Child Safety
Children have the right to be safe and protected, including at school. It is important that you feel confident that your child is safe and well in the care of their school.
Araluen Primary School has a commitment to zero tolerance of child abuse.
We are committed to the safety of all children within the school including those with a disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. This policy applies to all school environments (inclusive of physical and online environments) on and off school campus. Any child enrolled within the school has the right to feel safe and nurtured in a supportive learning community.
This information sheet provides information for parents about the child safe standards and how your school must protect children from child abuse.
What information should your school provide to you?
The school should provide you with:
the school’s child safety policy or statement of commitment to child safety
strategies to embed a culture of child safety at the school, and roles and responsibilities within the school for achieving these strategies.
You can ask to see these things. You could also ask to see the school's:
code of conduct outlining clear expectations for appropriate behaviour by school staff with children (this must be publicly available)
strategies to promote child empowerment and participation, e.g. delivering appropriate education about standards of behaviour for students attending the school, healthy and respectful relationships, resilience and child abuse awareness and prevention
procedures for reporting suspected child abuse (this must be publicly available).
If you believe the school could take a stronger approach to child safety, whether for all children or to meet your child’s specific needs, speak to the principal or someone in a leadership role at the school.
Victoria’s Child Safe Standards
In 2013, the Victorian Parliament held an Inquiry into the Handling of Child Abuse by Religious and Other Non-Government Organisations, resulting in the Betrayal of Trust Report.
The report found that more could be done to strengthen existing approaches to child safety. In response, the Victorian Government is phasing in child safe standards for organisations that work with children, including schools.
What are the standards?
The child safe standards require schools to consider all aspects of child safety and put measures in place to protect children from all forms of abuse, including:
sexual or grooming offences
physical violence
serious emotional or psychological harm
serious neglect.
Child Safety Responding and Reporting Obligations Policy
PROTECT: Four Critical Actions