Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy
Consultation with College Council: October 2022
Aprroved by: Principal
Date of Review: October 2024
Page Contents
Purpose, Scope, Definitions
Statement of commitment to child safety and child safety principles
Creating and promoting safe environments both physical and online
Purpose
Templestowe College’s (TC) Child Safety Policy demonstrates our school’s commitment and approach to creating and maintaining a child safe organisation where children and young people are safe and feel safe.
This policy provides an overview of our school’s approach to implementing Ministerial Order 1359 which sets out how the Victorian Child Safe Standards apply in school environments.
It informs our school community of everyone’s obligations to act safely and appropriately towards children and guides our processes and practices for the safety and wellbeing of students across all areas of our work.
Scope
This policy applies to all staff, volunteers, and contractors in the school environment, whether or not they work in direct contact with children or young people. This policy also applies to school council members where indicated.
The policy will apply to the school environment (see Definitions section). The policy covers both school hours and outside of school hours.
Definitions
The following terms in this policy have specific definitions:
child
child safety
child abuse
child-connected work
child-related work
school environment
school boarding environment
school staff
school boarding premises staff
school governing authority
school boarding premises governing authority
student
volunteer
Statement of commitment to child safety and child safety principles
TC is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people. This will be the primary focus of our care and decision-making.
The school’s approach to creating and maintaining a child safe school environment is guided by our school philosophy and values. At TC our vision is ‘to co create high quality learning experiences within an inclusive and supportive community’. Students need to feel safe from child abuse in order to experience quality learning and feel included in our community.
At TC our philosophy guides the decisions and behaviours of all members of our school community, including in relation to child safety: particular to the following statements
TC has a community focus, where all students feel known and cared for, celebrated for who they are and supported by all members of the community in their learning
At TC we do not just accept diversity and difference, we celebrate it. Everyone has the right to a safe place where they can feel supported and celebrated for being themselves
TC is committed to the safety of all students.
TC has zero tolerance for child abuse.
We are committed to providing a child safe environment where children and young people are safe and feel safe, and their voices are heard about decisions that affect their lives. Our child safe policies, procedures, strategies and practices will be inclusive of the needs of all children, particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, students with disabilities, students in out of home care, LGBTQIA+ students, international students, students who have suffered past trauma and students who are vulnerable.
Every person involved in TC has a responsibility to understand the important and specific role they play individually and collectively to ensure that the wellbeing and safety of all children and young people is at the forefront of all they do and every decision they make.
Child Safety principles
In its planning, decision-making and operations, TC will:
Take a preventative, proactive and participatory approach to child safety;
Value and empower children to participate in decisions which affect their lives;
Foster a culture of openness that supports all persons to safely disclose risks of harm to children;
Respect diversity in cultures and child rearing practices while keeping child safety paramount;
Provide written guidance on appropriate conduct and behaviour towards children;
Engage only the most suitable people to work with children and have high quality staff and volunteer supervision and professional development;
Ensure children know who to talk with if they are worried or are feeling unsafe, and that they are comfortable and encouraged to raise such concerns;
Report suspected abuse, neglect or mistreatment promptly to the appropriate authorities;
Share information appropriately and lawfully with other organisations where the safety and wellbeing of children is at risk; and
Value the input of and communicate regularly with families and carers; and
Ensure our community system (connect groups and community executive teams, and a designated wellbeing team) provides each student with a team of staff they are connected to and can seek assistance from
Roles and responsibilities
School leaders will ensure that each person understands their role, responsibilities and behaviour expected in protecting children and young people from abuse and neglect. Staff will comply with the school’s Child Safety Code of Conduct, which sets out clearly the difference between appropriate and inappropriate behaviour.
Child safety is everyone’s responsibility. All school staff are required to:
Act in accordance with the school’s Child Safety Code of Conduct, which clearly sets out the difference between appropriate and inappropriate behaviour
Act in accordance with the Child Safety Responding and Reporting Obligations (including Mandatory Reporting) Policy and Procedures at all times, including following the Four Critical Actions for Schools where necessary
Undertake annual guidance and training on child safety
Act in accordance with their legal obligations, including:
Failure to disclose offence (applies to all adults)
Duty of care (applies to all school staff)
Mandatory reporting obligations (applies to all mandatory reporters, including teachers, principals, registered psychologists, and registered doctors and nurses)
Failure to protect offence (applies to a person in a position of authority within the school)
Reportable conduct obligations (applies to all school staff in reporting conduct to the principal, and applies to the principal in reporting to Employee Conduct Branch)
Organisational duty of care (applies to the school as an organisation)
oFor more information on these obligations, see Identifying and Responding to All Forms of Abuse in Victorian Schools.
As part of TC’s child safe culture, school leadership (including the Principal and Assistant Principals) will:
Consider the diversity of all children, including (but not limited to) the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, students with disabilities, students in out of home care, LGBTQIA+ students, international students, students who have suffered past trauma and students who are vulnerable, when implementing the Child Safe Standards
Ensure that child safety is a regular agenda item at school leadership meetings and staff meetings
Encourage and enable staff professional learning and training to build deeper understandings of child safety and prevention of abuse
Ensure that no one is prohibited or discouraged from reporting an allegation of child abuse to a person external to the school or from making records of any allegation.
Ensure effective child safety and wellbeing governance, policies, procedures, codes and practices are in place and followed
Model a child safe culture that facilitates the active participation of students, families and staff in promoting and improving child safety, cultural safety and wellbeing
Enable inclusive practices where the diverse needs of all students are considered
Reinforce high standards of respectful behaviour between students and adults, and between students
Promote regular open discussion on child safety issues within the school community including at leadership team meetings, staff meetings and school council meetings
Facilitate regular professional learning for staff and volunteers (where appropriate) to build deeper understandings of child safety, cultural safety, student wellbeing and prevention of responding to abuse
Create an environment where child safety complaints and concerns are readily raised, and no one is discouraged from reporting an allegation of child abuse to relevant authorities.
As part of TC’s child safe culture, school staff and volunteers are required to:
Complete the Protecting Children – Mandatory reporting and other obligations online module annually
Read the school’s Child Safety Code of Conduct on induction, and maintain familiarity with that document
Read the school’s Child Safety Responding and Reporting Obligations (including Mandatory Reporting) Policy and Procedures on induction, and maintain familiarity with that document
Read the school’s Child Safety Policy (this document) on induction and maintain familiarity with that document.
Sign TC’s Child Safe Code of Conduct annually
Participate in child safety and wellbeing induction and training provided by the school or the Department of Education and Training, and always follow the school’s child safety and wellbeing policies and procedures
Act in accordance with our Child Safety Code of Conduct
Identify and raise concerns about child safety issues in accordance with our Child Safety Responding and Reporting Obligations Policy and Procedures, including following the Four Critical Actions for Schools
Ensure students’ views are taken seriously and their voices are heard about decisions that affect their lives
Implement inclusive practices that respond to the diverse needs of students.
As part of TC’s child safe culture, in performing the functions and powers given to them under the Education and Training Reform Act 2006, school councils and school council members will:
Ensure that child safety is a regular agenda item at school council meetings
Consider the diversity of all children, including (but not limited to) the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, children with disabilities, and children who are vulnerable, when making decisions regarding the Child Safe Standards
Undertake annual guidance and training on child safety, such as the Child Safe Standards School Council Training PowerPoint.
Approve the Child Safety Code of Conduct to the extent that it applies to school council employees and members, and if updated, note the new document in its school council meeting minutes
When hiring employees, ensure that selection, supervision and management practices are child safe (unless delegated to the principal).
School leadership will maintain records of the above processes.
To further embed a culture of child safety, TC’s dedicated Child Safe officers are the Mental Health Practitioner and Assistant Principal – Community and Wellbeing. Both can discuss Child Safety information with families and students (via assemblies) and ensure that all staff have opportunities for professional development.
Specific child safety responsibilities:
Assistant Principal – Community and Wellbeing is responsible for reviewing and updating the Child Safety Policy annually.
Assistant Principal – Community and Wellbeing is responsible for monitoring the school’s compliance with the Child Safety Policy. The school community should approach Child Safe Officer Amanda Toyer if they have any concerns about the school’s compliance with the Child Safety Policy.
Our Child Safe Officer (TC’s Mental Health Practitioner) is responsible for informing the school community about this policy and making it publicly available.
Other specific roles and responsibilities are named in TC’s other child safety policies and procedures, including the Child Safety Code of Conduct, Child Safety Responding and Reporting Obligations (including Mandatory Reporting) Policy and Procedures, and risk assessment register.
Child Safety Code of Conduct
TC’s culture encourages staff, students, parents and the school community to raise, discuss and scrutinise child safety concerns. This makes it more difficult for abuse to occur and remain hidden.
All child safety documents, including this policy, the Child Safety Code of Conduct, the school’s Child Safety Responding and Reporting Obligations (including Mandatory Reporting) Policy and Procedures, Identifying and Responding to All Forms of Abuse in Victorian Schools and the Four Critical Actions for Schools are readily available online on our website to read anytime.
Managing risks to child safety and wellbeing
TC believes the wellbeing of children and young people is paramount, and is vigilant in ensuring proper risk management processes, found in the school’s risk assessment register. The school recognises there are potential risks to children and young people and will take a risk management approach by undertaking preventative measures.
We will identify and mitigate the risks of child abuse in school environments by considering the nature of each school environment, the activities expected to be conducted in that environment and the characteristics and needs of all children expected to be present in that environment.
TC monitors and evaluates the effectiveness of the actions it takes to reduce or remove risks to child safety. More information can be found in the school’s risk assessment register.
Establishing a culturally safe environment
TC is committed to creating a learning environment where First Nations culture is celebrated, and First Nations children, their families and their communities are supported and encouraged to express their culture. Strategies to embed cultural safety for First Nations children include:
Creating a physical environment that is respectful of First Nations culture. Templestowe College acknowledges the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation as the traditional custodians of the land on which we operate. We pay our respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Elders past, present and emerging, who reside in the area and have been an integral part of the regions history. This will be displayed on our website.
Both the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island flag will be displayed alongside the Australian flag.
TC will begin events and meetings with an Acknowledgement of Country as a standing agenda item where appropriate. This could include community assemblies, performances and professional development.
Providing all staff have an opportunity to complete the Community Understanding and Safety Training (CUST) offered by DET.
Include Aboriginal history and culture in professional learning for staff and volunteers and in curriculum planning for students.
Maintaining a positive relationship with the Koori Educational Support Officer (KESO)
Employment of an Indigenous Educational Support worker
Consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and communities when developing strategies, policies, procedures and when solving problems
Talk with local Aboriginal people and local organisations with Reconciliation Action Plans or Aboriginal-inclusive policies for guidance on how an organisation can become culturally safe
Work with the local Aboriginal community to build staff, volunteer and student knowledge and respect for Aboriginal culture and to promote cultural inclusion.
Address the continuing negative impacts of past government policies and practices on Aboriginal peoples. Aboriginal children may be less likely to disclose abuse due to a lack of cultural safety and a fear of authorities intruding into their family and community, based on historic experiences of systemic racism and abuse.
Adopt measures to ensure racism is identified, confronted and not tolerated
Address racism from students, staff, volunteers or visitors directly. Make sure racist speech or actions are always dealt with, and the culture of the school works to prevent incidents from occurring.
Address any instances of racism within the school environment with appropriate consequences
Build schoolwide knowledge of Aboriginal histories, cultures, perspectives, values, skills and attitudes.
Acknowledge and draw on the existing knowledge of Aboriginal students and their families.
Student Empowerment
TC has developed a safe, inclusive and supportive environment, involving and communicating with children, young people and their parents/carers to create an inclusive and supportive environment that encourages
We inform students of their rights through our school values of “Yes” is the Default and the One Person Policy and give them the skills and confidence to recognise unsafe situations with adults or other students and to speak up and act on concerns relating to themselves or their peers. We ensure our students know who to talk to if they are worried or feeling unsafe and we encourage them to share concerns with a trusted adult at any time. Students and families can also access information on how to report concerns via our Concerns and Complaints Policy.
Respectful relationships between students are reinforced and we encourage strong friendships and peer support in the school to ensure a sense of belonging through our Connect Program (including Connect TV), Transition Program, Community events, peer support program and Community Integrated Learning Program.
Our school is committed to supporting and encouraging students to use their voice to raise and share their concerns with a trusted adult at any time of need. Students can access information on how to report abuse by speaking to a member of their community executive team, specialist wellbeing services team, an assistant principal or the principal or the student section of the Concerns and Complaints Policy.
When the school is gathering information in relation to a complaint about alleged misconduct with or abuse of a child, the school will listen to the complainant’s account and take them seriously, check understanding and keep the child (and/or their parents/carers, as appropriate) informed about progress.
The school will promote the Child Safe Standards in ways that are readily accessible, easy to understand, and user-friendly to children, including:
All of our child safety policies and procedures will be available for the students and parents at TC to read at on our website here.
PROTECT Child Safety posters will be displayed across the school
Information to students and families will inform students and the school community about the school’s commitment to child safety, and strategies or initiatives that the school is taking to ensure student safety
Community assemblies will remind students of our commitment to keeping safe, how to access information and who they can talk to
Principal will regularly refer to Child Safe standards when addressing staff
Community teams will regularly refer to our commitment to Child Safety when addressing staff and student teams
Development of staff, student and community PD presentations
Establishment of an email system specific to Child Safety for staff, students and the community as another avenue to access assistance
The school will use its health and wellbeing programs to deliver appropriate education to its students about:
The rights of children and young people
The standards of behaviour for students attending the school;
The importance and value of friendship and peer relationships;
Healthy and respectful relationships (including sexuality);
Resilience; and
Child abuse awareness and prevention.
TC delivers these wellbeing programs through Connect, Sexuality Education, Consent Education and e-smart education, our Specialist Wellbeing Service and stakeholder PD presentations.
Family and Community Engagement
TC recognises the important and valuable role of families and communities and will involve families and communities when making significant decisions. Families are encouraged to partner with the school and we welcome their involvement in all aspects of TC life. Families and communities are welcome to provide feedback and encouraged to discuss any concerns directly with their child’s Community Executive Teams. Families are encouraged to become parent representatives on the Templestowe College Council.
TC is committed to communicating our child safety strategies to the school community through:
Ensuring that the Child Safety Policy (this document), Code of Conduct, and the Child Safety Responding and Reporting Obligations (including Mandatory Reporting) Policy and Procedure are available on the school website
Ensuring that the Child Safety Policy (this document), Code of Conduct, and the Child Safety Responding and Reporting Obligations (including Mandatory Reporting) Policy and Procedure are available in hard copy at the General Office
Regular reminders to staff by our Principal Peter Ellis of our school’s commitment to child safety
Ensuring that child safety is a regular agenda item at school leadership meetings and staff meetings for discussion
Wellbeing and CET teams meet at least fortnightly to discuss vulnerable students and put a plan in place for action if needed
Annually PD presentations are sent via email to the community specifically addressing our school’s commitment to Child Safety and all relevant information
Students participate in wellbeing education and are regularly reminded how they can access information and raise concerns
Diversity and Equity
At TC we don’t just tolerate diversity, we celebrate the rich diversity of our students, families and community and promote respectful environments that are free from discrimination. Inclusivity and equity are central to all we do and we focus on wellbeing and growth for all. We recognise that every child has unique skills, strengths and experiences to draw on.
TC welcome all children, including First Nations children, children with disability, children from a culturally diverse background, children who are unable to live with their families, LGBTQIA+ children and their families. TC provides ongoing training for all staff and volunteers on the value and importance of celebrating diversity and supporting inclusion and cultural safety. TC offers student-led electives that reflect the diversity of our students and their areas of interest and passion.
Our Student Wellbeing and Engagement Policy and Inclusion and Diversity Policy provides more information about the measures we have in place to support diversity and equity.
Suitable staff and volunteers
At Templestowe College, we apply robust child safe recruitment, induction, training, and supervision practices to ensure that all staff, contractors, and volunteers are suitable to work with children. Training and education is important to ensure that everyone in the school understands that child safety is everyone’s responsibility. Our school culture aims for all staff and volunteers (in addition to parents/carers and children) to feel confident and comfortable in coming forward with any allegations or suspicions of child abuse or child safety concerns. We train our staff and volunteers to identify, assess, and minimise risks of child abuse and to detect potential signs of child abuse. This training occurs annually or more often as required. We also support our staff and volunteers through ongoing supervision to develop their skills to protect children from abuse, to promote the cultural safety of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, children with disabilities, and children who are vulnerable.
Staff Recruitment
When recruiting staff, we follow the Department of Education and Training’s recruitment policies and guidelines, available on the Policy and Advisory Library (PAL) at:
Recruitment in Schools
Suitability for Employment Checks
School Council Employment
Contractor OHS Management.
When engaging staff to perform child-related work, we:
sight, verify and record the person’s Working with Children clearance or equivalent background check such as a Victorian teaching registration
collect and record:
proof of the person’s identity and any professional or other qualifications
the person’s history of working with children
references that address suitability for the job and working with children.
references that address suitability for the job and working with children.
Staff Induction
All newly appointed staff will be expected to participate in our child safety and wellbeing induction program. The program will include a focus on:
the Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy (this document)
the Child Safety Code of Conduct
the Child Safety Responding and Reporting Obligations (including Mandatory Reporting) Policy and Procedures and
any other child safety and wellbeing information that school leadership considers appropriate to the nature of the role.
They will also be supervised regularly to ensure they understand our school’s commitment to child safety, and that their behaviour towards children is safe and appropriate.
Ongoing supervision and management of staff
All staff engaged in child-connected work will be supervised appropriately to ensure that their behaviour towards children is safe and appropriate.
Staff will be monitored and assessed to ensure their continuing suitability for child-connected work. All employees of our school will be monitored and assessed via regular performance review to ensure their continuing suitability for child-connected work. Any inappropriate behaviour will be reported by school staff to the Principal and will be managed in accordance with TC’s Child Safety Responding and Reporting Obligations (including Mandatory Reporting) Policy and Procedures where required.
Inappropriate behaviour towards children and young people will be managed swiftly and in accordance with our school and department policies and our legal obligations. Child safety and wellbeing will be paramount.
Suitability of volunteers
All volunteers are required to comply with our Volunteers Policy, which describes how we assess the suitability of prospective volunteers and outlines expectations in relation to child safety and wellbeing induction and training, and supervision and management.
Child safety knowledge, skills and awareness
Ongoing training and education are essential to ensuring that staff understand their roles and responsibilities and develop their capacity to effectively address child safety and wellbeing matters.
In addition to the child safety and wellbeing induction, our staff will participate in a range of training and professional learning to equip them with the skills and knowledge necessary to maintain a child safe environment.
Staff child safety and wellbeing training will be delivered at least annually and will include guidance on:
our school’s child safety and wellbeing policies, procedures, codes, and practices
completing the Protecting Children – Mandatory Reporting and Other Legal Obligations online module annually
recognising indicators of child harm including harm caused by other children and students
responding effectively to issues of child safety and wellbeing and supporting colleagues who disclose harm
how to build culturally safe environments for children and students
information sharing and recordkeeping obligations
how to identify and mitigate child safety and wellbeing risks in the school environment.
other professional learning and training on child safety and wellbeing, for example, training for our volunteers, will be tailored to specific roles and responsibilities and any identified or emerging needs or issues.
School council training and education
To ensure our school council is equipped with the knowledge required to make decisions in the best interests of student safety and wellbeing, and to identify and mitigate child safety and wellbeing risks in our school environment, the council is trained at least annually. Training includes guidance on:
individual and collective obligations and responsibilities for implementing the Child Safe Standards and managing the risk of child abuse
child safety and wellbeing risks in our school environment
TC child safety and wellbeing policies, procedures, codes and practices
Creating and promoting safe environments both physical and online
Templestowe College has clear expectations for promoting a culture of online and physical safety for all students, giving particular attention to the safety, diverse needs and vulnerabilities of students.
Students are properly supervised in all settings as per DET ratios of staff and volunteers to students for different types of activities, including onsite buildings and grounds, classrooms, corridors, pick-up and drop off areas, excursions and camps. Students are reminded about spaces that are off limits, including out-of-bounds areas, storerooms and staff rooms. Students are aware of the use of observation aids when appropriate, such as windows, concave mirrors, and CCTV cameras.
Students and their families are regularly remined about the Digital Learning Policy and appropriate use of technology, IT safety tools and how to seek help and report concerns including cyberbullying and online grooming.
The Digital Learning Policy inform students about online safety risks, including: cyberbullying and trolling, invasion of privacy or digital surveillance, inappropriate sharing of images, phishing, harvesting of personal information or data theft, identity theft, malevolent software (malware), offensive images and messages, age-inappropriate online content, impersonation/catfishing and grooming. The IT department keep up to date with current online safety issues and expert information from specialist government and non-government bodies including the Office of the e-Safety Commissioner and eSmart Schools. Recently we haves adopted filtering software on school-based devices which limit access to non-educational web-based content.
Complaints and reporting processes
Templestowe College fosters a culture that encourages staff, volunteers, students, parents, and the school community to raise concerns and complaints. This makes it more difficult for breaches of the code of conduct, misconduct or abuse to occur and remain hidden.
We have clear pathways for raising complaints and concerns and responding and this is documented in our school’s Concerns and Complaints Policy.
If there is an incident, disclosure, allegation or suspicion of child abuse, all staff and volunteers (including school council employees and homestay providers) must follow our Child Safety Responding and Reporting Obligations Policy and Procedures. Our policy and procedures address complaints and concerns of child abuse made by or in relation to a child or student, school staff, volunteers, contractors, service providers, visitors or any other person while connected to the school.
As soon as any immediate health and safety concerns are addressed, and relevant school staff have been informed, we will ensure our school follows:
the Four Critical Actions for complaints and concerns relating to adult behaviour towards a child
the Four Critical Actions: Student Sexual Offending for complaints and concerns relating to student sexual offending
Our Student Wellbeing and Engagement Policy and Bullying Prevention Policy cover complaints and concerns relating to student physical violence or other harmful behaviours.
Communications
Templestowe College is committed to communicating our child safety strategies to the school community through:
ensuring that key child safety and wellbeing policies are available on our website including the Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy (this document), Child Safety Code of Conduct, and the Child Safety Responding and Reporting Obligations (including Mandatory Reporting) Policy and Procedure
displaying PROTECT posters and Diversity and Inclusion posters around the school
updates in our school newsletter, Next Week @ TC, Microsoft Teams and Compass
ensuring that child safety is a regular agenda item at school leadership meetings, staff meetings and school council meetings.
Privacy and information sharing
Templestowe College collects, uses, and discloses information about children and their families in accordance with Victorian privacy laws, and other relevant laws. For information on how our school collects, uses and discloses information refer to: Schools’ Privacy Policy.
Record Management
We acknowledge that good records management practices are a critical element of child safety and wellbeing and manage our records in accordance with the Department of Education and Training’s policy: Records Management – School Records
Review of child safety practices
At Templestowe College, we have established processes for the review and ongoing improvement of our child safe policies, procedures, and practices.
We will:
review and improve our policy every 2 years or after any significant child safety incident
analyse any complaints, concerns, and safety incidents to improve policy and practice
act with transparency and share pertinent learnings and review outcomes with school staff and our school community.
Communication of this policy
This policy will be communicated to our school community in the following ways:
Available publicly on the school website
Included in staff induction processes
Annually referenced in Next Week @TC
Hard copy available from school administration upon request
Information and further resources
This Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy is to be read in conjunction with other related school policies, procedures, and codes. These include our:
Risk assessment register (internal document)
TC Guide What to do when an allegation of child abuse is reported
Related Department of Education and Training policies
Identifying and Responding to All Forms of Abuse in Victorian Schools
Recording your actions: Responding to suspected child abuse – A template for Victorian schools
Four Critical Actions for Schools: Responding to Student Sexual Offending
School Policy and Advisory Guide – Child Protection Reporting Obligations
Evaluation
To ensure ongoing relevance and continuous improvement, this policy will be reviewed every 2 years. Where significant changes need to be made input will be requested from students, parents/carers and the school community.