Child Safeguarding Policy

Statement of Commitment to Child Safety

All children and young people who come to Christian Brothers College have a right to feel and be safe. We are committed to providing a child safe and child friendly environment, where children and young people are safe and feel safe, and are able to actively participate in decisions that affect their lives.

We have a zero tolerance for child abuse and other harm and are committed to acting in students’ best interests and keeping them safe from harm.

The College regards its child safeguarding responsibilities with the utmost importance and as such, is committed to providing the necessary resources to ensure compliance with all relevant child protection laws and regulations and maintaining a child safe culture.

Each member of the College community has a responsibility to understand the important and specific role that they play individually and collectively to ensure that the wellbeing and safety of all students is at the forefront of all that they do and every decision that they make.

Delivering this Commitment

Our Child Safeguarding Program relates to all aspects of child safety and protecting students from abuse or other harm, and establishes work systems, practices, policies and procedures to create and maintain a child safe environment and culture at the College. It includes:

• Child Safe Codes of Conduct
• Clear information as to what constitutes child abuse and other harm and associated key indicators of abuse or other harm
• Clear procedures for reporting child safety incidents or concerns internally, and for responding to allegations of child abuse or other harm
• Strategies to support, encourage and enable Staff, Volunteers, Contractors, parents/carers and students to understand, identify, discuss and report child safety matters
• Procedures for recruiting and screening members of the Executive Team, Staff, Volunteers and Contractors
• Procedures for reporting to external agencies, including Mandatory Notifications to DCP, and Reporting to Police
• Information regarding the steps to take after a disclosure of abuse or other harm to protect, support and assist students
• Pastoral care strategies designed to empower students and keep them safe
• Strategies to support and encourage the participation and inclusion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, students from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds and students with disability
• Child safeguarding training
• Guidelines with respect to record keeping and confidentiality
• Policies to ensure compliance with all relevant laws, regulations and standards
• A system for continuous review and improvement

EREA Child Safeguarding Policy

CESA Safe Enviornments for All

Who to contact:

• If a child is in immediate danger, contact 000 or your local Police
• If you have concerns or information about the safety or wellbeing of a student, please contact the Principal directly
• If you or someone you know has been harmed or adversely affected by an EREA employee or volunteer, or if you need additional support with a school matter, please contact safeguardingcolleges@erea.edu.au