Child Safety

Child Safety at St Agatha’s

Protection of children and young people is based upon the belief that each person is made in the image and likeness of God, and that the inherent dignity of all should be recognised and fostered.

St Agatha's is committed to child protection strategies and procedures to ensure the care, safety and protection of all students at St Agatha's School and safeguarding students against sexual, physical, psychological and emotional abuse and/or neglect.

St Agatha's is committed to complying with Ministerial Order 1359

At St Agatha's the Child Safe Champion is Liam Doherty. Liam meets with the Child Safety team at least twice per term and more often as required. This team consults on all matters child safety and especially in complying with each of the eleven Child Safe Standards.

The Child Safety Standards

Each week we will focus on one of the Child Safety Standards and reflect on how that standard is reflected at St. Agatha’s. This week we will look at Child Safety Standard Two.

Child Safe Standard 2 – Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in organisational leadership, governance and culture

Weekly staff meetings have Child Safety on the agenda and the wellbeing of students is front and centre of all decisions made. A member of the leadership team—Liam Doherty has been designated the Child Safety Champion. The Whole School Approach to Positive Behaviour Support serves to create a safe and predicable environment. Timetables, physical environment, routines etc are created with child safety in mind.

The Cyber Safety Project Parent Webinars

St. Agatha’s has teamed up with The Cyber Safety Project to offer all parents and carers in the St Agatha’s community access to invaluable cyber safety webinars online. 

The first two of these webinars can be accessed immediately on-line and the remaining two session can be viewed live on the dates and time provided, or played back at a later time. Feel free to watch these webinars as often as you need.

I strongly encourage all parents and carers to register for the online seminars as they will provide you with the knowledge to ensure that your children’s digital experiences will be positive and beneficial. If you have any questions about this program don’t hesitate to contact me at ldoherty@stacbourne.catholic.edu.au.

In a rapidly changing world the multitude digital technologies that our children and students have access to is overwhelming. These technologies can be a powerful learning and teaching tools; and they can help us to remain connected and interacting even though we may be physically distant. These same technologies however can expose our students to various risks and dangers. Cyber safety education provides students with the knowledge and skills they need to stay safe in online environments. It involves acknowledging the benefits and opportunities offered by the online world, while understanding the risks and avoiding potential harms. 

St. Agatha’s has teamed up with The Cyber Safety Project to offer all parents and carers in the St Agatha’s community access to invaluable cyber safety webinars online. 

The first of these webinars can be accessed immediately on-line and the remaining three session can be viewed live on the dates and time provided, or played back at a later time.

I encourage all parents and carers to register for the online seminars as they will provide you with the knowledge to ensure that your children’s digital experiences will be positive and beneficial. If you have any questions about this program don’t hesitate to contact me at ldoherty@stacbourne.catholic.edu.au.

Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy 

The Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy has been updated to reflect practices that encourage student voice. This includes students participating in Class Meetings where they can raise issues that concern them both on the playground and in the classroom. The issues are discussed as a class and the students with their teachers work to find solutions. 

Our Child Safe Champion - Mr Doherty will meet with a student representative from each class (Years 3-6) to listen to the issues that had been discussed and their solutions. Mr Doherty can also ask the representatives to take important Child Safety messages back to their classrooms.

Click on the link to read the Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy. If any parent would like to discuss the policy or provide input into the processes that surround it, please contact Liam Doherty via ldoherty@stacbourne.catholic.edu.au 

Child Safe Code of Conduct

All staff, visitors, contractors and volunteers must adhere to the Child Safe Code of Conduct. The purpose of this document is to keep our students safe when at school. It is an expectation that visitors, contractors and volunteers read and agree to follow this at all times when at St Agatha's School or when on an excursion. 

Please don't forget that anyone visiting the school must have a current Working With Children Check card with them and show this at the time of signing in. Sign in occurs at the front office.