Child Safety

STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT

Marysville Primary School is committed to child safety and wellbeing of all children and young people. This will be the primary focus of our care and decision-making.

MARYSVILLE PRIMARY SCHOOL HAS ZERO TOLERANCE FOR CHILD ABUSE.

Marysville Primary School is 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. Particular attention will be paid to the cultural safety of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds, as well as the safety of children with a disability and children who are vulnerable.

Every person involved in Marysville Primary School has a responsibility to understand the important and specific role he/she plays 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.

MARYSVILLE PRIMARY SCHOOL PRINCIPLES FOR CHILD SAFETY

In its planning, decision-making and operations, Marysville Primary School 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 issues
• 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
• Value the input of and communicate regularly with families and carers

CHILD SAFE OFFICERS ROLE

The Marysville Primary School Safety Officer will:

PROVIDE AUTHORITATIVE ADVICE

• Act as a source of support, advice and expertise to staff on matters of child safety
• Liaise with the principal and school leaders to maintain the visibility of child safety
• Lead the development of the school’s child safety culture, including being a child safety champion and providing coordination in communicating, implementing, monitoring, enhancing and reporting on strategies to embed a culture of child safety
   

RAISE AWARENESS

• Ensure the school’s policies are known and used appropriately
• Ensure the school’s child safety policy is reviewed in the context of school self-evaluation undertaken as part of the school accountability framework
• Ensure the child protection policy is available publicly and parents are aware of the fact that referrals about suspected abuse or neglect may be made and the role of the school in this
• Be alert to the specific needs of children in need, those with special educational needs and young carers
• Encourage among all staff a culture of listening to children and taking account of their wishes and feelings in any measures to protect them
   

TRAIN

Being authoritative in providing advice by:

• keeping their skills up to date with appropriate training carried out every two years
• having a working knowledge of how the Department of Health and Human Services (DFFS) and Community Service
• Organisations conduct a child protection case conference to be able to attend and contribute to these effectively when required to do so
• Be able to keep detailed, accurate, secure written records of concerns and referrals.
• Ensure each member of staff has access to and understands the school’s child safety policy and procedures, especially new and part time staff
• Make sure staff are aware of training opportunities and the latest DHHS and DET policies and guidance
   

RESOURCES

Child Safety Policy

Child Safety Statement of Commitment

Child Safety Reporting and Responding Obligations Policy

Code of Conduct

Step by Step Guide to making a report to Child Protection or Child FIRST