Contextual safeguarding
Contextual safeguarding (sometimes called contextual prevention) acknowledges that a child’s safety isn’t only influenced by what happens at home, but also by the environments and relationships they experience in their daily lives — such as at school, with friends, online, or in the community while engaging in everyday activities. It encourages everyone in the community to look beyond the home setting and consider how external factors, like peer pressure, social media, or local community dynamics, might affect a child’s wellbeing and safety.
By adopting a contextual safeguarding mindset, everyone can take a proactive role in keeping children safe. Contextual safeguarding means going beyond individual-level safeguarding within family environments and focusing on the wider spaces that children spend their time in. This includes organisations implementing policies, procedures and physical changes to spaces to help prevent environments where child sexual abuse can take place. This approach empowers communities to work collaboratively across organisations, community groups and families to create safer spaces and supportive environments that protect children and help them thrive.
Contextual safeguarding aligns with the purpose of the Child Safe Organisations Act 2024, in creating child safe organisations and the reportable conduct scheme. For more information on this scheme visit the Queensland Family and Child Commission website.
Additional information on contextual safeguarding, including resources, can be found at the following websites:
- University of the Sunshine Coast - Sexual Violence Research and Prevention Unit
- Australian Catholic University - Child-safe practices using contextual safeguarding strategies
- Global Centre for Contextual Safeguarding
- Community Door - What is contextual prevention of child abuse?
- What is contextual safeguarding (a short video)
Please note, links to external websites are provided for general information only. No responsibility is taken for the accuracy, currency or content of third-party websites.