A message from Mrs Whitechurch

Stronger Standards, Safer Children

At Rosanna Primary School we are committed to creating and maintaining a child safe and child-friendly organisation, where children and young people are safe and feel safe. However, safety does not just happen. There are a set of mandatory requirements to protect children and young people from harm and abuse.

The Child Safe Standards (the Standards) commenced in Victoria in January 2016. After six years, we have seen how the Standards improve safety for children and young people. The new Child Safe Standards came into force on 1 July 2022 and organisations now need to comply with these new 11 Standards. Changes have been made to make our Standards even stronger and provide more clarity for organisations. They are more consistent with standards in the rest of Australia. 

As a result of this, a number of our Rosanna PS policies, procedures and practices have been reviewed and updated. Our Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy is one of many policies reviewed by our hardworking members of the Education Sub-Committee of our School council. I would sincerely like to thank all our members for their time, support and valued contributions.

The Child Safe and Wellbeing Policy informs our school community of everyone’s obligations to act safely and appropriately towards children and guides our processes and practices for the safety and wellbeing of students across all areas of our work. For more information please refer to: http://rosannaps.vic.edu.au/school-policies.html

Please find below a statement that demonstrates our commitment to the safety and wellbeing of all children at Rosanna Primary School.

STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT TO CHILD SAFETY  

Rosanna Primary School is a child safe organisation which welcomes all children, young people, and their families. 

We are committed to providing environments where our students are safe and feel safe, where their participation is valued, their views respected, and their voices are heard about decisions that affect their lives. Our child safe policies, strategies and practices are inclusive of the needs of all children and students. 

We have no tolerance for child abuse and take proactive steps to identify and manage any risks of harm to students in our school environments. 

We promote positive relationships between students and adults and between students and their peers. These relationships are based on trust and respect. 

We take proactive steps to identify and manage any risk of harm to students in our school environment. When child safety concerns are raised or identified, we treat these seriously and respond promptly and thoroughly.

Particular attention is given to the child safety needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, international students, students with disabilities, those unable to live at home, children and young people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender diverse, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ+) and other students experiencing risk or vulnerability. Inappropriate or harmful behaviour targeting students based on these or other characteristics, such as racism or homophobia, are not tolerated at our school, and any instances identified will be addressed with appropriate consequences. 

Child safety is a shared responsibility. Every person involved in our school has an important role in promoting child safety and wellbeing and promptly raising any issues or concerns about a child’s safety.

We are committed to regularly reviewing our child safe practices, and seeking input from our students, families, staff, and volunteers to inform our ongoing strategies.