persons or bodies within Victoria\n\nRegulation 9\n\n\t1 Definition\n\nIn this Schedule—\n\n***mental health service provider***  has the same meaning as it has in the **Mental Health Act 2014**.\n\n| *Item* | *Column 1*<br>*Person or body* | *Column 2*<br>*Matter or class of matter* |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| 1 | The chief psychiatrist within the meaning of the **Mental Health Act 2014** | A reportable allegation against, or a concern that reportable conduct has been committed by, an employee of a mental health service provider in the course of providing mental health services to a child |\n| 2 | The Victorian Disability Worker Commission established under section 21 of the **Disability Service Safeguards Act 2018** | A matter relating to the operation of Part 5A of the Act; or<br>A matter relating to a function conferred on the Victorian Disability Worker Commission under the **Disability Service Safeguards Act 2018** |\n| 3 | The Victorian Disability Worker Commissioner appointed under section 26 of the **Disability Service Safeguards Act 2018** | A matter relating to the operation of Part 5A of the Act; or<br>A matter relating to a function conferred on the Victorian Disability Worker Commissioner under the **Disability Service Safeguards Act 2018** |\n|  |  |  |\n| 4 | The Disability Worker Registration Board of Victoria established under section 8 of the **Disability Service Safeguards Act 2018** | A matter relating to the operation of Part 5A of the Act; or<br>A matter relating to a function conferred on the Disability Worker Registration Board of Victoria under the **Disability Service Safeguards Act 2018** |\n\n\nSch. 4  inserted by S.R. No. 85/2019 reg. 7, amended by S.R. No. 12/2020 reg. 4.\n\nSchedule 4—Disclosure of information to persons or bodies in other jurisdictions\n\nRegulation 9A\n\n| *Item* | *Column 1*<br>*Person or body* | *Column 2*<br>*Matter or class of matter* |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| 1 | The Commissioner of the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission within the meaning of the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 of the Commonwealth | A matter relating to the operation of Part 5A of the Act; or<br>A matter relating to a function conferred on the Commissioner of the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission under the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 of the Commonwealth |\n| 2 | The Children's Guardian within the meaning of the Children's Guardian Act 2019 of New South Wales | A matter relating to the operation of Part 5A of the Act; or<br>A matter relating to a function conferred on the Children's Guardian under Part 4 of the Children's Guardian Act 2019 of New South Wales |\n| 3 | The ombudsman within the meaning of the Ombudsman Act 1989 of the Australian Capital Territory | A matter relating to the operation of Part 5A of the Act; or<br>A matter relating to a function conferred on the ombudsman under Division 2.2A of Part 2 of the Ombudsman Act 1989 of the Australian Capital Territory |\n\n\nSch. 5  inserted by S.R. No. 25/2022 reg. 8.\n\nSchedule 5—Infringements\n\nRegulation 12\n\n**Table**\n\n|  | *Column 1* | *Column 2* |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| *Item* | *Infringement offence* | *Infringement penalty* |\n| 1 | S. 29H(1) | In the case of an individual, 6 penalty units<br>In the case of a body corporate, 24 penalty units |\n| 2 | S. 29K(1) | In the case of an individual, 6 penalty units<br>In the case of a body corporate, 24 penalty units |\n| 3 | S. 34D | In the case of an individual, 12 penalty units<br>In the case of a body corporate, 24 penalty units |\n\n\n═════════════\n\nEndnotes\n\n1 General information\n\nSee [www.legislation.vic.gov.au](http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au) for Victorian Bills, Acts and current Versions of legislation and up-to-date legislative information.\n\nThe Child Wellbeing and Safety Regulations 2017, S.R. No. 62/2017 were made on 27 June 2017 by the Governor in Council under section 47 of the **Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005**, No. 83/2005 and came into operation on 1 July 2017: regulation 3.\n\nThe Child Wellbeing and Safety Regulations 2017 will sunset 10 years after the day of making on 27 June 2027 (see section 5 of the **Subordinate Legislation Act 1994**).\n\nINTERPRETATION OF LEGISLATION ACT 1984 (ILA)\n\nStyle changes\n\nSection 54A of the ILA authorises the making of the style changes set out in Schedule 1 to that Act.\n\nReferences to ILA s. 39B\n\nSidenotes which cite ILA s. 39B refer to section 39B of the ILA which provides that where an undivided regulation, rule or clause of a Schedule is amended by the insertion of one or more subregulations, subrules or subclauses the original regulation, rule or clause becomes subregulation, subrule or subclause (1) and is amended by the insertion of the expression \"(1)\" at the beginning of the original regulation, rule or clause.\n\nInterpretation\n\nAs from 1 January 2001, amendments to section 36 of the ILA have the following effects:\n\n• Headings\n\nAll headings included in a Statutory Rule which is made on or after  \n1 January 2001 form part of that Statutory Rule. Any heading inserted in a Statutory Rule which was made before 1 January 2001, by a Statutory Rule made on or after 1 January 2001, forms part of that Statutory Rule.  \nThis includes headings to Parts, Divisions or Subdivisions in a Schedule; Orders; Parts into which an Order is divided; clauses; regulations; rules; items; tables; columns; examples; diagrams; notes or forms.  \nSee section 36(1A)(2A)(2B).\n\n• Examples, diagrams or notes\n\nAll examples, diagrams or notes included in a Statutory Rule which is made on or after 1 January 2001 form part of that Statutory Rule. Any examples, diagrams or notes inserted in a Statutory Rule which was made before 1 January 2001, by a Statutory Rule made on or after 1 January 2001, form part of that Statutory Rule. See section 36(3A).\n\n• Punctuation\n\nAll punctuation included in a Statutory Rule which is made on or after  \n1 January 2001 forms part of that Statutory Rule. Any punctuation inserted in a Statutory Rule which was made before 1 January 2001, by a Statutory Rule made on or after 1 January 2001, forms part of that Statutory Rule.  \nSee section 36(3B).\n\n• Provision numbers\n\nAll provision numbers included in a Statutory Rule form part of that Statutory Rule, whether inserted in the Statutory Rule before, on or after  \n1 January 2001. Provision numbers include regulation numbers, rule numbers, subregulation numbers, subrule numbers, paragraphs and subparagraphs. See section 36(3C).\n\n• Location of \"legislative items\"\n\nA \"legislative item\" is a penalty, an example or a note. As from 13 October 2004, a legislative item relating to a provision of a Statutory Rule is taken to be at the foot of that provision even if it is preceded or followed by another legislative item that relates to that provision. For example, if a penalty at the foot of a provision is followed by a note, both of these legislative items will be regarded as being at the foot of that provision. See section 36B.\n\n• Other material\n\nAny explanatory memorandum, table of provisions, endnotes, index and other material printed after the Endnotes does not form part of a Statutory Rule. See section 36(3)(3D)(3E).\n\n2 Table of Amendments\n\nThis publication incorporates amendments made to the Child Wellbeing and Safety Regulations 2017 by statutory rules, subordinate instruments and Acts.\n\n–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––\n\nChild Wellbeing and Safety Amendment Regulations 2019, S.R. No. 85/2019\n\n| *Date of Making:* | 17.9.19 |\n| --- | --- |\n| *Date of Commencement:* | 17.9.19 |\n\n\nChild Wellbeing and Safety Amendment Regulations 2020, S.R. No. 12/2020\n\n| *Date of Making:* | 25.2.20 |\n| --- | --- |\n| *Date of Commencement:* | 1.3.20: reg. 3 |\n\n\nChild Wellbeing and Safety (Wage Inspectorate) Amendment Regulations 2021, S.R. No. 62/2021\n\n| *Date of Making:* | 29.6.21 |\n| --- | --- |\n| *Date of Commencement:* | 1.7.21: reg. 3 |\n\n\nChild Wellbeing and Safety Amendment (Child Safe Standards Sector Regulators and Infringements) Regulations 2022, S.R. No. 25/2022\n\n| *Date of Making:* | 10.5.22 |\n| --- | --- |\n| *Date of Commencement:* | 1.1.23: reg. 3 |\n\n\nChild Wellbeing and Safety Amendment (Child Safe Standards Sector Regulators) Regulations 2022, S.R. No. 118/2022\n\n| *Date of Making:* | 18.10.22 |\n| --- | --- |\n| *Date of Commencement:* | 1.1.23: reg. 3 |\n\n\nChild Wellbeing and Safety Amendment (Child Safe Standards Integrated Sector Regulators) Regulations 2024, S.R. No. 16/2024\n\n| *Date of Making:* | 26.3.24 |\n| --- | --- |\n| *Date of Commencement:* | 1.7.24: reg. 3 |\n\n\nChild Wellbeing and Safety Amendment Regulations 2026, S.R. No. 1/2026\n\n| *Date of Making:* | 3.2.26 |\n| --- | --- |\n| *Date of Commencement:* | 3.2.26: reg. 3 |\n\n\n–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––\n\n3 Explanatory details\n\n1. Reg. 4(a): S.R. No. 102/2007. [↑](#endnote-ref-2)\n\n2. Reg. 4(b): S.R. No. 168/2015.\n\n  ——\n\n  **Penalty Units**\n\n  These Regulations provide for penalties by reference to penalty units within the meaning of section 110 of the **Sentencing Act 1991**. The amount of the penalty is to be calculated, in accordance with section 7 of the **Monetary Units Act 2004**, by multiplying the number of penalty units applicable by the value of a penalty unit.\n\n  The value of a penalty unit for the financial year commencing 1 July 2025 is $203.51. The amount of the calculated penalty may be rounded to the nearest dollar.\n\n  The value of a penalty unit for future financial years is to be fixed by the Treasurer under section 5 of the **Monetary Units Act 2004**. The value of a penalty unit for a financial year must be published in the Government Gazette and a Victorian newspaper before 1 June in the preceding financial year. [↑](#endnote-ref-3)","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The regulations have grown significantly beyond their original 2017 scope. Initially focused on prescribing dates for the reportable conduct scheme and birth notification forms, they have expanded to include: a complex multi-regulator framework for Child Safe Standards (added 2021-2024), infringement offence schemes (added 2022), and most recently (2026) the Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority as a new regulator for early childhood services. The original simple machinery provisions have evolved into a comprehensive administrative framework spanning multiple regulatory systems."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple cross-references to other Acts (Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005, Social Services Regulation Act 2021, Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority Act 2025, etc.) requiring knowledge of external legislative schemes","Staggered commencement dates for different entities (Schedule 2 shows different dates ranging from 2018 to 2020)","Nested definitions requiring navigation between the Regulations and the parent Act (e.g., 'employee' and 'entity to which the reportable conduct scheme applies' are defined in the Act but modified by these Regulations)","Multiple sector-specific regulators assigned to different entity types (Regs 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D create a complex regulatory matrix)","Conditional application based on entity type and date (e.g., Reg 9(2) specifies different commencement dates for different disclosure bodies)","Penalty calculations require reference to external legislation (Monetary Units Act 2004, Sentencing Act 1991) to determine actual dollar amounts"],"plain_english_summary":"These regulations set out the practical details for how Victoria's child safety laws work. They do four main things:\n\n**1. Who counts as an 'employee' for reporting child abuse**\nFrom 1 July 2017, foster carers and people doing certain child-related work are treated as employees under the reportable conduct scheme. This means organisations must report allegations against them.\n\n**2. Which organisations must follow the child safety rules**\nThe regulations list specific organisations (in Schedule 2) and when they must start following the reportable conduct scheme. For example, public hospitals had to comply from January 2018, while youth organisations running overnight camps started in May 2020.\n\n**3. Who regulates whom**\nThe regulations appoint different government bodies to oversee different sectors:\n- The Department of Health oversees health services and some disability services\n- Wage Inspectorate Victoria oversees certain disability services\n- The Social Services Regulator oversees family services, housing and other social services\n- The Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority oversees childcare and early education services\n\n**4. Information sharing and penalties**\n- They allow information about child safety concerns to be shared with specific bodies in Victoria (like the Chief Psychiatrist) and interstate (like the NSW Children's Guardian)\n- They exempt Victoria Police from having to comply with the Child Safe Standards (separate police oversight applies instead)\n- They set out a standard form for notifying births to local councils\n- They list which offences can be dealt with via infringement notices (on-the-spot fines) rather than court proceedings\n\n**Why this matters:** These regulations put flesh on the bones of the Child Wellbeing and Safety Act. Without them, the Act's broad requirements wouldn't apply to specific organisations, and there would be no clear rules about who investigates what."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The Regulations have expanded and refined scope since their original version. Subsequent amendments added (a) specific sector and integrated sector regulators and linked regulator functions to other Acts (Regs 7A, 7B; Reg. 7B(2)); (b) a prescribed early childhood regulator for providers and employees (Regs 7C, 7D); (c) additional prescribed entities and staged commencement dates for the reportable conduct scheme (Reg. 7; Schedule 2); (d) named disclosure recipients both within Victoria and in other jurisdictions (Reg. 9 and Schedule 3; Reg. 9A and Schedule 4), with some recipients commencing on specified later dates (Reg. 9(2)); and (e) a set of infringement offences and corresponding penalty-unit amounts (Reg. 12 and Schedule 5). These changes are reflected in the amendment history incorporated into this version (Table of Amendments and Endnotes)."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple cross-references to the Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005 and other Acts (e.g. Social Services Regulation Act 2021, Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority Act 2025) which require readers to consult several instruments (Regs 2; 7B(2); 7C; 7D).","Numerous Schedules that list different classes of entities and disclosure recipients, with some items subject to staged commencement dates (Reg. 7; Schedule 2; Reg. 9(2); Schedules 3 and 4).","Multiple, separately prescribed regulators and the addition of an \"integrated sector regulator\" model that links functions across Acts (Regs 7A–7B).","Conditional prescriptions (for example limited commencement dates and item-specific start dates) that create transitional rules and complexity for compliance timing (Reg. 7; Reg. 9(2); Schedule 2 Column 2).","Infringement framework tied to penalty units and an external monetary-unit schedule, requiring calculation to convert units into dollars (Reg. 12; Schedule 5; Explanatory details).","Presence of an exemption for a significant public body (Victoria Police) which creates an exception layer in otherwise general standards (Reg. 8).","Inter-agency disclosure rules that alter information flows and require secure handling and coordination across jurisdictions (Reg. 9; Reg. 9A; Schedules 3 and 4).","Multiple amendment events over several years recorded in the instrument, indicating evolving scope and requiring readers to track historical changes (Table of Amendments and Endnotes)."],"plain_english_summary":"These Regulations set the technical rules implementing parts of the Child Wellbeing and Safety Act: they specify who and when organisations and workers fall within the reportable‑conduct scheme, name the regulators with oversight (including early‑childhood regulators), allow specified inter‑agency disclosures, exempt Victoria Police from the Act’s Child Safe Standards, prescribe the birth‑notification form and list certain public cultural bodies, and create infringement offences with penalty‑unit penalties. They shift compliance, reporting and information‑sharing duties onto the named entities."},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Insufficient content is available in the provided document to determine whether the scope of the regulations changed from their original intent. The document contains only version history and administrative metadata. No amendments or scope changes can be identified from this excerpt."},"complexity_factors":["Insufficient substantive content provided — only version history and metadata are visible, preventing assessment of the actual regulatory text","Regulations of this type typically involve cross-referencing with the parent Act (Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005), adding interpretive complexity","Child safety law often intersects with multiple other legislative frameworks (mandatory reporting, privacy, working with children checks), which can compound complexity","Consolidated versioning suggests the regulations have been amended over time, meaning readers must identify which version applied at any given time"],"plain_english_summary":"## Child Wellbeing and Safety Regulations 2017\n\nThis is a Victorian statutory regulation (a legally binding set of rules) that sits beneath the *Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005*. Based on the available content, this document appears to be a **version history/administrative record** rather than the full text of the regulations themselves.\n\n**What these regulations generally do:**\nRegulations under the Child Wellbeing and Safety Act typically set out detailed practical rules for organisations and professionals who work with children — such as requirements around child safety standards, reporting obligations, and governance procedures that child-related organisations must follow.\n\n**Who is affected:**\n- Organisations that provide services to children (e.g. schools, sporting clubs, religious organisations)\n- Professionals working with children\n- Government agencies responsible for child safety oversight\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThese regulations give practical force to child safety laws — turning broad legal principles into specific, enforceable obligations. Non-compliance can carry serious consequences for organisations and individuals.\n\n⚠️ **Important note:** The document provided contains only metadata and version history information, not the substantive content of the regulations. A full analysis of specific rights and obligations is not possible from this excerpt alone."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/child-wellbeing-and-safety-regulations-2017","history":"/api/acts/child-wellbeing-and-safety-regulations-2017/history","analysis":"/api/acts/child-wellbeing-and-safety-regulations-2017/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/child-wellbeing-and-safety-regulations-2017/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/child-wellbeing-and-safety-regulations-2017/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/child-wellbeing-and-safety-regulations-2017/documents"}}