Aim
The aim of this policy is to ensure that children who participate in our programs have a safe and happy experience. We support and respect
our children, their families and our workers.
Introduction
This policy is used to guide paid workers and volunteers on how to behave when interacting and engaging with children in our organisation.
The policy focuses on how we can build and maintain a child-safe environment which is inclusive, transparent and promotes children’s
participation.
Encouraging children participation
Our organisation supports the active participation of children in the programs, activities and services which we offer. We provide a range
of strategies to allow children to provide feedback or raise concerns. We listen to their views, respect what they have to say and involve
them when we make decisions, especially about matters that will directly affect them.
Recruitment
The recruitment and selection process are crucially important to the safety and protection of children. Our organisation maintains a
rigorous and consistent recruitment, screening and selection process. References will be contacted during the recruitment process to
determine the working history of the candidate and their experience of working with children. Every paid-worker and volunteer of our
organisation who is directly involved in children activities, such as, but not limited to teaching employees is required to provide a
valid “Working with Children Check” delivered by the relevant NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian. Teaching workers are also strongly
encouraged to complete the NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian Child Safety e-training before commencing work with students up to 18 years
of age.
Complaints Management and Reporting
Teaching and non-teaching workers, as well as volunteers, must report any behaviour or event which is suspected of being child exploitation
or abuse (including possession of child exploitation material) by any staff member of our organisation, including voluntary workers and
contractors. They must also report any information made to them by anyone which relates to child exploitation and abuse, and any
non-compliance with this policy from any staff member or stakeholder.
Where an individual or organisation has already reported a behaviour or event, but becomes aware of additional information relating to such
behaviour and event, such individual or organisation must also report that additional information. In relation to this policy, all
complaints and their associated evidence must be reported to the General Manager, and in their absence, to the Secretary.
The complaints will be managed and dealt with in accordance with guidelines from the following organisations:
- NSW Department of Family and Community Services.
- NSW Ombudsman.
- NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian.
Training, support and supervision of workers
Our organisation promotes respect, fairness and consideration for all its paid-workers and volunteers.
All new paid-workers and volunteers will receive a copy of all policies and procedures relating to child protection before commencing to
work for the organisation. A meeting will be set up by management to discuss those policies and procedures with these new paid-workers and
volunteers to allow them to ask questions and to clarify their understanding.
All new paid-workers and volunteers will also receive a copy of both the organisation’s Employee’s Handbook and the Health and Safety
Handbook containing the roles and responsibilities of paidworkers and volunteers, particularly those which relate to engaging with students
under 18 years of age.
Child safety is a standing agenda item at meetings and paid-workers and volunteers are encouraged to ask questions and contribute to the
continuous improvement of child safe policies, procedures and practices in the workplace.
Legislation, industry standards or internal policies
- Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012 (NSW)
- Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 (NSW)
- Alliance Française de Sydney Employee Handbook
- Alliance Française de Sydney Health and Safety Handbook
Communication
Regular meetings and information sessions relating to child protection and abuse will be held on a regular basis for paid-workers,
volunteers and students.
This policy will be discussed during the induction process and children and parents joining our programs will receive a copy of this
policy. Review
This policy will be reviewed on a regular basis and will consider comments and suggestions from our range of stakeholders including
paid-workers, volunteers, children and their family.
