5. Diversity and equity

About the Standard

This Standard requires RTOs to:

RTOs must ensure that they:

understand children’s diverse backgrounds, circumstances and needs
make any necessary adjustments and provide equal protection to all children
consider the needs of children who are unable to live at home as well as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex children
pay attention to the needs of non-binary and gender diverse children.

An RTO must be able to provide evidence of:

publicly available policies and procedures designed to be accessible to support children from diverse circumstances
the steps it takes to include children who are:
- from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
- Aboriginal
- with disability
- unable to live at home
- lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex
how it provides staff and volunteers with professional development to improve their understanding of responding to the needs of children from diverse backgrounds
meeting agendas and minutes that support the RTO's actions to include children from diverse backgrounds.

An RTO complying with this Standard may have:

policy and procedural documents that clearly communicate the RTO’s commitment to engage and support students from diverse circumstances
a business plan or strategy that details the RTO’s activities relating to engaging students from diverse backgrounds
communication resources including website material that shows the RTO's commitment to promoting diversity and equity. For example information about its policies or procedures that is available in:
- a range of different languages
- accessible formats to students, families and their communities
student support services and resources that encourage or promote students from diverse backgrounds to access vocational education and training.

In complying with Child Safe Standard 5, an organisation must, at a minimum, ensure:
- the organisation, including staff and volunteers, understands children and young people’s diverse circumstances, and provides support and responds to those who are vulnerable
- children and young people have access to information, support and complaints processes in ways that are culturally safe, accessible and easy to understand
- the organisation pays particular attention to the needs of children and young people with disability, children and young people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, those who are unable to live at home, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex children and young people
- the organisation pays particular attention to the needs of Aboriginal children and young people and provides or promotes a culturally safe environment for them.
- The Commission for Children and Young People (CCYP)(opens in a new window) — provides support for the Child Safe Standards including a 'Guide for creating a Child Safe Organisation' with useful guidance on supporting the needs of diverse groups of young people, especially Aboriginal children, culturally and, or linguistically diverse children and children with disability.
- The Department of Education provides guidance for schools about meeting the diverse needs of students(opens in a new window).

Updated 30 June 2025