Duty of Care Review and State Library Victoria's Response to the Review

State Library Victoria is a place for everyone, an essential and unique community service. We are committed to providing a welcoming, inclusive, and respectful place for cultural expression and engagement.

In providing this service, the Library has duty of care obligations to all stakeholders – visitors, program participants, presenters and staff.

Background

In May, State Library Victoria commenced a program-wide Duty of Care Review.

The Library commissioned independent experts Helen Conway and Tony Grybowski and Associates to lead the Review.

The Review examined the legal, policy and procedural frameworks around duty of care for program participants, presenters, facilitators and staff.

Recommendations

The Library welcomes Ms Conway’s view that the Review is a timely and positive initiative.

The Review makes ten recommendations aimed at ensuring the Library’s protocols and practices are fit for purpose and meet current legislative requirements and community expectations.

The Library will adopt all ten recommendations.

Immediate Next Steps

• The Library will work with the creative sector to develop a Library Programs Code for those engaged in delivering Library programs setting out mutual rights and obligations.
• The Library will also update participant guidelines (and where needed parental guidelines) and improve policies and systems to facilitate duty of care obligations (such as parental consent).
• The highest priority will be to implement those recommendations that will support our restarting the Teen Writing Bootcamp.

The Library has listened carefully to feedback and will continue to engage with the creative sector, staff and other subject matter experts during the implementation process.