Child Safety and Wellbeing – Information & Policies

We believe that ensuring the safety of students in our care is an integral part of who we are as a Catholic faith community. St John’s is committed to meeting the The New Victorian Child Safe Standards introduced by the Victorian Parliament on 1st July 2022.

The new Child Safe Standards include new requirements, including:

the involvement of families and students in child safety efforts
focus on the safety of Aboriginal children and young people
management of the risk of child abuse in online environments
governance, systems and processes to keep students safe.

St John’s implements this in accordance with Ministerial Order No: 1359 in the development of its school Policies, staff training and ultimately, through the strategies used in dealing with the students and families within our school community.

The new Child Safe Standards are underpinned by Ministerial Order No. 1359. This Order defines the actions schools must take to meet the requirements of the new Child Safe Standards.

Please find further information on Child Safety below:

St John the Baptist Primary School’s Commitment Statement to Child Safety

St John the Baptist Primary School’s Child Safety Policy – Student Version

Diocese of Sale Catholic Education Limited’s Commitment Statement to Child Safety

Diocese of Sale Catholic Education Limited’s Closed Circuit Television Policy

CECV Child Safety Material

New Victorian Child Safe Standards

Culturally safe environments– Organisations establish a culturally safe environment in which the diverse and unique identities and experiences of Aboriginal children and young people are respected and valued.
Leadership, governance and culture– Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in organisational leadership, governance and culture.
Child and student empowerment– Children and young people are empowered about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.
Family engagement– Families and communities are informed, and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing.
Diversity and equity– Equity is upheld and diverse needs respected in policy and practice.
Suitable staff and volunteers– People working with children and young people are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice.
Complaints processes– Processes for complaints and concerns are child focused.
Child safety knowledge, skills and awareness– Staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education and training.
Child safety in physical and online environments– Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for children and young people to be harmed.
Review of child safety practices– Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is regularly reviewed and improved.
Implementation of child safety practices– Policies and procedures document how the organisation is safe for children and young people.

To meet the new Child Safe Standards, we have built on our existing child safety strategies, policies and practices to strengthen our school’s culture of child safety and protect children people from abuse.

Child Protection Policies and Guidelines

Anti Bullying and Bullying Prevention Policy

Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy

Child Safety Record Keeping Policy

Child Safety Code of Conduct

Child Safety Policy – Student Version

Duty of Care Policy

Pastoral Care Policy

Protection of Children – Anti-Grooming Policy

Protection of Children – Failure to Disclose Policy

Protection of Children – Failure to Protect Policy

Protection of Children – Mandatory Reporting Policy

Working With Children Checks Policy

Reporting and Contacts

Our Child Safety Officers are available to support you with any concerns or questions regarding Child Safety. It is our aim to work collaboratively with parents, students and other community members to ensure a safe school environment.

Jacqueline Taylor jtaylor@stjohnskwr.catholic.edu.au

Rhiannon McFarlane rmcfarlane@stjohnskwr.catholic.edu.au

Eileen Crowley ecrowley@stjohnskwr.catholic.edu.au

Phone: (03)59971653

Child Safety Officers’ Role

The role of the Child safe team is to embed the culture of child safety ensuring all members of our community understand their rights and responsibilities to create a child safe environment for all students.
Responsibilities
•To ensure Policies and Procedures are developed, known and implemented.
•To ensure that all members of the community have the opportunity to understand their rolein creating a child safe culture.
•To ensure all students’ needs are considered when implementing child safe strategies, withparticular attention being paid to students with diverse needs or to those who arevulnerable.
•To identify risks associated with the safety of children, identify mitigation strategies andreview those strategies regularly but in particular after breaches of child safe practices.
•To embed student voice in practice and strategies.

Other supports available when responding to incidents, disclosures or suspicions of child abuse are listed below.