Student Wellbeing

Child Safety  

While the Child Safe Standards have been in place in Victoria since 2016, they remain an integral set of guidelines that are used to promote child safety. We continue to ensure that the eleven standards are integrated here at Shelford so that children and student’s rights and wellbeing are at the forefront of everything we do.  

As a reminder the eleven Child Safe Standards are: 

1. Establish a culturally safe environment that respects and values the diverse identities and experiences of Aboriginal children and young people. 
2. Embed child safety and wellbeing in organisational leadership, governance, and culture. 
3. Empower children and young people about their rights, involve them in decisions affecting them, and take their views seriously. 
4. Inform and involve families and communities in promoting child safety and wellbeing. 
5. Uphold equity and respect diverse needs in policy and practice. 
6. Ensure people working with children and young people are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice. 
7. Provide child-focused processes for complaints and concerns. 
8. Equip staff and volunteers with the knowledge, skills, and awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education and training. 
9. Promote safety and wellbeing in physical and online environments while minimising opportunities for harm. 
10. Regularly review and improve the implementation of the Child Safe Standards. 
11. Document policies and procedures to demonstrate how the organisation is safe for children and young people. 

For more information about the Child Safe Standards, I encourage parents, guardians and carers to visit the Commission for Children and Young People website here. 

All our Child Safe and Wellbeing Policies can be found on our website here and are readily accessible to our community. Should you have any further questions you can contact the school’s Child Safe Officers: 

• Senior School – Karen Whelan kwhelan@shelford.vid.edu.au 
• Junior School – Vicky Gemmell vgemmell@shelford.vic.edu.au 

House HPA & Sport Captains 

This term, all our Year 10 and 11 students were provided with the chance to apply for the House Captain positions of HPA and Sport. Encouraging student leadership not only fosters personal growth but also strengthens the sense of community within the school. 

Last week, the aspiring candidates delivered speeches outlining why they believe they possess the necessary skill set, motivation, and drive to excel as supportive House Captains. This process not only allowed the candidates to showcase their abilities but also gave them an opportunity to reflect on their potential contributions to the school community. All House members had the opportunity to vote, ensuring the Captains truly represent the collective voice and aspirations of their peers. 

I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the students who took the step of nominating themselves for these roles. The decision to nominate demonstrates not only courage but also a deep dedication to their House and its values. 

I am pleased to announce that the House HPA & Sport Captains for 2024 are: 

Wishing all Senior School families, a wonderful and restful Term 1 break and we look forward to seeing you at the commencement of Term 2 on Tuesday 16 April.