CHILD SAFE STANDARDS AT ST AGNES'

Child Safe Standards at St Agnes'

At St Agnes’, the safety, wellbeing and dignity of every child are central to all that we do. We are committed to creating a school environment where every student feels safe, valued, respected and empowered. As part of this ongoing commitment, each month we are highlighting one of the Victorian Child Safe Standards with our community.

The Victorian Child Safe Standards are a set of eleven standards designed to help schools create and maintain child safe environments through strong policies, practices and partnerships with families. They support schools in building cultures where children’s voices are heard, their wellbeing is prioritised, and safeguarding is embedded into everyday school life.

This week, we focus on Child Safe Standard Six, which is about ensuring that the people who work with our students are suitable, supported and committed to keeping children safe. Creating a child-safe school begins with having staff, volunteers and other adults who understand their responsibilities and consistently uphold high standards of professional conduct.

At St Agnes’, we take great care to ensure that the people working with our students understand their important role in keeping children safe. Our staff complete regular Child Safe training and professional learning, follow our Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy and Code of Conduct, and understand their responsibilities for identifying, responding to and reporting concerns. New staff are supported through our induction processes to ensure child safety expectations are clear from the beginning of their time at St Agnes’.

We also ensure appropriate Working with Children Checks and other required screening processes are completed for staff, volunteers and others working within our school. Our volunteers are provided with clear expectations and guidance before working with students, helping to ensure that everyone who contributes to school life understands their responsibility to maintain a safe, respectful and professional environment for children.

We encourage all families to take a moment to read the information provided and continue partnering with us in this important work, as together we strengthen a culture where the safety and wellbeing of every child remains the responsibility of our whole St Agnes’ community.

What this looks like at St Agnes'

At St Agnes’, we believe that every child deserves to be surrounded by adults who are committed to their safety, wellbeing and dignity. We recognise the important responsibility that comes with working with children and are committed to ensuring that our staff, volunteers and others who work with our students are suitable, supported and understand their role in creating a child-safe environment.

Our commitment begins with the way we recruit and induct staff. Appropriate screening, reference checks, Working with Children Checks and Victorian Institute of Teaching registration requirements are completed, and our child safety expectations are made clear throughout the recruitment and induction process. New staff are introduced to our Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy, Child Safety Code of Conduct, Mandatory Reporting responsibilities and procedures for identifying and responding to concerns.

We also ensure that child safety remains an ongoing focus for all staff. Throughout the year, staff participate in professional learning and regular updates relating to child safety, mandatory reporting, professional boundaries, student wellbeing and appropriate conduct. Child safety is regularly discussed at staff meetings and through our professional learning, ensuring that staff understand their responsibilities and know where to seek support or guidance if they have a concern.

These expectations can also be seen in our everyday practices across the school. Staff consider appropriate supervision and visibility when working with students, follow clear procedures for camps and excursions, maintain professional boundaries and ensure students know which trusted adults they can approach when they need help. Staff are expected to report and respond to concerns appropriately, with the safety, wellbeing and dignity of the child at the centre of our decision-making.

Our commitment extends to the parents, volunteers, contractors and community members who contribute to life at St Agnes’. Required Working with Children Checks are maintained, and volunteers are provided with information about our child-safe expectations and Code of Conduct. Whether assisting in a classroom, attending an excursion, helping with sport or supporting one of our community events, adults working with our students are expected to understand and uphold our commitment to child safety.

By carefully selecting, supporting and educating the people who work with our students, we continue to strengthen a culture where child safety is everyone’s responsibility. At St Agnes’, our policies and procedures provide important safeguards, but it is the actions and decisions of the adults in our community each day that help ensure every child feels safe, respected and protected.