MacKillop College

Policy: Child Protection and Safety Policy

MacKillop College has developed the following Child Protection and Safety Policy. This policy is an
overarching document that provides key elements of our approach to protecting children from
abuse.

The policy forms the foundation of the College’s procedures, practices, decision-making processes
and ultimately the College’s culture with respect to child safety.

It is designed to be published on our public website as well as communicated through other

mediums such as newsletters, our annual report and in induction and welcome packs for Board
members, staff and Volunteers. A PDF version of MacKillop College's Child Protection and Safety
Policy is available here.

The College’s Child Protection and Safety Policy has been approved and endorsed by the College’s
Board and is regularly reviewed by the MacKillop College Education Board.

Our Child Protection and Safety Policy

Objectives

This policy provides the framework for:

• the development of work systems, practices, policies and procedures that promote child
protection within the College;
• the creation of a positive and robust child protection culture;
• the promotion and open discussion of child protection issues within the College; and
• compliance with all laws, regulations and standards relevant to child protection in Victoria.

Statement of Commitment to Child Safety

Child abuse includes sexual offences, grooming, physical violence, serious emotional or psychological
harm, serious neglect and a child’s exposure to family violence. MacKillop College is committed to
the protection of all children from all forms of child abuse and demonstrates this commitment
through the implementation of a comprehensive Child Protection Program designed to keep children
safe.

At MacKillop College we have a zero tolerance for child abuse and are committed to acting in
children’s best interests and keeping them safe from harm. The College regards its child protection
responsibilities with the utmost importance and as such, is committed to providing the necessary
resources to ensure compliance with all relevant child protection laws and regulations and maintain
a child safe culture.
Child Safe Values & Principles

The College’s commitment to child safety is based on the following overarching principles that guide
the development and regular review of our work systems, practices, policies and procedures to
protect children from abuse.

1. All children have the right to be safe.

2. The welfare and best interests of the child are paramount.

3. The views of the child and a child’s privacy must be respected.

4. Clear expectations for appropriate behaviour with children are established in our Child
Safety Code of Conduct and Staff and Student Professional Boundaries Policy.

5. The safety of children is dependent upon the existence of a child safe culture.

6. Child safety awareness is promoted and openly discussed within our College community.

7. Procedures are in place to screen all staff, Direct Contact Volunteers**, Third Party
Contractors and External Education Providers who have direct contact with children.

8. Child safety and protection is everyone's responsibility.

9. Child protection training is mandatory for all Board members, staff and Direct Contact
Volunteers.

10. Procedures for responding to alleged or suspected incidents of child abuse are simple and
accessible for all members of the College community.

11. Children from culturally or linguistically diverse backgrounds have the right to special care
and support including those who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.

12. Children who have any kind of disability have the right to special care and support.

**Direct Contact Volunteers are those volunteers who are involved in providing support, guidance
and supervision directly to students and could potentially have direct contact with students during
the normal course of providing the volunteer service.

The Working with Children Act 2005 (Vic) defines 'direct contact’ as any contact between a person
and a child (aged under 18) that involves:

• physical contact; or
• face to face contact; or
• contact by post or other written communication; or
• contact by telephone or other oral communication; or
• contact by email or other electronic communication.

Examples of Direct Contact Volunteer activities may include volunteers involved in College camps and
excursions, coaching sporting teams or assisting in learning activities.
Child Protection Program

MacKillop College is committed to the effective implementation of our Child Protection Program and
ensuring that it is appropriately reviewed and updated. We adopt a risk management approach by
identifying key risk indicators and assessing child safety risks based on a range of factors including
the nature of our College's activities, physical and online environments and the characteristics of the
student body.

Our Child Protection Program relates to all aspects of protecting children from abuse and establishes
work systems, practices, policies and procedures to protect children from abuse. It includes:

• clear information as to what constitutes child abuse and associated key risk indicators;
• clear procedures for responding to and reporting allegations of child abuse;
• strategies to support, encourage and enable staff, Volunteers, Third Party Contractors,
External Education Providers, parents and students to understand, identify, discuss and
report child protection matters;
• procedures for recruiting and screening Board members, staff and Direct Contact
Volunteers;
• procedures for reporting reportable conduct and/or misconduct;
• pastoral care strategies designed to empower students and keep them safe;
• policies with respect to cultural diversity and students with disabilities;
• a child protection training program;
• information regarding the steps to take after a disclosure of abuse to protect, support and
assist children;
• guidelines with respect to record keeping and confidentiality;
• policies to ensure compliance with all relevant laws, regulations and standards (including the
Victorian Child Safe Standards); and
• a system for continuous review and improvement.

As a part of MacKillop College’s induction process, all staff and Direct Contact Volunteers are
required to complete a selection of training modules on the content of our Child Protection
Program.

All staff, Direct Contact Volunteers and Board members are provided with additional, ongoing child
protection training at least annually.

Staff, Volunteers, Third Party Contractors and External Education Providers are supported and
supervised by the College’s Child Protection Officers to ensure that they are compliant with the
College’s approach to child protection.
Responsibilities

Child protection is everyone’s responsibility. At MacKillop College all members of the Board and
staff, as well as Volunteers, have a shared responsibility for contributing to the safety and protection
of children. Specific responsibilities include:

Board

Each member of the Board is required to ensure that appropriate resources are made available to
allow the College’s Child Protection and Safety Policy and the Child Protection Program to be
effectively implemented within the College and are responsible for holding the Principal and
leadership team accountable for effective implementation.

The Principal

The Principal is responsible, and will be accountable for, taking all practical measures to ensure that
this Child Protection and Safety Policy and the College’s Child Protection Program are implemented
effectively and that a strong and sustainable child protection culture is maintained within the
College.

The College's Child Protection Officer

A number of senior staff members are nominated as the College's Child Protection Officers. Our
Child Protection Officers receive additional specialised training with respect to child protection
issues. They are the first point of contact for raising child protection concerns within the College.
They are also responsible for championing child protection within the College and assisting in
coordinating responses to child protection incidents.

Staff Members

All staff are required to be familiar with the content of our Child Protection and Safety Policy and our
Child Protection Program and their legal obligations with respect to the reporting of child abuse. It is
each individual’s responsibility to be aware of key risk indicators of child abuse, to be observant, and
to raise any concerns they may have relating to child abuse with one of the College’s Child
Protection Officers.

Direct Contact Volunteers

All Direct Contact Volunteers, as defined in this policy, are required to be familiar with the content of
our Child Protection and Safety Policy, our Child Protection Program and their legal obligations with
respect to the reporting of child abuse.

It is each individual’s responsibility to be aware of key risk indicators of child abuse, to be observant,
and to raise any concerns they may have relating to child abuse with one of the College’s Child
Protection Officers.

Indirect Contact Volunteers

Indirect Contact Volunteers (or 'Indirect Volunteers') are those volunteers who are involved in
providing support and services whilst not directly assisting a specific group of students.

All Indirect Volunteers are responsible for contributing to the safety and protection of children in the
College environment.
All Indirect Volunteers are required by the College to be familiar with our Child Protection and Safety
Policy and our Child Safety Code of Conduct.

Examples of Indirect Contact Volunteer activities may include assisting with College administrative
functions.

Third Party Contractors

All Third Party Contractors (service providers) engaged by the College are responsible for
contributing to the safety and protection of children in the College environment.

Third Party Contractors include, for example, maintenance and building personnel, consultants,
casual teachers, tutors, sports coaches and college cleaners.

This also includes music teachers and other extra-curricular teachers and instructors who are
engaged by students and their families directly, rather than the College, but have an agreement with
the College to use the College’s facilities.

Direct Contact Contractors

Direct Contact Contractors are:

• those who have direct contact** with students during the normal course of their work;
• those who may be in a position to establish a relationship of trust with a student
notwithstanding that unsupervised access to students would be rare (for example full-time
maintenance personnel); and
• any contractors whom a school is legally required to screen.

The Working with Children Act 2005 (Vic) defines 'direct contact’ as any contact between a person
and a child (aged under 18) that involves:

• physical contact; or
• face to face contact; or
• contact by post or other written communication; or
• contact by telephone or other oral communication; or
• contact by email or other electronic communication.

Indirect Contact Contractors

Indirect Contact Contractors are those contractors who do not meet the definition of “Direct Contact
Contractor”. Refer to Third Party Contractors’ Responsibilities for more information.

All service providers engaged by the College are required by the College to be familiar with our Child
Protection and Safety Policy and our Child Protection Program.

The College may include this requirement in the written agreement between it and the service
provider.
External Education Providers

An External Education Provider is any organisation that the College has arranged to deliver a
specified course of study that is part of the curriculum, to a student or students enrolled at the
College.

The delivery of such a course may take place on College premises or elsewhere.

All External Education Providers engaged by the College are responsible for contributing to the
safety and protection of children in the College environment.

All External Education Providers engaged by the College are required by the College to be familiar
with our Child Protection and Safety Policy and our Child Protection Program.

MacKillop College may include this requirement in the written agreement between it and the
External Education Provider.

Reporting Child Protection Concerns

Our Child Protection Program provides detailed guidance for members of the Board, staff and Direct
Contact Volunteers as to how to identify key risk indicators of child abuse and how to report child
abuse concerns to one of our College's nominated Child Protection Officers. It also contains detailed
procedures with respect to the reporting of child abuse incidents to relevant authorities.

Staff, Third Party Contractors, External Education Providers, Volunteers, students, parents/guardians
and other community members who have concerns that a child may be subject to abuse or
grooming are asked to contact the College's Senior Child Protection Officer, Anna Marazita, by
phoning 8734 5200 or emailing amarazita@mackillop.vic.edu.au.

Communications will be treated confidentially on a “need to know basis”.

Whenever there are concerns that a child is in immediate danger the Police should be called on
000.

Related Policies and Procedures

• Risk Management Program

• Compliance Program
• Human Resources Program
• Student Duty of Care Program
• Occupational Health & Safety Program
• Child Protection Staff Training
• Recruitment & Selection Procedures
• Induction Procedures

Policy & Program Review

MacKillop College is committed to the continuous improvement of our Child Protection Program.
The Program is regularly reviewed for overall effectiveness and to ensure compliance with all child
protection related laws, regulations and standards.