Child Safe: Standard 2

At Lakeside, the safety and wellbeing of every child sits at the heart of who we are. This Month, we are highlighting Child Safe Standard 2, which focuses on ensuring that child safety is deeply embedded in our leadership, governance and culture. 

As a College, we remain committed to creating an environment where every student is known, valued and protected, and where our systems and daily practices reflect this responsibility.

Please find below an outline of Child Safe Standard 2 with an explanation of how Lakeside College responds to each element of the standard. 

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

 Child Safe Standard Two requires that child safety and wellbeing are embedded in organisational leadership, governance, and culture. Schools must demonstrate a public commitment to safety, implement a clear Code of Conduct, and have senior leaders actively manage risks to prevent child abuse and harm. 

In complying with Child Safe Standard 2, Lakeside College must, at a minimum, ensure: 

Public Commitment: Organisations must publicly display their dedication to child safety.

2.1 The College makes a public commitment to child safety.  We do this in a number of ways, mainly through our website, staff induction program, email signatures, employment contracts, interview questions for potential employees and staff annual training just to name a few. 

Culture of Safety: A culture where child abuse and harm are not tolerated must be fostered. 

2.2 A child safe culture is championed and modelled at all levels of the organisation from the top down and bottom up. Lakeside College goes to great lengths to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all members of our community is paramount. In particular, the elements of the Child Safety Standards are incorporated throughout our Health and Personal Development curriculum as well as through an extensive pastoral care program.

Leadership & Governance: Leaders must set clear expectations, model safe behaviour, and review organisational performance in child safety regularly.

 2.3 Governance arrangements facilitate implementation of the child safety and wellbeing policy at all levels.  The Lakeside College Board takes responsibility for ensuring that our Child Safety Code of Conduct and other relevant policies are up to date and reviewed on a regular basis. The Board does this by being informed about any Child Safety issues that the College has dealt with and through the review of our policies and risk assessments pertaining to child safe practices. 

Code of Conduct: A Code of Conduct must be established, outlining expected behaviours and consequences for breaches.

2.4 A Code of Conduct provides guidelines for staff and volunteers on expected behavioural standards and responsibilities. Both our Student Code of Conduct and our Staff Code of Conduct put in place stringent guidelines to ensure the wellbeing and safety of all students is considered in all aspects of school life. We also have a number of policies in place, such as our Anti-Bullying Policy, to provide as much protection as possible to all members of our community. 

Risk Management: Strategies must focus on identifying, preventing, and mitigating risks of child harm.

2.5 Risk management strategies focus on preventing, identifying and mitigating risks to children and young people. We take our risk management strategies very seriously. A few years ago, the College invested in software that teachers use to ensure that all risks associated with an incursion or excursion are minimised. Of particular importance here is that teachers who are participating in excursions, incursions or camps undergo a thorough briefing prior to the event to further protect our students as much as possible. 

2.6 Staff and volunteers understand their obligations on information sharing and recordkeeping. All volunteers at Lakeside College must have an up to date Working with Children’s Check and undergo a training programme run by our Risk and Compliance Officer. As part of this training, all volunteers learn about their obligations under the Ministerial Order and relevant Child Safety policies and regulations.  We also have the SINE system at our college reception that records who comes in and out of the College, their Working with Children details and their reasons for being at our school. 

- Robert Tassoni