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                    Child safety

                    Children and adults dancing
                    City of Melbourne is committed to being a child safe organisation and has zero tolerance for child abuse.

                    ​​We create environments where all children have a voice and are listened to, their views are respected and they contribute to how we plan for, design and develop our services and activities.

                    We are committed to:

                    1. Preventing child abuse occurring within our services, programs and facilities.
                    2. Creating an organisational culture of child safety
                    3. Setting clear expectations of employees, volunteers and contractors to what is required to keep children safe.
                    4. Ensuring employees, volunteers and contractors are clear about their responsibilities when they suspect abuse of a child.
                    5. En​suring all suspected abuse is reported and fully investigated.

                    Information sharing with other organisations

                    Where necessary, we share information with other government authorities and organisations under the Family Violence Information Scheme to promote children’s wellbeing and safety. This helps us to assess and manage family violence risk and create a more integrated system that responds to the needs of children, families and the wider community. 

                    If you are an information sharing entity and wish to make a request for information from City of Melbourne, please complete the Family Violence and Child Information Sharing request form and return to ISErequest@melbourne.vic.gov.au.

                    Child Safe Standards

                    The 11 Child Safe Standards are:

                    • Child Safe Standard 1 – 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.
                    • Child Safe Standard 2 – Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in organisational leadership, governance and culture.
                    • Child Safe Standard 3 – Children and young people are empowered about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.
                    • Child Safe Standard 4 – Families and communities are informed, and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing.
                    • Child Safe Standard 5 – Equity is upheld and diverse needs respected in policy and practice.
                    • Child Safe Standard 6 – People working with children and young people are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice.
                    • Child Safe Standard 7 – Processes for complaints and concerns are child focused.
                    • Child Safe 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.
                    • Child Safe Standard 9 – Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for children and young people to be harmed.
                    • Child Safe Standard 10 – Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is regularly reviewed and improved.
                    • Child Safe Standard 11 – Policies and proce​dures document how the organisation is safe for children and young people.

                    The City of Melbourne has identified our work implementing the Child Care Standards as an improvement piece with further actions to be implemented.

                    If you have any questions relating to the Child Safe Standards, please contact the Child Safe Coordinator on 9658 9658.

                    Overview

                    In April 2012, a parliamentary inquiry was initiated into the handling of child sexual abuse within religious and other non-government organisations. This led to the Betrayal of Trust report being tabled in Parliament in November 2013. In May 2015 the former Victorian Government accepted in principle all fifteen recommendations from the report. This included a three phased change implementation process: criminal law reform, civil law reform and child safe organisations. 

                    In late 2015, the Child Wellbeing and Safety Act (2005) was amended to include the Child Safe Standards and the Reportable Conduct Scheme. In late 2017 recommendations from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Abuse were tabled in Federal Parliament supporting the implementation of National Child Safe Standards and Reportable Conduct Schemes across the country. These reforms have provided the imprimatur for the development of our Child Safe framework and related policies and procedures.

                    Child safe framework

                    The framework provides the foundation for the development of systems, practices, policies and procedures that promote child safety within the organisation. It is an overarching document that articulates our position on protecting children and focuses on three key areas:

                    1. Implement a whole of organisational approach to create safe environments for children and young people participating in City of Melbourne programs and activities.

                    2. Ensure an appropriate response to children and young people experiencing and/or witnessing, physical, sexual, emotional/psychological abuse, neglect, family violence and racial, cultural and religious abuse.

                    3. Create a culturally safe environment for children and young people that is free from harassment, bullying, violence, discrimination, racism or sexism.

                    Provide clear child safe reporting pathways that enable people to speak up and act when a child is unsafe.

                    The framework is underpinned by a set of key principles:

                    • Child safety and protection is everyone’s responsibility.

                    • The best interests of the child are a primary consideration in all actions and decisions relating to children.

                    • The child’s best interests should be viewed through the lens of culture.

                    • Protecting and promoting the rights of children from culturally diverse backgrounds, Indigenous children and children with a disability is paramount.

                    • The safety of children is dependent upon the existence of a child safe culture within the organisation.

                    • Child safety awareness is promoted and openly discussed within the organisation.

                    • Child safe reporting is encouraged and supported through clear reporting pathways within the organisation.

                    If you have any questions relating to the Child Safe Standards or the Reportable Conduct Scheme please contact Sharon Rooney, Child Safe Coordinator on 0466 928 333.

                    Related legislation, criminal offenses and policies

                    ​Acts

                    • Children Youth and Families Act (2005) 
                    • Working with Children Act (2005) 
                    • Child Wellbeing and Safety Act (2005) 
                    • Child Wellbeing and Safety Amendment (Child Safe Standards) Act 2015
                    • Child Wellbeing and Safety (Information Sharing) Regulations 2018
                    • Children Legislation Amendment (Reportable Conduct) Act 2017
                    • Child Wellbeing and Safety Amendment (Child Safe Standards) Regulations 2015
                    • Child Wellbeing and Safety Amendment (Oversight and Enforcement of Child Safe Standards) Act 2016
                    • The Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act (2006) 
                    • The Commission for Children and Young People Act (2012) 
                    • Privacy and Data Protection Act (2014)
                    • Family Violence Protection Amendment (Information Sharing) Act 2017
                    • Children Legislation Amendment (Information Sharing) Act 2018
                    • Family Violence Information Sharing Scheme (September 2018)
                    • Child Information Sharing Scheme (September 2018)

                    Criminal offenses
                    • ​Failure to protect a child from sexual abuse (2015)

                    • Failure to disclose child sexual abuse (2014)

                    • Grooming offence (2014)

                    ​City of Melbourne policies
                    • ​Child Safe Reporting Policy

                    • Child Safe Organisational Commitment Statement

                    • Critical Incident Management Policy

                    • Preventing Violence against Women Policy

                    • Responding to Family Violence Policy 

                    • Risk Management Policy

                    • Recruitment Policy

                    • Volunteer Policy



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