PRINCIPLES OF APPLICATION.
From 1 January 2017 the Child Safe Standards (the Standards) will apply to post-school education and training providers in Victoria. The Standards apply to the safety of all children and young people across the range of services and activities of your organisation. A child or young person is defined as a person under the age of 18 years. In complying with the Standards, organisations must ensure each standard is understood and applied to their organisation and broader education and training community by promoting:
- The safety of children or young people under the age of 18.
- The cultural safety of Aboriginal children.
- The cultural safety of children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
- The safety of children with a disability.
Research indicates that children from each of these groups are at a higher risk of child abuse and as such, the Standards require organisations to ensure they understand and address these risks appropriately in order to truly create a child safe culture. The following information outlines ways in which organisations can ensure they meet the standards and ensure the safety of each group outlined above.
Standard 1:
Strategies to embed an organisational culture of child safety, including through effective leadership arrangements:
- A culture exists where staff, contractors, volunteers, children and families feel comfortable and supported when talking about any child safety concerns.
- A culture exists of supporting cultural safety for Aboriginal children.
- A culture exists of supporting cultural safety for children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds.
- A culture exists of supporting safety for children with a disability.
- Your organisation works in partnership with individuals and organisations to improve safety for children from each community.
Standard 2:
A child safe policy or statement of commitment to child safety. The Child Safe Policy or Statement of Commitment to Child Safety promotes and includes:
- The safety of children or young people under the age of 18.
- Cultural safety of Aboriginal children
- Cultural safety of children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
- Safety of children with a disability.
Standard 3:
A code of conduct that establishes clear expectations for appropriate behaviour with children:
- Staff, contractors, volunteers, families and children understands culturally safe behaviour and relationships with children and or young people under the age of 18.
- Staff, contractors, volunteers, families and children understands culturally safe behaviour and relationships with Aboriginal children and children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds.
- Staff, contractors, volunteers, families and children understand safe behaviour and relationships with children with a disability.
- Children and families from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds can access and understand the code of conduct.
- Efforts have been made to make the code of conduct accessible to children with a disability.
Standard 4:
Screening, supervision, training and other human resources practices
that reduce the risk of child abuse by new and existing personnel:
- The organisation as a whole accepts it is everyone’s role to protect children involved in training.
- The organisation provides training (or access to training) for its members on child abuse recognition and prevention.
- Staff, contractors and volunteers know how to ensure the cultural safety of and engage safely with children and or young people under the age of 18, Aboriginal children and children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds.
- Staff, contractors and volunteers know how to ensure the safety of and engage safely with children with a disability.
Standard 5:
Processes for responding to and reporting suspected child abuse:
- All individuals, especially children, reporting an allegation of abuse or safety concern are provided with support and comfort.
- Children and or young people under the age of 18.
- Culturally safe practices are applied if an Aboriginal child is involved in an allegation of abuse.
- If an allegation of abuse involves a child from a culturally and/or linguistically diverse background, the required steps are taken to ensure the child and child’s family are supported to understand the situation.
- Where an allegation of abuse involves a child with a disability, steps are taken to ensure the child and their family understand the situation and are supported.
Standard 6:
Strategies to identify and reduce or remove risks of child abuse:
- Risk management approaches are regularly reflected on and improved
- Specific risks to children and or young people under the age of 18.
- Specific risks to Aboriginal children are identified, assessed and mitigated.
- Specific risks to children from a culturally and/or linguistically diverse background are identified, assessed and mitigated.
- Specific risks to children with a disability are identified, assessed and mitigated.
Standard 7:
Strategies to promote the participation and empowerment of children:
- Children are meaningfully consulted about decisions that affect them
- Children are listened to and their opinions are valued.
- Children are informed of their rights and how to raise concerns in an age appropriate way.
- Staff, contractors and volunteers understand how to empower and encourage the participation of children:
- children and or young people under the age of 18.
- of Aboriginal descent.from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
- who have a disability.
Further details please contact: Kevin Riant Kevin.riant@mfs.com.au or (03) 9580 8822
Department of Education and Training: http://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/programs/health/protect/Pages/default.aspx
Email: child.safe.schools@edumail.vic.gov.au
The Commission for Children and Young People:
Web: childsafestandards@ccyp.vic.gov.au
Email: http://www.ccyp.vic.gov.au/child-safe-standards.htm