Child Safety and Wellbeing

A Child Safe School

Ss Michael and John’s Primary School holds the care, safety and wellbeing of children and young people as a central and fundamental responsibility. Central to the mission of our Catholic schools in Horsham – Ss Michael & John’s and St Brigid’s College – is an absolute commitment to fostering the dignity, self-esteem and integrity of children and young people and providing them with a safe, supportive and enriching environment to develop spiritually, physically, intellectually, emotionally and socially.

The Child Safe Standards came into effect in July 2022 and are a vital part of what we do at our schools. Each newsletter we will look at a standard in closer detail.

A child safe culture

Empowering children and young people improves child safety.  Children and young people are more likely to speak up when they feel respected and confident that they will be heard.  Children and young people benefit from strong friendships. They often see their friends as their main source of support, information and advice, and will go to them for help. 

At Ss Michael & John’s we have introduced the REAL SCHOOLS program to support our students.  This is a Restorative Practices Partnership.  Restorative practices strengthen relationships between individuals as well as social connections within communities.  This is just one way we help our students talk openly and support them to raise concerns about the safety or wellbeing of their friends, encouraging them to support their peers.

Ss Michael & John’s Child Safety Officers are Mrs Lousie Chesterfield and Mrs Lisa Glatz.

They can be contacted on 03 5382 3000 or by email – louisec@smjhorsham.catholic.edu.au / lglatz@smjhorsham.catholic.edu.au.  We welcome your feedback.  All our Child Safety Policies, can be viewed on our website: https://smjhorsham.catholic.edu.au/policies-reports/child-safety-policies/.