Child Safe and Codes of Conducts
The Child Safe Standards (the Standards) are compulsory minimum standards for all Victorian schools to ensure they are well prepared to keep children and young people safe and protect them from abuse.
The Child Safe Standards include requirements to keep children, young people and students safe, including:
- involvement of families and students in child safety
- schools’ focus on safety for Aboriginal students
- better management of child abuse risks in online environments
- governance, systems and processes for keeping students safe.
The Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority is responsible for regulating the compliance of schools with the Standards. Schools are required to comply with the Standards as part of the prescribed minimum standards for registration.
Child Safety and Wellbeing at Yinnar Primary
Information for families and school community
Yinnar Primary School is committed to providing a child safe and child friendly environment, where students are safe and feel safe.
As valuable partners in promoting and maintaining child safety and wellbeing at Yinnar Primary School we welcome and encourage your feedback.
If you have any suggestions, comments or questions in relation to our child safe policies and practices, please contact the Principal or Assistant Principal.
Child Safe Commitment
Yinnar 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 diversity of all children, including the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, children with disabilities and vulnerable children.
Yinnar 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.
Yinnar Primary School has zero tolerance for child abuse.
Every person involved in our 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.
In its planning, decision-making and operations our 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 and policies on appropriate conduct and behaviour towards children
- Engage only the most suitable people to work with children and, have high quality supervision and professional development in this school
- 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 at risk
- Value the input of and communicate regularly with families and carers.
There are 11 Child Safe Standards:
Standard 1: Culturally safe environments
Establish a culturally safe environment in which the diverse and unique identities and experiences of Aboriginal children and young people are respected and valued.
Standard 2: Leadership, governance and culture
Ensure that child safety and wellbeing are embedded in school leadership, governance and culture.
Standard 3: Child and student empowerment
Children and young people are empowered about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.
Standard 4: Family engagement
Families and communities are informed and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing.
Standard 5: Diversity and equity
Equity is upheld and diverse needs are respected in policy and practice.
Standard 6: Suitable staff and volunteers
People working with children and young people are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice.
Standard 7: Child-focused complaints processes
Ensure that processes for complaints and concerns are child focused.
Standard 8: 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.
Standard 9: Physical and online environments
Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for children and young people to be harmed.
Standard 10: Review of child safety practices
Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is regularly reviewed and improved.
Standard 11: Implementation of child safety practices
Policies and procedures that document how schools are safe for children, young people and students.
At Yinnar Primary School we believe that everyone can learn and stretch their minds to grow and develop
into resilient, reflective and resourceful life-longer learners. In support of this we have a zero tolerance to child abuse.
Our child safety and wellbeing policies outline the measures and strategies we have in place to support, promote and maintain the safety and wellbeing of our students:
Child Safe Policies
Child Safe and Wellbeing Policy
Child Safety Responding and Reporting Obligations Policy and Procedure
Digital Learning - Internet, Social Media and Digital Devices Policy
Four Critical Actions - Child Abuse
Inclusion and Diversity Policy
Statement of Values and School Philosophy Policy
Student Wellbeing and Engagement Policy
Volunteer Induction Information
© Yinnar Primary School