Updated record keeping requirements
The Royal Commission recommends that institutions retain records related to child abuse allegations or incidents for at least 45 years, and that records relevant to child safety and wellbeing are kept in an indexed, logical and secure manner.
Currently providers are required to keep records relating to incidents and allegations until the child is 25. Options proposed range from guidance on record keeping, to legislative change to store for 45 years, to requirements to store according to Royal Commission recommendations.
CELA is proposing that an alternative option may be for government to facilitate centralised record storage, for example of cases reported to the Office of the Children’s Guardian in NSW.