Common safety issues for children and young people in the arts

Some child safety issues are particular to creative practices and spaces, and everyone has a role in managing them. The information on this page is for everyone working with children and young people in the arts — from employees to contractors, volunteers and parents.

The arts is wonderfully diverse

There is great diversity in the children and young people who are involved in the arts. For many kids, the arts can be their ‘safe space’.

It is important to be sensitive to the particular experiences of children and young people.

Everyone can:

Take time to talk to children and young people about their experiences, and the particular things that might be sensitive or challenging for them.
Model inclusion in your own behaviours. For example, doing an Acknowledgement of Country, sharing pronouns, and acknowledging and accommodating important cultural holidays.
Communicate a zero tolerance approach to bullying, harassment or discrimination.
Be familiar with support services you can refer children and young people to if they are struggling. Learn more about support for children and young people.

Creative organisations and businesses can also:

Put processes in place that cater to diverse needs of children and young people. For example, a process for requesting reasonable adjustments for d/Deaf and disabled children and young people, and cultural awareness training and a reconciliation action plan to keep Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children safe.
Embed accessibility and inclusion in performances and events.
Be guided by the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations and child safety standards in your state or territory. Learn more about child safety principles and standards.

Dressing rooms and backstage

Children and young people are at higher risk of harm in environments where there is limited supervision and the possibility for one-on-one contact with adults, or unsupervised contact between children. Some organisations provide chaperones to supervise children, but there may be times when it may not be appropriate for them to provide supervision – such as in dressing rooms and backstage areas when a child is undressing or changing costumes.

Adults, including chaperones, should limit their contact with children or young people in these environments unless assistance is required.

Remember: Without adults around to step in, children and young people can be at higher risk of bullying, image-based abuse, harassment (including sexual harassment) and violence from peers. This is more common where children have access to mobile phones and may not understand the seriousness of taking and sharing photos without consent.

Organisations should implement child safe practices to reduce the risks in these environments. For example, by:

having strict rules about using phones in dressing rooms, and
educating people in the workplace about image-based abuse and the criminal offences associated with it.

This includes educating young people and explaining to them the seriousness of taking photos of others. Someone who creates or shares inappropriate images of people under 18 may be at risk of criminal charges — even if both parties are under 18 and agreed to the conduct.

Safe practices for supervision

Everyone can:

Make sure there are always 2 adults present in isolated spaces such as backstage areas, where possible.
If one-on-one assistance is required in a dressing room — make sure at least 1 other adult is aware of the arrangement. For example, to support a child or young person with costume or body paint.
If support or supervision is needed in a dressing room — make sure it is provided by someone the child or young person is comfortable with and has consented to supporting them. For example, their chaperone or another trusted adult
Always knock before entering a dressing room or any other space where a child or young person is alone, especially if they may not be fully dressed.
In group dressing rooms — position supervising adults near entrances or exits to observe the whole environment while allowing children and young people privacy and dignity.
If adult supervision is not possible — use a ‘buddy’ system of two or more children and young people.

Creative organisations and businesses can also:

Make sure all adults in backstage environments hold a valid Working with Children Check or equivalent. Learn more about working with children checks.
Clearly communicate to adults and young people when and how it’s ok to use their phones. This includes for communication, taking photos or recordings, and posting to social media.

Safe practices for publicly accessible spaces

Sometimes isolated or secluded environments such as backstage will also be accessible to members of the public. For example, at a music festival or in a community program.

Creative organisations and businesses can:

Do a risk assessment of the venue and facilities before children and young people are asked to attend.
Arrange additional adult supervision, where possible.
Schedule designated times for children and young people to access these environments separate from adult attendees, if possible. For example, by having a separate costume and makeup session for children and young people.
Encourage children and young people to come dressed ready for an event, if possible. For example, by coming already wearing their costume.
Have a backup plan if something goes wrong and it’s no longer safe for children or young people to be in the environment. For example, if there is a physical safety risk in the venue, or if there is an adult present who has been identified as posing a risk to children and young people.

Physical contact

Physical contact can play an important role in helping children and young people develop their artistic capabilities. For example, by supporting young circus artists to tumble safely or positioning a young violinist’s wrist correctly. Physical contact is also sometimes unavoidable in costuming and makeup.

Physical contact with children and young people should only happen if it is necessary and appropriate:

as part of providing coaching or training for the art program or service, and
based on the needs of the child or young person.

Examples where physical contact may be necessary and appropriate include:

assisting with the attaching microphones
applying body paint or makeup
inclusion practices for a child or young person with disability
treatment by a health practitioner or administering first aid.

Is it needed to assist or correct them?

It may be appropriate when assisting or correcting performers such as dancers and singers — but if it can be done another way, try that first. For example, describe to a young singer how to use her diaphragm before you move to placing your hands on her torso.

Is it needed to support and include them?

Physical contact may be required to ensure that all children and young people are appropriately supported and included.

Examples include:

If a child or young person cannot see your movements, it would be appropriate to move their body into the correct position to demonstrate what you are asking of them.
If a child or young person needed support with tasks like climbing stairs or certain aspects of putting on costumes, you can provide them with the support they need to do these things.

When providing these supports, everyone should:

Listen to any feedback from the child or young person, particularly if they have suggestions for how to better support them.
Always ask for their consent before touching them — particularly if this is for something you have not previously agreed on.

Creative businesses and organisations should also:

Develop a plan for how you will teach or support the child or young person, in consultation with them and their parent or guardian.
Ensure they are being given the same opportunity to participate. For example, don’t remove certain tasks simply because an adjustment needs to be made.

Travel, tours and overnight stays

Unfamiliar environments can carry a higher level of risk for children and young people and the adults whose job it is to keep them safe. All the same rules apply for holding professional boundaries. Learn more in our dos and don’ts for setting professional boundaries.

Travel, tours and overnight stays should only ever take place if it has been approved by:

the organisation you work for (unless you work for yourself)
a child’s parent or guardian.

Before any travel, tour or overnight stay, organisations need to arrange appropriate supervisors to attend. What is ‘appropriate’ will be different depending:

on the art form and the nature of the stay/travel. For example, an organised music competition where a big group travels together will be different to travelling for a private audition with just one child.
the ages, genders and individual needs of the children and young people
the size of the group.

There are no set ratios, and there may be other things you need to consider depending on where you’re going and what is involved. The aim is to keep children and young people safe — consider this aim when working out what 'appropriate supervision' is in your circumstances.  

Learn more in our dos and don'ts when planning for travel, tours and overnight stays.

Groups that mix under 18s and over 18s

It is common for children and young people to be grouped together with 18–30 year olds for programs and performances.