Child Safe Organisation

Council is committed to the ongoing education of children, young people and families, Councillors, and work participants about their rights, responsibilities and reporting processes relating to child protection.

Our Commitment

We support children and young people having safe and happy experiences in our community, accessing our facilities and in the care of our services.

Our Child Safe Framework

The Child Safe Policy informs the identification, implementation and development of policies, procedures and actions that enables Council to meet its objectives as a Child Safe Organisation.

Council adopts the Royal Commission Final Report Recommendations (2017) relevant to Local Government including the Child Safe Standards as well as a Council officer who is delegated as Council’s Child Safety Officer.

Council maintains the active participation of children and young people in the organisation. Where possible, Council will involve children and young people in decision making, particularly in matters that may directly impact them.

To access the SVC Child Safety Policy go to our Forms and Policies page and search for ‘Child Safety’   Forms and Polices page

What is a Child Safe Organisation?

A Child Safe Organisation puts the best interests of children and young people first.

A Child Safe Organisation:

  • Creates an environment where children’s safety and wellbeing is at the centre of thought, values and actions.
  • Places emphasis on genuine engagement with and valuing of children and young people.
  • Creates conditions that reduce the likelihood of harm to children and young people.
  • Creates conditions that increase the likelihood of identifying any harm.
  • Responds to any concerns, disclosures, allegations or suspicions of harm.

Child Safe Standards

The Child Safe Standards are:

1. Child safety is embedded in institutional leadership, governance and culture.

2. Children participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.

3. Families and communities are informed and involved.

4. Equity is upheld and diverse needs are taken into account.

5. People working with children are suitable and supported.

6. Processes to respond to complaints of child sexual abuse are child focused.

7. Staff are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children safe

through continual education and training.

8. Physical and online environments minimise the opportunity for abuse to occur.

9. Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is continuously reviewed and improved.

10. Policies and procedures document how the institution is child safe.

Appropriate Standards of Behaviour for a Child Safe Organisation

1. You must:

a) treat all children with respect.

b) take all reasonable steps to keep children safe.

c) listen and respond to the views and concerns of children, particularly if they have stated that they or another child have been harmed in any way and/or are worried about their safety or the safety of another child.

d) model appropriate adult behaviour in an open and transparent way.

e) respect the privacy of parents and children by not disclosing personal information.

f) where child abuse is suspected, ensure children are safe and protected from harm as quickly as possible.

g) encourage children to have a say and participate in all relevant organisational activities where possible, especially on issues that are important to them.

2. You must not:

a) Put children at risk of harm.

b) Condone or participate in illegal, unsafe or abusive behaviour towards children, including physical, sexual or psychological abuse, ill-treatment, neglect or grooming.

c) Engage in open discussion of mature or adult nature, or use inappropriate language in the presence of children.

d) Discriminate against any child, including on the basis of age, gender, sexuality, race, cultural background or disability.

e) Ignore or disregard any concerns, suspicions or disclosures of child being harmed in any way.

3. You are required to immediately report the following to the Child Safety Officer:

a) any allegations of child abuse.

b) suspected breaches of clause 2 above.

 

How to Report Child Protection Concerns

If a child is in immediate danger call the Police on 000 (triple zero).

If you think a child or young person is at risk of harm from abuse or neglect, contact the Child Protection Helpline on 132 111.

You can also report child protection concerns involving a Snowy Valleys Council Councillor, employee, contractor or volunteer to our Child Protection Officer:

  • Phone 1300 275 782 between 8.30am – 4.30pm Monday to Friday and ask to speak to the Child Protection Officer
  • Email [email protected] - Att SVC Child Protection Officer      
  • Write to the Child Protection Officer, 76 Capper St, Tumut, NSW 2720
  • Through a face-to-face meeting with the Child Protection Officer. Please use one of the contact methods above to request a meeting.

 

Other Child Safe Resources

NSW Child Safe Standards - recommended by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse providing a framework for making organisations safer for children. ocg.nsw.gov.au/child-safe-scheme/why-we-have-child-safe-standards

NSW Reportable Conduct Scheme - monitors how organisations investigate and report on allegations of certain conduct towards children. ocg.nsw.gov.au/organisations/reportable-conduct-scheme

Online Safety Tips - What you can do to protect yourself and children online - www.svc.nsw.gov.au/online-safety