At Melton Christian College, we are committed to protecting children in our care. In accordance with the following sources, the Senior Leadership Team, in conjunction with the Board and legal advice, we have developed a detailed child-safe policy, and a school-wide approach.

Our approach to Child Safety is based on the Victorian government’s eleven standards

The Victorian Government introduced legislation expressed as eleven standards. To create and maintain a child safe organisation, the standards are as follows:

  • Standard 1: Organisations establish a culturally safe environment in which the diverse and unique identities of Aboriginal children and young people are respected and valued
  • Standard 2: Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in organisational leadership, governance and culture
  • Standard 3: Children and young people are empowered about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously
  • Standard 4: Families and communities are informed, and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing
  • Standard 5: Equity is upheld and diverse needs respected in policy and practice
  • Standard 6: People working with children and young people are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice
  • Standard 7: Processes for complaints and concerns are child focussed
  • Standard 8: 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 promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for children and young people to be harmed
  • Standard 10: Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is regularly reviewed and improved
  • Standard 11: Policies and procedures document how the organisation is safe for children and young people

Child Safe Culture

All staff have delegated responsibility from the Principal, as do the governing authority of the College to:

  • Work towards embedding an organisational culture of child safety
  • Be familiar with and promote familiarity with the College child safe policy
  • Be familiar with and promote familiarity with the VIT Code of Conduct, and the additional points that establish the College’s expectations for appropriate behaviour with children
  • Take part in screening, supervision, training and other human resources practices that reduce the risk of child abuse by new and existing personnel
  • Be familiar with and promote familiarity with processes for responding to and reporting suspected child abuse
  • Always work to identify and reduce or remove risks of child abuse
  • Always work towards appropriate participation and empowerment of children

Child Safe Policy Suite

Related Policies: