Child safe Standards-Update

Organisations need to create a culture where all children and young people are encouraged, and feel empowered, to speak up.

Article 3 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child says that in all actions concerning children, the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration.

A child safe organisation has the trust of children and young people. In order to build trust, organisations should ensure that children and young people, as far as possible, have a sound understanding of their rights. This includes the right to voice their views and opinions about decisions that affect them. When an organisation’s complaint-handling process respects the voice and views of children and young people in a tangible way, it also benefits the organisation’s broader culture. Organisations also need to demonstrate that the views of children and young people are valued, by actively seeking their involvement in a range of decision-making processes.

Children’s and young people’s participation needs to be meaningful, not merely tokenistic. Children and young people can provide a unique perspective on how they think an organisation is functioning. They can also often identify problems before adults think of them— complaints processes are no different. Organisations need to involve children and young people in responses to individual complaints and in the overall design of a complaints system. This will facilitate ongoing service improvement and provide a safer environment.

Complaint Handling Guide: Upholding the rights of children and young people

St Finbar’s OSHC has updated its Complaints policy to ensure the complaints process is child centred and empowering:

The responsibility for the nominated child safety champion is to:

Encourage students to raise concerns with a trusted adult if anything makes them feel uncomfortable or unsafe. This is done through the use of warm reciprocal relationships between staff and children
Facilitate student discussions about what would help them speak up when they have concerns.
Ask students about their experiences making complaints and act on feedback from students in the complaints process.
Explain to children how they can access and understand the complaint process.
Support students to develop the skills to make complaints and raise concerns by using teaching and learning materials sourced from reputable Organisations and Foundations
Let students know that they can make a complaint about any kind of harm, perpetrated at school, outside school, by an adult or by other children, including bullying or cyberbullying and all forms of abuse.
Advertise assistance and support services for students, families, staff and volunteers who wish to raise concerns, including the availability of translating and interpreting services.
Receive complaints thoughtfully, taking care to validate students' experiences – what may seem small to an adult might not be to a child.
Ensure complaint handling systems and processes are confidential, and that only authorised staff can access complaint records.
Commit to making improvements following a complaint to address the source of the problem and follow through on the commitment.
Provide feedback mechanisms that allow for anonymity, such as secure suggestions boxes. Regularly review and action the suggestions received.
Information about the complaints process is visible and accessible to all, e.g. displaying key messages in locations that children and young people frequently access (at the entrance of the service), and via online.

Families can email stfinbarsaftecare@gmail.com and ask for a copy of the Complaints Policy. Families are also welcome to simply email the service about any issue they may have including any comments, concerns or complaints and these will be addressed in accordance with Policy processes.

As always, feedback from families is welcome either face to face or via email stfinbarsaftercare@gmail.com

Holiday Program

The holiday program is now out and posted on the front page of the school website. (Scroll down to the icon). It’s full of fun and interesting activities.

Hope to see you there!

Please book via stfinbarsaftercare@gmail.com

A return email will confirm the booking and an invoice will be issued. All Holiday Program fees must be finalised upon booking to secure places.

Please note:

The service does not charge for absences (base rate $47 minus rebate) no matter what the reason, however, any incursion/excursion costs will be retained as our providers still charge the fees for the initial booking, which also includes bus hire. The last day to cancel without incurring the fees for incursions and/or excursions will be midnight Friday 24th June.

All incursions, excursions and special activities are extra and ATTRACT CCS

Example of costs per child per day:

Before rebate	After rebate
$47 base rate + $22 incursion =$69	$69 x 50% rebate= $34.50 per day per child.
$47 base rate + $22 Incursion= $69	$69 x 85% rebate= $13.90 per child per day

PLEASE NOTE: COMMUNICATION: The out of office responder will notify parents as to which days are fully booked. During the vacation care period, emails will be responded to either late evening or early morning.

Thank you for your understanding.

All fees due by the end of term.

Please note that all fees must be finalised by the end of this term. OSHC is a non-profit organisation which relies heavily on the prompt payment of fees.

Regretfully, should accounts fall into arrears then access to the program will be denied

Last Day of school

OSHC will be open for the early dismal of 1.45 Friday 24th. Snack will be served at the regular time of 3.30. The cost is $21 plus rebate. Please email stfinbarsaftercare@gmail.com.

Community News