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Commitment to child safety
All children who attend coaching sessions with the Business have a right to feel and be safe. The welfare of the children in our care will always be our first priority and we have a zero-tolerance approach to child abuse and harm. We aim to create a child safe and child-friendly environment where children feel safe and have fun while enjoying learning mountain bike skills.


Purpose
The Policy outlines how the Business prioritises the safety and wellbeing of children and what steps we will take to do this.
 

Scope
The Policy applies to all staff and other individuals who may be involved in the Business from time to time. The Policy applies to all activities conducted by the Business, which include (but may not be limited to) after-school mountain bike coaching sessions.
Definitions
Child abuse means:

  • a sexual offence committed against a child

  • an offence committed against a child under section 49M(1) of the Crimes Act 1958 (Vic), such as grooming

  • physical violence against a child

  • serious neglect of a child.causing serious emotional or psychological harm to a child

 

Harm is damage to the health, safety or wellbeing of a child or young person, including as a result of child abuse by adults or the conduct of other children. It includes physical, emotional, sexual and psychological harm. Harm can arise from a single act or event and can also be cumulative, that is, arising as a result of a series of acts or events over a period of time.
Child/Children means a person who is under the age of 18 years.


Concerns and complaints
A concern refers to any potential issue that could impact negatively on the safety and wellbeing of children.
A complaint is an expression of dissatisfaction to the Business related to one or more of the following:

  • our services or dealings with individuals

  • allegations of abuse or misconduct by a staff member, a volunteer or another individual associated with the Business

  • disclosures of abuse or harm made by a child or young person

  • the conduct of a child or young person at the Business

  • the inadequate handling of a prior concern

  • general concerns about the safety of a group of children or activity.

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Andrew’s role
Andrew has the role of making sure the Business prioritises children’s safety and that action is taken when anyone raises concerns about children’s safety.
Andrew will champion and model a child safe culture at the Business and will encourage anyone involved with the Business to report a child safety concern. Andrew will work to create a positive culture around reporting so that people feel comfortable to raise concerns.
Andrew will conduct an annual review of how effectively the Business is delivering child safety and wellbeing. The input of people involved with the Business will be sought as part of this review.


Children’s empowerment and participation
The Business is a child-centred organisation. We actively seek to include children’s views and ideas in our organisational planning, delivery of services including how and when our coaching sessions are run.
We want children to develop new friends through their participation in coaching sessions and encourage children to be supportive of each other. We do not tolerate bullying or abusive behaviour between children and take action if this occurs.
We respect the rights of children and provide them with information about their rights including the right to be safe while participating in coaching sessions. We actively seek to understand
what makes children feel safe in our organisation. We regularly communicate with children about what they can do if they feel unsafe.
The Business values the voices of children and will act on safety concerns raised by children or their families. The Business will support children’s participation in the following ways:

  • Regular discussions with children, including child-led conversations on what makes them feel safe and unsafe.

  • Consultation with children about any proposed significant changes to how the coaching sessions are run. Children’s views will be collected and considered in the decision-making process.

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Families and communities
The Business recognises the important role of families and involves parents and carers when making significant decisions about their child. Parents, families and communities are welcome to provide feedback at any time through our contact email address and are encouraged to raise any concerns they have with us.


Valuing diversity
We value diversity and equity for all children. To achieve this, we:

  • welcome and support participation of all children, including children with disability, children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, those who are unable to live at home, LGBTIQ+ children and Aboriginal children and their families

  • offer students and families through our enrolment forms the opportunity to provide information about themselves, including any specific needs to participate fully in our coaching sessions

  • have zero tolerance of racism and other forms of discrimination and take action when discrimination or exclusion is identified

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Creating a culturally safe environment for Aboriginal children
We are committed to creating a culturally safe environment for Aboriginal children. An environment where they:

  • feel comfortable being themselves

  • feel comfortable expressing their culture, including their spiritual and belief systems

  • have educators who respect and encourage their sense of self and identity.

To support this commitment, we:

  • encourage and actively support a child’s ability to express their culture and enjoy their cultural rights;

  • ensure that any racism within the Business is identified, confronted and not tolerated. Any instances of racism will be address with appropriate consequences;

  • actively support and facilitate participation and inclusion by Aboriginal children, young people and their families;

  • strive to ensure our policies, procedures, systems and processes together create a culturally safe and inclusive environment that meets the needs of Aboriginal children, young people and their families.

Andrew recognises that the Wurundjeri people have been the traditional custodians of the land within the Yarra Ranges and beyond for at least 35,000 years. Andrew wishes to pay his respects to all Elders, past, present, and emerging, who have been, and always will be, integral to the story of the Yarra Ranges and its lands and waterways.

Code of Conduct – guide for interacting with children
We are committed to providing an environment where children are safe and feel safe. To support this commitment, the following code of conduct applies for interacting with children.


Expected behaviours:
We must:

  • provide a welcoming, inclusive, culturally responsive and safe environment for children;

  • treat allegations of child abuse and harm seriously;

  • treat children with respect and value their opinions;

  • communicate with children in a way that helps them understand information, ask questions and express their preferences;

  • listen and respond to the concerns of children, particularly about their safety or the safety of another child;

  • ensure children know who to approach if they feel unsafe or want to raise concerns;

  • promote the cultural safety, inclusion, participation and empowerment of all children including Aboriginal children, children from multicultural and multifaith backgrounds, children with disability, and children who identify as LGBTIQ+;

  • take a zero tolerance approach to racism and respond appropriately to any incidents.


Unacceptable behaviours
We must not:

  • condone or participate in illegal, unsafe or harmful behaviour towards children. This includes (but is not limited to): humilitating, belittling, rejecting or threatening a children, or behaving in any other manner that may cause emotional or psychological harm;

  • develop inappropriate or ‘special’ relationships with children that cross professional boundaries (for example, preferential treatment, giving inappropriate gifts, or inappropriate social media communication);

  • initiate unnecessary physical contact with a child;

  • discriminate against or denigrate any child because of their age, gender, gender identify, race, culture, ethnicity, religion, sexuality or disability;

  • disregard or fail to consider the views of children, especially about their safety (including cultural safety) or issues or decisions that are important to them;

  • photograph or distribute images or videos of a child without the consent of their parent or guardian. 

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Working with Children Check
Andrew holds and maintains a current Working with Children Check (WWCC), which is a Victorian government screening process for assessing or re-assessing people who work with or care for children in Victoria.
It is a requirement under this Policy that at all times, a current WWCC is held by Andrew and any employee, volunteer or other person associated with the Business that will have direct contact children.


Complaints and reporting
All reports of child abuse and child safety concerns, including any breaches of the above guide for interacting with children, will be treated seriously, whether they are made by an adult or a child and whether they are about the conduct of an adult or a child. All complaints and child safety concerns will be responded to promptly and thoroughly by Andrew.
Andrew will prioritise children’s safety in any response and report all potentially criminal conduct to Victoria Police. Under the complaint handling and disciplinary policies, staff and volunteers may be subject to actions to support child safety including:

  • Complaints can be emailed to andrew.haughton.bike@gmail.com

  • Besides contacting Andrew directly, a child, young person or other person can contact the following in the event of a complaint:

  • Victoria Police: call 000 for emergencies or 131 444 for non-urgent reporting or assistance

  • DFFH Victoria child protection (East Division which includes Yarra Ranges): 1300 360 452

  • Orange Door child protection: 13 12 78

If there is concern for the immediate safety of a child, immediately call 000.


Record keeping
The Business is committed to making and keeping full and accurate records about all child-related complaints or safety concerns.
All child safety complaints, concerns, incidents and near misses will be recorded and retained securely with the records for the Business.
Records which may assist with the investigation of a complaint or safety concern will be identified and kept as part of the record of an investigation. Records will be kept even if an investigation does not substantiate a complaint.
We will record and keep the outcome of any investigations, and the resolution of any complaints. This includes findings made, reasons for decisions and actions taken.


Information sharing
The Business may share relevant information to promote the safety and wellbeing of children, where it is appropriate and in their best interests. The Business will keep information about complaints confidential, except where it is necessary to share information to respond properly to a complaint or to prioritise child safety. We may also need to share information about incidents or complaints with external authorities to comply with the law or to prioritise safety.


Non-compliance with the Policy
The Business will enforce the Policy. Potential breaches by anyone will be investigated and may result in restriction of duties, suspension or termination of employment or engagement or other corrective action.


Review
The Business will review all child safe practices and policies at least every two years. We also review relevant practices and policies in response to a child safety incident or ‘near miss’. Findings from reviews will be reported to the people involved in our organisation and also inform our approach to continuous improvement of our child safety practices. Reviews will be informed by consultation with children, families and staff.
Supporting legislation
•
Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005 (Vic) (including Child Safe Standards)
•
Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 (Vic) (including reporting to Child Protection)
•
Crimes Act 1958 (Vic) (including Failure to Protect and Failure to Disclose offences)
•
Wrongs Act 1958 (Vic) (including Part XIII – Organisational liability for child

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