The Department for Child Protection's approach to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of children and young people is guided by the following principles:

• Every child and young person has a right to be cared for, protected from abuse, neglect and exploitation and to live without violence.
• The best interests of a child or young person is the primary consideration.
• Parents, families and communities have the primary role in caring for and protecting their children.
• Parents, families, communities, government and industry share the responsibility to promote the wellbeing and protection of children and young people.
• Communities, agencies and government departments need to understand their roles and legal responsibilities in sharing relevant information and reporting abuse and neglect.
• Education, early intervention and treatment responses that engage with and strengthen the capacity of individuals, families and communities to care well for their children and young people are important prevention strategies.
• Responses to abuse and neglect need to be sensitive to the culture, religion, language and to the particular needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
• Children and young people and their families’ views should be sought and their participation enabled in decisions that affect them.