Child Safety Officer Burnie  

As I shared in our last newsletter, Tasmania’s response to the recommendations from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual  Abuse included a number of law reforms. One of these was the establishment of a Child and Youth Safe Organisations Framework, which is Mandatory for Schools from 2024. This framework includes 10 Child Safe standards.

Let’s take a look today at Standard 2: “Children and Young People are informed about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.”

Thankfully, gone are the days of “children should be seen and not heard”. While children do not usually have the broader understanding and insight that we expect of adults, they can only develop this by being involved in decision making, and by being encouraged to have a voice. At Leighland Christian School, the value of student voice is championed at the highest levels.

Some evidence of this is seen in the following practices at LCS:

• A mailbox has been installed outside the Deputy Head of Campus office for student suggestions and concerns to be received
• Secondary student leaders run lunchtime worship events
• Students run a breakfast club for other students
• Year 5/6 students were involved in an inclusive playground design project
• Year 1/2 students lead friendship group activities
• A wellbeing space has been created to let young people know they are supported
• Students are trained to speak out against bullying
• Students from Year 7 have a wide range of choice in subjects and electives

We are well on the way in responding to this standard, but there is more we can do. Over the years I have noticed that those students who take up such opportunities are the ones who become the future leaders in our churches, schools, businesses and community groups, so let’s encourage them now!

If your child has new ideas, or questions, or suggestions, please encourage them to speak up - we welcome them! Just last week a Year 3 student came to me with a great idea for recycling rubbish in our school. She drew up a plan which I immediately put on the agenda to discuss with our Principal, with a note to watch this potential future student leader.  

Not every suggestion made by a student will get off the ground, but it is as they gain confidence in making suggestions and putting themselves forward that they can be redirected. Only a moving ship can be steered in the direction it should go.

Ken Greenwood

Interim Deputy Head of Campus, Burnie.