Child Safe School

Crusoe College 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 cultural safety of Aboriginal children and children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds, as well as the safety of children with a disability.

Every person involved with Crusoe College 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 planning, decision-making and operations Crusoe College 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 to the forefront
• Provide written guidance on appropriate conduct and behaviour towards children
• Engage only the most suitable people to work with children and have high quality staff and volunteer supervisors who have access to appropriate professional development
• 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 is at risk
• Value the input of and communicate regularly with families and carers

The College mandatory reporting policy is available for download here.

All staff and volunteers involved with Crusoe College are bound by the codes of conduct that govern their registration and maintenance of qualifications including but not limited to:

The Victorian Public Sector Employees Code of Conduct
http://vpsc.vic.gov.au/html-resources/code-of-conduct-for-victorian-public-sector-employees/

The Victorian Teaching Profession Code of Conduct
http://www.vit.vic.edu.au/professional-responsibilities/conduct-and-ethics

The Australian Psychological Society Code of Ethics
https://www.psychology.org.au/about/ethics/

Code of Professional Conduct for Nurses in Australia
http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Codes-Guidelines-Statements/Professional-standards.aspx

Speech Pathology Australia Code of Ethics
https://www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/spaweb/Document_Management/Public/Ethics.aspx

In addition, Crusoe College staff and volunteers commit to maintaining the highest level of professional and ethical standards in dealing with students and their families by, at all times:

Adhering to the Crusoe College Child Safety Policy

• Protecting all children from any kind of abuse
• Treating all members of the school community with respect
• Promoting cultural safety, participation and empowerment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, children with culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds and children with a disability
• Reporting any allegations of child abuse and any safety concerns
• Maintaining appropriate relationships, language, communication and conduct relating to and interacting with children
• Avoiding consumption of alcohol or drugs in a manner that could compromise their professional responsibilities