Child Safety and Wellbeing Statement of Commitment
PURPOSE
The purpose of this statement is to demonstrate the commitment of Joanne O’Kelly School of Dance (JOKSOD) to the safety, protection and wellbeing of all children and young people in our care. JOKSOD has zero tolerance for child abuse and is committed to acting in our student’s best interests in keeping them safe. Children have the fundamental right to be safe from any form of abuse or neglect. JOKSOD is committed to ensuring compliance with all relevant child protection laws and regulations and in developing and maintaining a child safe culture.
SCOPE
This statement and subsequent Code of Conduct applies to and is binding on, all JOKSOD employed workers, teachers, guest teachers and any third party contractors and volunteers at JOKSOD. It applies to any activities at JOKSOD which involve, result in or relate to contact with children.
RESPONSIBILITIES
The Principal at JOKSOD, Joanne O’Kelly, 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. |
CHILD SAFE STANDARDS
JOKSOD’s commitment to child safety is based on the following Government mandated standards that guide the organisational culture to protect the children in our care.
- Our Statement of Commitment to child safety details how we comply to the Child Safe Standards and our Code of Conduct provides behavioural standards that all our staff and volunteers must abide by.
- Take child participation seriously: JOKSOD 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.
- Involving families and communities: Open communication at JOKSOD in relation to child safety is actively promoted within the community to families, ensuring everyone is kept informed and offered the opportunity to raise any views in relation to the wellbeing of their child.
- Respecting equity and diversity: All children are treated equally at JOKSOD and any diverse needs are respected. We understand the importance of providing additional support to the needs of children and young people with disability, from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, those unable to live at home and LGBTQI children and young people.
- Ensuring staff are suitably supported: All employees, teachers, guest teachers, contractors and volunteers at JOKSOD have current working with children checks and are provided with an appropriate induction to their responsibilities of keeping children and young people safe.
- Child focused complaint system: Any complaints about child safety and wellbeing are handled directly with Joanne O’Kelly, the Principal. All concerns are welcomed to be raised with any of our teachers or office staff, however it will be escalated to Joanne to manage. All complaints will be taken seriously, and responded to promptly and thoroughly ensuring privacy and employment law obligations are met.
- Staff knowledge, skills and awareness: All JOKSOD staff and volunteers have the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education, this includes training on how to build culturally safe environments.
- Safe online and physical environments: JOKSOD recognises the importance of safety and mitigating risks within online and physical environments without compromising a child’s right to privacy, access to information, social connections and learning opportunities.
- Review of child safe policies and practices: At JOKSOD we regularly review, evaluate and improve on all child safe practices and our Code of Conduct.
- Establish a culturally safe environment: JOKSOD has established a culturally safe environment in which diverse and unique identities and experiences of Aboriginal children and young people are respected and valued. We provide an environment where a child has the ability to express their culture and actively support their cultural rights. Racism is not tolerated.
- Child safety is embedded in organisational leadership: Child safety and wellbeing is the foundation of the JOKSOD environment, stemming from the leadership and modelled throughout the organisation. JOKSOD provides a Code of Conduct to all staff and volunteers on behavioural standards that aims to prevent, identify and mitigate risk to children and young people.
