Commitment to Child Safety

South Oakleigh College is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people. This will be the primary focus of our care and decision-making.

The school’s approach to creating and maintaining a child safe school environment is guided by our school philosophy and values. At South Oakleigh College our vision is ‘to provide our students with diverse, challenging and supportive experiences in order to promote academic excellence, personal development and to develop their love of education so they become lifelong learners’. Our mission statement is to ‘provide opportunities for the future and create a sense of belonging.’

We know children can struggle to achieve their personal best if they are not safe from abuse and do not feel connected to their community.

At South Oakleigh College our values guide the decisions and behaviours of all members of our school community, including in relation to child safety:

High Expectations - challenging ourselves and the status quo ·

Respect – for ourselves, each other and our environment ·

Responsibility –for our learning, our own actions and our community ·

Resilience –to confront challenges with optimism and perseverance ·

Teamwork – working cooperatively with others to achieve success

South Oakleigh College has zero tolerance for child abuse.

We are committed to providing a child safe environment where children and young people are safe and feel safe, and their voices are heard about decisions that affect their lives. Our child safe policies, procedures, strategies and practices will be inclusive of the needs of all children, particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, children with disabilities, children who are out of home care, LGBTI students and our International students. Every person involved in South Oakleigh College has a responsibility to understand the important and specific role they play individually and collectively to ensure that the wellbeing and safety of all children and young people is at the forefront of all they do and every decision they make. If you believe that a Child is at immediate risk of abuse phone 000.

Child Safety Principles

In its planning, decision-making and operations, South Oakleigh College will:

1. Take a preventative, proactive and participatory approach to child safety;

2. Value and empower children to participate in decisions which affect their lives;

3. Foster a culture of openness that supports all persons to safely disclose risks of harm to children;

4. Respect diversity in cultures and child rearing practices while keeping child safety paramount;

5. Provide written guidance on appropriate conduct and behaviour towards children;

6. Engage only the most suitable people to work with children and have high quality staff and volunteer supervision and professional development;

7. Ensure children know who to talk with if they are worried or are feeling unsafe, and that they are comfortable and encouraged to raise such concerns;

8. Report suspected abuse, neglect or mistreatment promptly to the appropriate authorities;

9. Share information appropriately and lawfully with other organisations where the safety and wellbeing of children is at risk; and

10. Value the input of and communicate regularly with families and carers

11. Acknowledge that our International Students living in homestay arrangements need additional care, support and regular communication to understand culturally appropriate behaviours

Child Safe Policy

The South Oakleigh College Child Safe Policy can be read by following this link: https://www.sosc.vic.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/SOC-ChildSafe-Policy-June-2020-1.pdf