CHILD SAFE STANDARDS AT ST AGNES'

Child Safe Standards at St Agnes'

At St Agnes’, the safety, wellbeing and dignity of every child are central to all that we do. We are committed to creating a school environment where every student feels safe, valued, respected and empowered. As part of this ongoing commitment, each month we are highlighting one of the Victorian Child Safe Standards with our community.

The Victorian Child Safe Standards are a set of eleven standards designed to help schools create and maintain child safe environments through strong policies, practices and partnerships with families. They support schools in building cultures where children’s voices are heard, their wellbeing is prioritised, and safeguarding is embedded into everyday school life.

This week, we focus on Child Safe Standard Five, which is about making sure every child feels safe, included and supported at school. Every student is different, and it is important that we recognise and respond to their individual needs so they can learn, participate and thrive.

At St Agnes’, we are committed to creating a school where every child feels they belong. We work closely with families to understand each student's strengths and needs, provide the right support when needed, and create learning environments where every child has the opportunity to succeed. We celebrate the diversity of our community and encourage kindness, respect and inclusion in everything we do. By ensuring every child feels known, valued and supported, we continue to build a school where child safety and wellbeing are at the heart of everyday life.

We encourage all families to take a moment to read the information provided and continue partnering with us in this important work, as together we strengthen a culture of safety, inclusion and care across our St Agnes’ community.

What this looks like at St Agnes'

At St Agnes', we believe every child deserves to feel safe, included and valued. We recognise that every student is unique, and we are committed to ensuring that each child has the support they need to participate fully in school life and achieve success.

We work closely with families to understand each child's strengths, interests and needs. Through Personalised Learning Plan (PLP) meetings, Parent-Teacher Interviews, transition meetings and ongoing communication, we build strong partnerships that help us provide the best possible support for every student.

Our teachers and Learning Support Officers use inclusive teaching practices that allow students to learn in ways that suit them. Where additional support is needed, we work alongside families, allied health professionals, MACS and other specialist services to ensure students can access the learning, wellbeing and adjustments they require.

At St Agnes', we celebrate the diversity of our community through the way we learn and work together every day. Students learn about and celebrate different cultures through events such as Harmony Day and NAIDOC Week, and our curriculum includes opportunities to explore Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures. We provide leadership opportunities for all students, ensure learning experiences are accessible to every child, and explicitly teach kindness, inclusion and respect through our Respectful Relationships and wellbeing programs. These experiences help students understand, appreciate and value the differences that make our community stronger.

By recognising and responding to the individual needs of our students, we continue to create a school where every child feels known, respected and supported. This commitment to inclusion and equity is an important part of how we keep all children safe and help them thrive.