Child Protection and Safety

Simonds Catholic College’s fundamental responsibility is the care, safety and well-being of all students whilst in our care. There is a moral and legal responsibility to provide a safe and secure environment for all our students. Simonds Catholic College is committed to the protection of all our students from all forms of abuse.

Commitment to Child Safety

Simonds Catholic College promotes the safety, wellbeing and inclusion of all children.

All students enrolled at Simonds Catholic College have the right to feel safe and to be safe. The wellbeing of boys in our care will always be our first priority and we do not and will not tolerate child abuse. We aim to create a child-safe and child-friendly environment where children are free to enjoy life to the full without any concern for their safety.

We have developed a Child Safety Program made up of work systems, practices, policies and procedures designed to maintain a child safe environment and to embed an organisational culture of child safety within the College community.

The new Child Safe Standards (CSS) commence on 1 July 2022. They support greater national consistency, reflecting the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations.

1. Culturally safe environments – Organisations establish a culturally safe environment in which the diverse and unique identities and experiences of Aboriginal children and young people are respected and valued.
2. Leadership, governance and culture – Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in organisational leadership, governance and culture.
3. Child and student empowerment – Children and young people are empowered about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.
4. Family engagement – Families and communities are informed, and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing.
5. Diversity and equity – Equity is upheld and diverse needs respected in policy and practice.
6. Suitable staff and volunteers – People working with children and young people are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice.
7. Complaints processes – Processes for complaints and concerns are child focused.
8. Child safety knowledge, skills and awareness – Staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education and training.
9. Child safety in physical and online environments – Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for children and young people to be harmed.
10. Review of child safety practices – Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is regularly reviewed and improved.
11. Implementation of child safety practices – Policies and procedures document how the organisation is safe for children and young people.

The CSS are underpinned by Ministerial Order No. 1359 (MO 1359) – Implementing the Child Safe Standards – Managing the risk of child abuse in schools and school boarding premises, which was released by the Victorian Government on 10 February 2022.

CHILD SAFETY POLICIES

• CECV Commitment Statement to Child Safety
• Child Safety Code of Conduct
• Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy
• Child Safety and Wellbeing Recordkeeping Policy
• PROTECT: Identifying and Responding to Abuse – Reporting obligations
  • PROTECT Procedure: Police or DFFH Child Protection Interviews at school
  • PROTECT Procedure: Responding to Police and Child Protection requests for further information
  • PROTECT Procedure: Informing staff of reporting obligations
  • PROTECT Procedure: Responding to offences under the Crimes Act 1958 (Vic)
  • PROTECT Procedure: Responding to all forms of child abuse
  • PROTECT Procedure: Responding to student sexual offending
• Engaging Families in Child Safety Policy
• Reportable Conduct Policy

In addition, the link to the MACS website so that families can readily access policies and documents published on that site.