Safeguarding Children and Young People
Code of Conduct
This Code of Conduct has a specific focus on safeguarding children and young people at St Kevin's Ormond against sexual, physical, psychological and emotional abuse of neglect. It is intended to complement other professional and/or occupational codes and school-based policies.
All staff, volunteers, contractors, clergy, Education Board and P&F members at St Kevin's school are expected to actively contribute to a school culture that respects the dignity of its members and affirms the Gospel values of love, care for others, compassion and justice. They are required to observe child-safe principles and expectations for appropriate behaviour towards and in the company of children, as noted below.
Acceptable behaviours
All staff, volunteers, contractors, clergy, Education Board and P&F members are
responsible for supporting the safety of children by:
1. adhering to the school’s child-safe policy and upholding the school’s
statement of commitment to child safety at all times
2. taking all reasonable steps to protect children from abuse
3. treating everyone in the school community with respect (modelling positive
and respectful relationships and acting in a manner that sustains a safe,
educational and pastoral environment)
4. listening and responding to the views and concerns of children, particularly if
they are telling you that they or another child have been abused or that they
are worried about their safety/the safety of another child
5. promoting the cultural safety, participation and empowerment of Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander children (for example, by never questioning an
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child’s self-identification)
6. promoting the cultural safety, participation and empowerment of children with
culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds (for example, by having a
zero tolerance policy towards discrimination)
7. promoting the safety, participation and empowerment of children with a
disability (for example, during personal care activities including showers and
toileting)
8. ensuring as far as practicable that adults are not alone with a child
(psychologist, individual lessons one to one in class, Reconciliation,
windowless rooms, change-rooms, accidental help issues and unintended
consequences), unless consistent with the school roles and responsibilities
9. reporting any allegations of child abuse to the school’s Executive Leadership
or Wellbeing Leader
10. understanding and complying with all reporting obligations as they relate to
mandatory reporting and reporting under the Crimes Act 1958 (Vic.)
11. managing any child safety concerns through the St Kevin’s Pathway to
Resolution process in the first instance using Restorative practice processes
12. if an allegation of child abuse is made, to follow the relevant school policies
and procedures ensuring as quickly as possible, that the child(ren) are safe.
Unacceptable behaviours
Staff and volunteers must not:
1. ignore or disregard any suspected or disclosed child abuse
2. develop any ‘special’ relationships beyond the scope of approved Educational
Programs with children that could be seen as favouritism (for example, the
offering of gifts or special treatment for specific children)
3. exhibit behaviours with children which may be construed as unnecessarily
physical
4. put children at risk of abuse (for example, by locking doors or enclosing
children in rooms without the line of sight of other staff)
5. initiate unnecessary physical contact with children or do things of a personal
nature that a child can do for themselves, such as toileting or changing
clothes
6. engage in open or online discussions of a mature or adult nature in the
presence of children
7. use inappropriate language in the presence of children
8. express personal views on cultures, race or sexuality in the presence of
children
9. discriminate against any child, according to age, gender, race, culture,
vulnerability, sexuality, ethnicity or disability
10. have contact with a child or their family outside of school without the school’s
leadership knowledge (for example, school-approved special circumstances,
unauthorised after-hours tutoring, private instrumental/other lessons or sport
coaching); accidental contact, such as seeing people in the street, is
appropriate
11. have any online contact with a child (including by social media, email, instant
messaging etc.) or their family (unless for legitimate school purposes as per
the Social Media Policy) e.g. by providing families with newsletters or
assisting students with their school work)
12. use any personal communication channels/device such as a personal email
account
13. exchange personal contact details such as phone number, social networking
sites or private email addresses (unless authorised for school purposes)
14. photograph or video a child without the consent of the parent or guardians
15. work with children while under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs
16. consume alcohol or drugs at school or at school events in the presence of
(Adapted from Source: VRQA) Rider of MOU to be signed by the parent regarding use of phone numbers
…………………………………………………………………………………………
I, ______________________________________, confirm I have been
provided with a copy of the above Code of Conduct.
Signed: ___________________________________ Date: __________
The Ministerial Order provides the following definitions:
Child abuse includes :
• any act committed against a child involving: a sexual offence, or an offence under section
49B(2) of the Crimes Act 1958 (Vic.) (grooming)
• the infliction, on a child, of physical violence, or serious emotional or psychological harm,
or serious neglect of a child.
Child-connected work means work authorised by the school governing authority and
performed by an adult in a school environment while children are present or reasonably
expected to be present
.
Child safety encompasses matters related to protecting all 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.
School environment means any physical or virtual place made available or authorised by the
school governing authority for use by a child during or outside school hours, including:
• a campus of the school
• online school environments (including email and intranet systems)
• other locations provided by the school for a child’s use (including, without limitation,
locations used for school camps, sporting events, excursions, competitions, and other events).
School staff being: an individual working in a school environment who is:
• directly engaged or employed by a school governing authority;
• a volunteer or a contracted service provider (whether or not a body corporate or any other
person is an intermediary); or
• a minister of religion.
