Child Wellbeing and Safety (Child Link) Amendment Regulations 2025 (Vic)

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Child Wellbeing and Safety (Child Link) Amendment Regulations 2025

S.R. No. 107/2025

TABLE OF PROVISIONS

Regulation Page

1Objectives
2Authorising provisions
3Commencement
4Principal Regulations
5Definitions
6Regulation 11 substituted

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Endnotes

STATUTORY RULES 2025

S.R. No. 107/2025

Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005

Child Wellbeing and Safety (Child Link) Amendment Regulations 2025

The Lieutenant-Governor as the Governor's deputy, with the advice of the Executive Council, makes the following Regulations:

Dated: 14 October 2025

Responsible Minister:

LIZZIE BLANDTHORN
Minister for Children
ANGELA SMITH

Clerk of the Executive Council

1Objectives
The objectives of these Regulations are to amend the Child Wellbeing and Safety (Child Link) Regulations 2019—
(a)to prescribe persons for the purposes of the provisions of the Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005 relating to the Child Link Register; and
(b)to provide for the number of prescribed persons who may be authorised at one time to access the Child Link Register; and
(c)to prescribe purposes to which information must relate if certain provisions of that Act relating to the Child Link Register are to apply.

2Authorising provisions
These Regulations are made under sections 46ZC and 47 of the Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005.
3Commencement
These Regulations come into operation on 22 October 2025.
4Principal Regulations
In these Regulations, the Child Wellbeing and Safety (Child Link) Regulations 2019[1] are called the Principal Regulations.
5Definitions
In regulation 4 of the Principal Regulations insert the following definitions—
"Aboriginal agency has the same meaning as in the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005;

Aboriginal Children in Aboriginal Care provider means an Aboriginal agency whose principal officer has been authorised by the Secretary to the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing under section 18 of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005;
Aboriginal-led organisation means an organisation that—
(a)is managed by Aboriginal persons; and
(b)provides services for the benefit of Aboriginal children;

Aboriginal person has the same meaning as in the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005;
approved children's service has the same meaning as in Part 7A of the Act;
approved education and care service has the same meaning as in Part 7A of the Act;

approved provider—
(a)in relation to a children's service, has the same meaning as in Part 7A of the Act; and
(b)in relation to an education and care service, has the same meaning as in Part 7A of the Act;

case management functions, in relation to a child subject to a protection order, means the specific functions that an entity has been contracted to perform in respect of that child by the Secretary to the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing;
community-based child and family service has the same meaning as in the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005;

nominated supervisor—
(a)in relation to a children's service, has the same meaning as in the Children's Services Act 1996; and
(b)in relation to an education and care service, has the same meaning as in the Education and Care Services National Law (Victoria);

out of home care service has the same meaning as in the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005;
principal officer has the same meaning as in the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005;

protection order has the same meaning as in the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005;".

6Regulation 11 substituted
For regulation 11 of the Principal Regulations substitute—
11Prescribed Child Link user and prescribed purpose "

(1)For the purposes of section 46K(1)(w) and item 26 of Schedule 6 to the Act—
(a)each person specified in Column 1 of the following table is a prescribed person; and
(b)the purpose prescribed in relation to a person specified in Column 1 of the table is the corresponding purpose set out in Column 2 of the table.

Item

Column 1

Prescribed person

Column 2

Prescribed purpose

1
A person—

(a) employed or engaged by an entity to provide maternal and child health programs for a non-council Maternal and Child Health provider; and

(b) who is authorised in writing by the person who has overall management and control of the non‑council Maternal and Child Health provider.
To provide care and services to children attending the non‑council Maternal and Child Health provider.

2 The principal officer of an Aboriginal Children in Aboriginal Care provider who is authorised in writing by the Secretary to the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing. To perform any function or exercise any power specified in the authorisation under section 18 of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005.

3
A person—

(a) employed or engaged by an Aboriginal Children in Aboriginal Care provider in a role equivalent to, or more senior than, an employee of the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing classified as a Child Protection Practitioner Grade 3; and

(b) to whom the principal officer of the Aboriginal Children in Aboriginal Care provider has delegated a function or power under section 18B of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005; and

(c) who is authorised in writing by that principal officer.
To perform any function or exercise any power specified in the delegation under section 18B of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005.

4 The principal officer of an Aboriginal agency that is not also an Aboriginal Children in Aboriginal Care provider who is authorised in writing by the Secretary to the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing. To perform case management functions for a child or class of children subject to a protection order or a permanent care order under the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005.

5
A person—

(a) employed or engaged by an Aboriginal agency that is not also an Aboriginal Children in Aboriginal Care provider in a role equivalent to, or more senior than, an employee of the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing classified as a Child Protection Practitioner Grade 3; and

(b) who is authorised in writing by the principal officer of the Aboriginal agency.
To perform case management functions for a child or class of children subject to a protection order or a permanent care order under the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005.

6 The chief executive officer (however described) of a community-based child and family service or out of home care service who is authorised in writing by the Secretary to the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing. To perform case management functions for a child or class of children subject to a protection order or a permanent care order under the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005.

7
A person—

(a) employed or engaged by an out of home care service or a community-based child and family service in a role equivalent to, or more senior than, an employee of the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing classified as a Child Protection Practitioner Grade 3; and

(b) who is authorised in writing by the chief executive officer (however described) of the service.
To perform case management functions for a child or class of children subject to a protection order or a permanent care order under the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005.

8 A person employed or engaged by an Aboriginal-led organisation in relation to childhood services implementation or policy who is authorised in writing by the chief executive officer (however described) of the organisation.
To identify children enrolled in a service provided by the organisation who are not participating in services for which they may be eligible or children entitled to services provided by the organisation who are not participating in services for which they may be eligible and assist in the provision of education, care and services to those children.

To monitor and plan services for all children enrolled in a service provided by the organisation.

9 A person employed or engaged to provide student support services in a school who is authorised in writing by the Secretary to the Department of Education.
To identify and plan health and wellbeing services for children enrolled at the school.

To provide health and wellbeing services to children enrolled at the school.

10 A nominated supervisor of an approved education and care service or approved children's service who is authorised in writing by the approved provider. To provide education and care and related services to children enrolled at the service.
(2)For the purposes of item 5 of the table in subregulation (1), not more than 2 persons may be authorised at one time in relation to the Aboriginal agency.
(3)For the purposes of item 7 of the table in subregulation (1), not more than 2 persons may be authorised at one time in relation to the out of home care service or community‑based child and family service, as the case requires.
(4)For the purposes of item 10 of the table in subregulation (1), not more than one person may be authorised at one time in relation to the approved education and care service or approved children's service, as the case requires.".

Item	Column 1 Prescribed person	Column 2 Prescribed purpose
1	A person— (a) employed or engaged by an entity to provide maternal and child health programs for a non-council Maternal and Child Health provider; and (b) who is authorised in writing by the person who has overall management and control of the non‑council Maternal and Child Health provider.	To provide care and services to children attending the non‑council Maternal and Child Health provider.
2	The principal officer of an Aboriginal Children in Aboriginal Care provider who is authorised in writing by the Secretary to the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing.	To perform any function or exercise any power specified in the authorisation under section 18 of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005.
3	A person— (a) employed or engaged by an Aboriginal Children in Aboriginal Care provider in a role equivalent to, or more senior than, an employee of the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing classified as a Child Protection Practitioner Grade 3; and (b) to whom the principal officer of the Aboriginal Children in Aboriginal Care provider has delegated a function or power under section 18B of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005; and (c) who is authorised in writing by that principal officer.	To perform any function or exercise any power specified in the delegation under section 18B of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005.
4	The principal officer of an Aboriginal agency that is not also an Aboriginal Children in Aboriginal Care provider who is authorised in writing by the Secretary to the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing.	To perform case management functions for a child or class of children subject to a protection order or a permanent care order under the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005.
5	A person— (a) employed or engaged by an Aboriginal agency that is not also an Aboriginal Children in Aboriginal Care provider in a role equivalent to, or more senior than, an employee of the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing classified as a Child Protection Practitioner Grade 3; and (b) who is authorised in writing by the principal officer of the Aboriginal agency.	To perform case management functions for a child or class of children subject to a protection order or a permanent care order under the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005.
6	The chief executive officer (however described) of a community-based child and family service or out of home care service who is authorised in writing by the Secretary to the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing.	To perform case management functions for a child or class of children subject to a protection order or a permanent care order under the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005.
7	A person— (a) employed or engaged by an out of home care service or a community-based child and family service in a role equivalent to, or more senior than, an employee of the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing classified as a Child Protection Practitioner Grade 3; and (b) who is authorised in writing by the chief executive officer (however described) of the service.	To perform case management functions for a child or class of children subject to a protection order or a permanent care order under the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005.
8	A person employed or engaged by an Aboriginal-led organisation in relation to childhood services implementation or policy who is authorised in writing by the chief executive officer (however described) of the organisation.	To identify children enrolled in a service provided by the organisation who are not participating in services for which they may be eligible or children entitled to services provided by the organisation who are not participating in services for which they may be eligible and assist in the provision of education, care and services to those children. To monitor and plan services for all children enrolled in a service provided by the organisation.
9	A person employed or engaged to provide student support services in a school who is authorised in writing by the Secretary to the Department of Education.	To identify and plan health and wellbeing services for children enrolled at the school. To provide health and wellbeing services to children enrolled at the school.
10	A nominated supervisor of an approved education and care service or approved children's service who is authorised in writing by the approved provider.	To provide education and care and related services to children enrolled at the service.

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ENDNOTES

[1] Reg. 4: S.R. No. 60/2019 as amended by S.R. No. 142/2021.

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Child Wellbeing and Safety (Child Link) Amendment Regulations 2025 (Vic)

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