This annual statement outlines the agency’s commitment to child safety, the outcome of its annual child safety risk assessment, and its compliance with the Framework for the 2025–26 financial year.
The Commonwealth Child Safe Framework (the Framework) is a whole-of-government policy that sets minimum standards for non-corporate Commonwealth entities to create and maintain behaviours and practices that are safe for children and young people. It comprises four requirements covering risk assessment and mitigation, training and compliance, the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations, and annual reporting.
Under Requirement 4 of the Framework, the Asbestos and Silica Safety and Eradication Agency must publish an annual statement of compliance that includes an overview of its child safety risk assessment.
Annual statement of compliance 2025–26
This statement reports on the agency’s compliance with the Framework for the 2025–26 financial year. The agency also supports compliance with Requirement 3 by adopting the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations and embedding child safety and wellbeing in its governance and organisational culture.
Child safety risk assessment
In accordance with Requirement 1, the agency assessed its child-related activities and associated risks for the period 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026. The agency does not deliver services directly to children or routinely engage with children and young people.
Based on the nature of the agency’s operations, the outcome of the assessment, and the controls in place, the agency assessed its overall child safety risk for 2025–26 as low.
Mitigation
Consistent with Requirement 2 and the agency’s low risk rating, the agency will continue to:
- provide staff with information, education and relevant training to maintain awareness of the Framework, applicable legal obligations, and practices that support a child-safe organisational culture
- periodically review child safety risks and the effectiveness of relevant controls, including when the agency’s functions, activities or operating environment change
- ensure, where relevant, that agreements with external parties include proportionate child safety requirements and appropriately manage risks to children and young people
- maintain appropriate governance oversight of the agency’s implementation of and compliance with the Framework.
Compliance with the Framework
The agency assessed that it met the requirements of the Framework during 2025–26. The agency’s Accountable Authority has reviewed and endorsed the Annual Statement of Compliance. The agency remains committed to applying the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations and embedding child safety and wellbeing in its governance, culture and day-to-day practices.