Victoria has introduced compulsory minimum standards that will apply to organisations that provide services for children to help protect children from all forms of abuse. The child safe standards form part of the Victorian Government’s response to the Betrayal of Trust Inquiry.
The regulator, the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA), is charged with enforcing and monitoring these minimum requirements:
- strategies to embed an organisational culture of child safety, including through effective leadership arrangements
- a child safe policy or statement of commitment to child safety
- a code of conduct that establishes clear expectations for appropriate behaviour with children
- screening, supervision, training and other human resources practices that reduce the risk of child abuse by new and existing personnel
- processes for responding to and reporting suspected child abuse
- strategies to identify and reduce or remove risks of child abuse
- strategies to promote the participation and empowerment of children.
Schools must also follow inclusion principles as part of each standard, promoting the cultural safety of Aboriginal children, children from different cultural backgrounds, and children with a disability.
Toorak Primary School has worked closely with our local network schools to ensure that we adhere to the standards. Our policies and procedures have been reviewed by School Council and will soon be available on the school website.
Some ways in which we are promoting the Child Safe Standards is by implanting the Daniel Morecombe Foundation materials to promote the participation and empowerment of children. We are encouraging children to “Recognise, React and Report” when they feel unsafe and to identify adults who they trust to seek assistance.
http://www.recognisereactreport.com.au/index.html
In 2017 all teaching and non-teaching staff, as well as volunteers and parent helpers in the school will be asked to sign the Child Safe Code of Conduct agreement. This ensures that everyone in our community know what constitutes acceptable behaviours when working with children. This agreement will be available in the office soon should you wish to sign a copy before the end of the year.