Building a Safe and Supportive Environment

Dear Parents,

I regularly write reminders about caring for children, and I don’t apologise for repeatedly reminding us all, it is important that we stay alert.

In schools, all adults are to safeguard the wellbeing of children.

As you know, schools exist to provide care and education for young people. This means that schools carry a genuine responsibility to ensure children are protected – not only through daily practices but also through formal systems and policies. In a Christian school setting, this responsibility is shaped by biblical principles, and that means we want a united effort between families and staff to nurture and protect every child.

So, as I do a couple of times each year, let me highlight our Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy (Policy 15 on our website), which by the way is not just a school initiative; it’s a government mandate; every school must maintain a current policy that outlines how it will actively safeguard children.

This particular policy focuses on all us adults doing all we can to protect kids from child abuse. You’ll agree that this is a vital and necessary safeguard. Schools are communities, and having a clear child safety policy helps define the responsibilities and expectations for every adult within that community. It’s not just teachers these days, it’s all staff, all parents and all family members who share the duty to remain vigilant and responsive to any signs of harm.

I encourage you to read it. It outlines how we, as adults are required actively to protect children. You’ll find it available on our MCC website. It does get reviewed regularly. This review process includes input from the College Council, me, our staff, and you – our parent community. Your involvement is important to us, and we want you to feel connected to this shared responsibility.

Each year, we staff re-read the policy to ensure we are up to date. In addition, both staff and council members complete online training through the Mandatory Reporting Certificate module. This includes assessment to confirm that everyone is equipped and ready to act on any child safety concerns.

I hope this overview has been helpful. We know that when families and staff work together, we create the safest and most supportive environment for children.

Thank you for continuing to partner with staff.

Dave Gleeson, Principal