Keeping your child safe on set and in auditions
Child safety on set and at auditions is a combination of legal protections (which vary by country), industry standards (which are patchy), and parent vigilance (which is the only layer you control). A parent should know the basic protections in their country, should never leave a child alone with an adult who is not a chaperone or a parent of another child present, and should build a 'no is a full sentence' culture with their child early. This article covers the practical safety rules, with a reminder that they apply to coaching sessions too.
Your rights by country (AU, NZ, CA, US, UK, UAE)
Every country we serve has laws that regulate child actors, but the laws differ in what they mandate and how they are enforced. Australia has state-level working with children legislation and strict hours limits for minors on set. New Zealand relies on Safeguarding Children and the industry-wide Screensafe code.
Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States have province or state-level variation, with entertainment-specific permits and education requirements for minors on working sets. The UAE has recently expanded its child protection framework and applies it to entertainment work.
The short version: know the specific rules in your jurisdiction, keep a printed or digital copy to hand on set, and do not rely on the production to volunteer the full set.
At the audition: questions to ask before the door closes
Ask who will be in the audition room. A casting director, a casting associate, a reader. If a director will be in the room, ask that in advance.
Ask whether you (the parent) can be in the room. For most junior auditions the answer is yes. If it is not, the child should be in a room with at least two adults present, and you should be able to see or hear the room.
Ask what the material is. If the audition sides involve mature content, you should have received them in advance. Material that turns up at the door with no warning is a red flag.
On set: the chaperone, the green room, and the hours
On a professional set, a dedicated chaperone is responsible for the child actor. You should know the chaperone by name before day one.
The green room for a minor should be a specific, private space, not the shared green room used by the whole cast.
Hours for minors are regulated. Know the legal maximum in your jurisdiction and keep an eye on them. Productions sometimes push to the edge of the legal limit, and parents are the backstop.
Coaching sessions: our Child Safe Policy in summary
In coaching sessions, a parent or guardian is always in the building. A session room has an open door or a window. All coaches working with minors hold a current Working with Children Check or the local equivalent. Material is agreed with the parent in advance.
Our full Child Safe Policy covers how complaints are handled, how records are kept, and how we work with other organisations. Read it and tell us if anything is unclear.
Red flags that mean leave now
Any request to be alone with a child in a private room. Any pressure to remove a parent from the audition process. Any casting or coaching operation that asks for payment in exchange for auditions. Any physical contact beyond what is necessary for a rehearsed scene. Any photography or video of a minor without explicit written consent for the specific use.
If any of these are present, leave. You do not owe the operation an explanation. Trust your instinct. If the child is uncomfortable, you have already waited too long.
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