10 Point Systems That Work Safeguards Index
Safeguards must protect people before harm occurs
What protects the person when government or a system gets a decision wrong?
If a wrong decision can cause serious or irreversible harm, protection cannot come after the harm.
Major reforms can change people’s access to essential supports, services, rights and opportunities. Governments must therefore consider the impact on each person before making decisions that may affect their life, safety, autonomy or wellbeing.
The Systems That Work Safeguards Index provides a practical 10-point test for assessing whether the protections needed to prevent harm are built into a reform from the beginning.
It examines whether:
- Rights, dignity and autonomy are explicitly protected
- Individual impacts are understood before supports or access are changed
- Stronger assurance is required where potential harm is serious or irreversible
- People are supported to understand and participate in decisions
- Government has evidence before reducing or withdrawing support
- Safe and appropriate alternatives are genuinely available
- People can obtain rapid review while essential support continues
- The cumulative effects of multiple reforms are considered
- Additional protections are provided where people face greater risk
- Effective restoration and remedy are available if harm occurs.
People experience reforms cumulatively, not one policy change at a time. Safeguards must therefore work across a person’s total experience of reforms, reassessments, service changes and family life.
This Safeguards Index forms part of the Systems That Work™ Framework and sits alongside the Readiness and Accountability Indices. Together, these tools support the people and agencies who make decisions about the lives of others, to determine whether their ‘reform’ is ready, safe, accountable and capable of improving people’s lives.
We call on Australian governments to apply the Safeguards Index to every major reform measure.
Because safeguards should protect people before harm occurs, not used to explain failure afterwards.
Download the Systems That Work Safeguards Index
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