Associate Principal, Operations Report

Our Commitment to Child Safety

The Hamilton and Alexandra College is committed to providing a child safe and child friendly environment, where children and young people are safe, feel safe and are able to actively participate in decisions that affect their lives.

At The Hamilton and Alexandra College we have a zero tolerance for child abuse and are committed to acting in children’s best interests and keeping them safe from harm. The College regards its child protection responsibilities with the utmost importance and as such, is committed to providing the necessary resources to ensure compliance with all relevant child protection laws and regulations and maintain a child safe culture.

The Hamilton and Alexandra College is committed to the effective implementation of our Child Protection Program and ensuring that it is appropriately reviewed and updated. We adopt a risk management approach by identifying key risk indicators and assessing child safety risks based on a range of factors including the nature of our College's activities, physical and online environments and the characteristics of the student body.

Our Child Protection Program relates to all aspects of protecting children from abuse and establishes work systems, practices, policies and procedures to protect children from abuse. It includes clear procedures for responding to and reporting allegations of child abuse, regular training for staff and others involved in school activities, pastoral care strategies designed to empower students and keep them safe, guidelines with respect to record keeping and confidentiality, policies to ensure compliance with all relevant laws, regulations and standards (including the Victorian Child Safe Standards) and a system for continuous review, annual training and improvement.

Child protection is everyone’s responsibility. The Hamilton and Alexandra College has appointed the people listed below as the College's Child Safety Liaison Officers. Each Child Safety Liaison Officer is available to answer any questions that you may have with respect to our Child Safe Policy and the Child Protection Program:

Please be aware that consulting with a Child Safety Liaison Officer does not change any obligation you have under legislation to report to an external authority.

The welfare and best interests of the child are paramount. Whenever there are concerns that a child is in immediate danger the Police should be called on 000.

 

Neil MacLean