Assistant Principal's Report

Welcome to my first newsletter article for 2023. During the later stages of 2022 I wrote a number of newsletter articles in relation to the New Child Safe Standards. In this first addition of the year I will summarise the Standards and continue to explain how Glen Waverley Primary School (GWPS) is implementing them. 

New Child Safe Standards

In order to ensure that everybody in Victorian Government schools are protected from discrimination, exploitation or abuse, all schools are required to comply with 11 Child Safe Standards. These standards have been created as a result of a Ministerial Order (1359) and came into effect on July 31st 2022. This Order sets the minimum requirements for compliance with the Child Safe Standards for schools. 

In order to comply with the standards with a focus on community, diversity and online safety we are currently implementing the following:

-             Updating all school policies to reflect the New Child Safe Standards 

-             Ensuring all staff are aware of their obligations for mandatory reporting

-             Informing School Council and the school community of the changes

-             Ensuring students and teachers are aware of and practising online safety through the implementation of the E-Smart program 

-             Reviewing and renewing our Whole School Approach to Wellbeing which includes the understanding of the importance of diversity

-             Ensuring that the child safe representatives for each year level, the staff and School Council are aware and briefed of their roles and responsibilities

If you are interested in finding out more about the New Child Safe Standards, you can find additional information at https://ccyp.vic.gov.au/assets/resources/Information-for-Parents-and-Carers-about-the-Child-Safe-Standards.pdf. 

Child Safe Standards 7 and 8

In my last article in 2022 I examined Child Safe Standards 5 and 6, in this article we will look at Child Safe Standards 7 and 8. If you would like to read about Standards 1 to 6, these are available in previous editions of our school newsletter, which can be found on our school website.

Child Safe Standard 7 – Processes for complaints and concerns are child focused

This standard has been designed to ensure that the school has an accessible, child focused complaint handling policy. The policy needs to outline the roles and responsibilities of leadership, staff and volunteers in addressing different types of complaints, breaches of relevant policies or the Code of Conduct and obligations to act and report. The complaint handling policies need to be understood by all members of the community and all complaints taken seriously and responded to promptly and thoroughly. In addition the standard ensures that the school has policies and procedures in place that make sure reporting of complaints and concerns are directed to the relevant authorities. 

Our Complaints policy (insert the full name of the policy) is reviewed annually and is accessible via our school website: 

https://www.glenps.vic.edu.au/source/Raising_concerns_or_complaints_policy%20(1).pdf 

Child Safe Standard 8 – Staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education and training

This standard ensures that staff and volunteers are trained, supported and equipped with the correct knowledge to implement the school’s child safety and wellbeing related policies and recognise indicators of child harm. In addition Standard 8 specifies the need for ongoing training and information to respond effectively to issues of child safety and wellbeing, to support colleagues who disclose harm and how to build culturally safe environments for all students. 

To address this standard Glen Waverley Primary School is implementing the following:

• Regular building of staff capacity to understand and implement Glen Waverley Primary Schools Child Safe Policy and wellbeing approaches
• Glen Waverley Primary Schools Child Safe, Duty of Care, Commitment to Child Safety, Mandatory Reporting and Student Engagement and Wellbeing Policies are written and implemented to address this standard 
• All staff are made aware of their reporting obligations during regular Child Safe professional development sessions
• Each year level’s Child Safe representatives attend information and capacity building sessions to support their colleagues to recognise child harm and understand their responsibility for mandatory reporting
• School Councillors are also provided with training to the Child Safe Standards. 

I look forward to continuing to inform the community of the new standards and how Glen Waverley Primary School is ensuring that these standards are implemented in order to keep all members of the GWPS safe. 

Mr Welsh 

Assistant Principal Wellbeing