The initiative was created by the Bathurst Child and Family Network (BCFN) to grow the city as a safe and friendly community for children.

Local organisations that work with children and families were invited to attend the conference so they could develop child safe policies for their workplaces.

BCFN chair Annette Meyers said it was important to involve people “who can make decisions and implement change”, which was why representatives at the conference included those from schools, early childhood centres and non-government organisations.

“The reason being that we want children in Bathurst to be happy, safe and strive,” Ms Meyers said.

The conference was supported by a number of speakers from CSU and national organisations, including CEO of Families Australia Brian Babington, Dr Frances Press and Andrew MacCallum, CEO of the Association of Children's Welfare Agencies.

Much of what the speakers had to say was built around the United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child and the national framework for protecting Australia’s children.

“The essence of the presentations is seeing children as citizens, as contributors and as capable and competent,” Ms Meyers said.

BCFN was awarded a CSU Community-University Partnership (CUP) grant under the Rural and Regional Community Initiated Research Program that enabled the initiative to be taken to local organisations.

CSU will follow up Tuesday’s conference with an evaluation of the initiative, with the findings to be published in a report online at a later date.

Senior lecturer Dr Sandie Wong, from CSU’s School of Teacher Education, will be among those completing the evaluation.

She said it was important for organisations to develop policies that address the best interests of children, ensure young minds have input in workplaces and that they share what the United Nations convention is about.

A showcase will be held in October for the organisations at the conference to share their new policies.