Child Safety and Wellbeing
Child Safe Information
St Brigid’s College holds the care, safety and wellbeing of children and young people as a central and fundamental responsibility. Central to the mission of our Catholic schools in Horsham – St Brigid’s College and Ss Michael & John’s Primary School - is an absolute commitment to fostering the dignity, self-esteem and integrity of children and young people and providing them with a safe, supportive and enriching environment to develop spiritually, physically, intellectually, emotionally and socially.
At St Brigid’s College, the Victorian Catholic School Statement of Commitment to Child Safety reinforces our dedication to providing a safe and nurturing environment for every student. This commitment aligns with the 11 Child Safety Standards, guiding our policies, staff training, and student wellbeing programs to prevent harm and promote a culture of respect and protection. Through clear safeguarding procedures, active student voice, and strong community partnerships, we ensure that child safety remains a top priority, fostering an environment where all students feel safe, valued, and supported in their learning journey.
Our Child Safety Policy details and affirms the standards of behaviour expected for members of the St Brigid’s College community. All of our policies, including the Safeguarding Children and Young People Code of Conduct, can be found the Policies page on our school website. You can contact the Front Office if you have any queries, or would like to provide feedback, relating to child safe practices, or any other matters.
SchoolTV Digital Safety session
Thank you to everyone who attended the SchoolTV Digital Safety session on Wednesday, 19 March. It was a valuable opportunity to hear from experts Dr. Michael Carr-Gregg and Susan McLean, and to engage in meaningful conversations about keeping young people safe online.
SchoolTV has provided a summary of the session, which we’ve attached for your reference. Below are some key takeaways to help support you in navigating the digital world alongside your child:
- Upcoming Law Changes: New online safety laws restricting access to social media platforms for individuals under 16 years of age will come into effect in December this year. Specific details are yet to be released.
- Mobile Phone Policy: The school’s mobile phone ban for students has helped create a safer and more focused learning environment. We ask parents and guardians to support this by reminding students to go to the office if they need to contact you during school hours.
- Cyberbullying Laws: Cyberbullying is a criminal offence in Australia. Police involvement may be required when all reasonable steps have been taken by the school without resolution, if fake accounts are created, or if threats to a person’s safety are made.
- Digital Footprint Awareness: It’s crucial for young people to understand that their digital footprint is permanent. They should be mindful of the information they share online. Interestingly, the session also highlighted the importance of recognising when to share personal information—for example, during an emergency call to 000.
- Parental Role: As parents and caregivers, you play a dual role—protecting your child online and helping them develop respectful and responsible online behaviour. We encourage open, ongoing conversations about safe and thoughtful use of digital platforms.
As part of our commitment to student wellbeing, the St Brigid’s College Bullying Prevention (including Cyberbullying) Policy outlines clear expectations around respectful technology use. We encourage all families to read and discuss this policy together.
If you have any questions or need further support, please don’t hesitate to contact the school. Thank you for working in partnership with us to foster a safe and positive digital environment for all students.
Please click here to view our Policy.