Child Safety Policy

Child Safety and Wellbeing Statement of Commitment

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At Innovations School of Dance, we pride ourselves the safety, protection and wellbeing of all children and young people in our care. We want children to be safe, happy and empowered. We support and respect all children, as well as our staff and volunteers. Innovations has zero tolerance for child abuse and is committed to acting in our student’s best interests in keeping them safe. Children have the right to be safe from any form of abuse or neglect. Innovations is committed to ensuring compliance with all relevant child protection laws and regulations and in developing and maintaining a child safe culture.

This statement and subsequent Code of Conduct applies to and is binding on, all Innovations employed workers, teachers, guest teachers and volunteers at Innovations. It applies to any activities at Innovations which involve, result in or relate to contact with children. This Child Safe Policy covers all children attending our classes, giving them a right to feel safe, welcome and have fun, and the confidence to know that their voice is valued, and that Innovations will act on any concerns raised by children or their parents.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Our Child Safety Officer (the Principal) will be the first port of call for all incidents and will guide staff through all procedural requirements. Innovations is primarily responsible for the implementation and conduct surrounding child safety and wellbeing and all related procedures, which includes:

• Recruitment

• Staff inductions and training

• Receiving and responding to complaints

• Risk assessment and management process

• Reporting, record keeping and information sharing

• Code of conduct

All other employees and workers will support in the activation of this statement and Code of Conduct and the above procedures.

DEFINITIONS

Child

Any person under the age of 18

Child Abuse

1. Any act committed against a child involving:

a) A sexual offence

b) The offence of grooming

2. The infliction, on a child of:

a) Physical violence

b) Serious emotional or psychological harm

3. Serious neglect of a child

Child Neglect

The failure by a parent or caregiver to provide a child (where they are in the position to do so) with conditions that are culturally acceptable as being essential for the child’s physical and emotional development and wellbeing.

Child Safety

All matters related to protecting children from child abuse, managing the risk of child abuse, providing support to a child at risk of child abuse and responding to incidents or allegations of child abuse.

 DEFINITIONS

• Child Abuse can be divided into 4 areas:

  • Physical abuse - when a child suffers or is likely to suffer from significant harm from a non-accidental physical injury

  • Sexual abuse - when a child suffers or is likely to suffer from significant harm from sexual abuse such as when a child exploited for sexual gratification.

  • Emotional and psychological abuse - when a child suffers or is likely to suffer emotional or psychological harm that can significantly damage the child’s emotional or intellectual health and development.

  • Neglect – occurs when a child’s physical development or health has been or is significantly damaged. Can refer to the omission or deprivation of food, clothing, warmth, hygiene, supervision, medical care or safety.

  • Child abuse includes any action that results in the actual or potential harm to a child in circumstances where the child’s parent has not protected or are unable to protect the child.

CODE OF CONDUCT

When working with children and young people, all bound by this code must:

• Understand and adhere to the Innovations Statement of commitment to child safety and wellbeing

• Be familiar with and adhere to all relevant state and federal legislation around child safety and wellbeing

• Innovations empowers children and young people to enable them to communicate if they feel unsafe, express their views and raise concerns. This is implemented through supportive staff and the encouragement of friendships and peer support.

• Ensure they do everything they can to protect children from abuse and harm

• Promote the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people

• Be aware and proactive in terms of all child safety and wellbeing issues

• Provide appropriate supervision for children and young people

• Treat all children equally and with respect

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Environments

When working with children and young people, all bound by this code must:

• Provide a physically safe environment for children and young people

• Provide areas where children can change clothes and use toilet facilities in private

• Help provide an open, safe and supportive environment for all children and young people to interact and socialise

General behaviours

When working with children and young people, all bound by this code must:

• Not behave in a prejudicial or oppressive manner

• Not use inappropriate language with or in the presence of children and young people

• Not express personal views on culture, race or sexuality in the presence of children

• Not discriminate against any child based on culture, age, gender, vulnerability, sexuality, race, ethnicity or disability

• Not engage in any form of sexual conduct with a child, including making sexually suggestive comments or sharing sexually suggestive material

• Not engage in any form of physical violence towards a child, including inappropriately rough physical play

• Not use physical or corporal punishment to discipline or control a child

• Not engage in any form of behaviour that has the potential to cause a student serious emotional or psychological harm, such as isolating, yelling at, harassing or humiliating a child

• Not develop ‘special’ relationships with children that could be seen as favouritism

• Behave as a positive role model to all children and young people.

• Impart knowledge and skill of dance in a respectful and encouraging manner

• Use positive and affirming language towards children and young people

• During teaching ensure physical touch boundaries are established and everyone in the studio is aware of these guidelines

• Encourage children and young people to express their ideas and listen to them with respect

• Intervene when children are behaving inappropriately towards others, 

• Child privacy and communication

• Engage in appropriate behaviours with regards to physical contact with children

• Not be alone or engage in undisclosed private meetings with children

• Not engage in any inappropriate personal communication with a child through any medium, including online contact

• Keep all personal information about students and families confidential and never post any identifying information about a child online

• Always obtain written consent from parents / carers before taking or publishing photos or videos

Breach of the Code of Conduct

Where an employee, teacher or guest teacher breaches the Code, Innovations will take serious action that may lead to disciplinary measures or dismissal.

Diversity

When working with children and young people, all bound by this code must:

• Treat all children equally, regardless of background, culture, religious beliefs, disability and political differences

• Encourage participation from linguistically and culturally diverse children and young people as well as children and young people with any kind of disability and promote their safety

• Proactively contact Traditional owner groups or Registered Aboriginal Party in the area to ensure the organisation is welcoming, inclusive and culturally safe for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their children

• Encourage input from parents and families, and use their advice to make your school welcoming and culturally empowering for students of diverse cultural backgrounds, and for students with disabilities

Reporting concerns or allegations

• Provide a comfortable environment to give the child or adult full attention so concerns can be expressed without interruption

• Remain supportive and reassuring to comfort any distress, ask encouraging questions and let them know they’ve done the right thing

• Let them know they will have to act on the information and let other people know

• Create a detailed record of the interaction for investigation, including the date, time and location of disclosure, notes on the disclosure in the child’s words and the child’s demeaner

• Report the disclosure to Tori Mertens immediately so that action can be taken

• Respect the privacy of the situation and do not involve any more people than are necessary in the situation

 

If the child is in immediate danger contact 000 or the appropriate external authorities

References

• Child Safe Standards Ministerial Order No. 870

• Victorian Government Child Safe Standards         

• Commission for children and young people

• Working with children