CHILD SAFETY:
OUR COMMITMENT ATLIGHTHOUSE CHRISTIANCOLLEGE
ENSURING
CHILD SAFETY
Introduction
In November 2015, the Victorian Parliament enacted the Child Wellbeing and Safety Amendment (Child Safe Standards) Bill 2015, introducing seven child safe standards into law. These standards are applicable to all organisations involved in child-related work in Victoria.
Following a review prompted by the Royal Commission, the Victorian Government made changes to the Standards to better align them with the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations. The updated Standards, consisting of 11 standards, took effect from July 1, 2022.
Ministerial Order 1359 outlines the framework for schools to comply with the Standards, with the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA) having overall responsibility for ensuring compliance.
The aim of the Child Safe Standards is to establish safe environments for children to participate fully and actively in the community, benefiting everyone. For more information on the Child Safe Standards in schools, please visit: https://www.vic.gov.au/protect At Lighthouse Christian College, the safety and well-being of every child in our care are paramount.
Grounded in the Victorian Child Safe Standards and our Christian values, our Child Safe Strategy reflects our unwavering commitment to protecting and nurturing every precious life within our school family.
We believe that every child is fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God (Psalm 139:14), deserving of love, respect, and protection. Therefore, we prioritize the safety and well-being of our students above all else. Our staff undergo thorough training on recognizing and responding to child abuse and neglect, equipping them with the knowledge and skills necessary to safeguard ourchildren effectively.
Our Approach to Child Safety:
Implementation of
Child Safe Standards
LCC is committed to implementing the Victorian Child Safety Standards. Our approach includes, but is not limited to:
Culturally Safe Environments for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People
- Comprehensive policies addressing inclusion, diversity, and wellbeing.
- Student training on diversity and cultural safety.
- Participation in significant cultural events.
- Child-focused systems for reporting racism and bullying, ensuring concerns are addressed promptly.
Children and Young People are Empowered, Participate and Taken Seriously
- Regular review and implementation of our comprehensive child safety policies.
- Promotion of a child-safe culture by College leadership.
- Open communication channels for feedback and complaints.
- The appointed Child Safety Officers are trained and equipped to handle child safety matters, and report monthly to the College Council to ensure transparency and accountability.
Committed Leadership, Governance and Culture
- Engagement with student leaders and the school community.
- The establishment of student leadership roles to facilitate active participation and decision-making among students.
- Promotion of external child advocacy organisations.
- Implementation of comprehensive pastoral care and wellbeing programs.
Families and Communities Informed and Involved
- Students and families Involved in decisions affecting the child.
- Regular sharing of information with the school community to maintain a child-safe culture, increase awareness of the Child Safe
- Program, and encourage feedback for continuous improvement.
- The use of various communication tools, tailored to meet the needs of the school community
Equity is Upheld and Diversity Respected
- Professional development sessions for staff on cultural safety.
- Programs and training to support students with disabilities and differences.
- Promotion of diversity and celebration of cultural differences.
Robust Human Resources Management
- Visitor Management Policy and Procedures.
- Stringent screening processes for staff and
- volunteers.
- Regular child safety training for all staff.
Effective Complaints Management
- Comprehensive policies and procedures for responding to child safety incidents and concerns.
- Public-facing documents outlining responding and reporting obligations.
- Regular information and training sessions for staff and volunteers.
Ongoing Education and Training
- Continuous dialogue and integration of child-safematters into school operations.
- Regular inclusion of child-safe topics in meetings and training sessions.
- Monthly OH&S meetings to address child-safe matters.
Safe Physical and Online Environments
- Comprehensive policies and procedures, including ICT policies andagreements signed by students and parents, to educate and enforce standards of behaviour regarding cyber safety.
- Training embedded into the curriculum for students to identify and respond to inappropriate situations.
- Ongoing monitoring and investigation of child safety incidents.
Regular Reviews and Continuous Improvement
- Visitor Management Policy and Procedures.
- Stringent screening processes for staff and
- volunteers.
- Regular child safety training for all staff.
Child Safe Policies and Procedures
- Development and implementation of a comprehensive Child Safe
- Policy.
- Adherence to child safe policies with dedicated staff roles.
- Accessibility of Child Safe Policies on the College website.
Conclusion