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 Four, which recognises that families and communities play an essential role in promoting child safety and wellbeing. Strong partnerships between home and school are fundamental to creating environments where children feel safe, supported and able to thrive. At St Agnes’, we are committed to working collaboratively with families by maintaining open communication, providing opportunities for parent education and ensuring families are informed about the practices and strategies we use to keep children safe. Through initiatives such as our Inform & Empower online safety evening, Family Maths Evening, parent information sessions, regular newsletters and ongoing communication with teachers, we aim to equip families with the knowledge and confidence to support their children's safety, wellbeing and learning. Together, we continue to build a culture where child safety is a shared responsibility.

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 of safety, inclusion and care across our St Agnes’ community.

What this looks like at St Agnes'

At St Agnes', we believe that the strongest child-safe environments are created when schools and families work together in genuine partnership. We are committed to keeping families informed, equipping them with practical knowledge, and creating meaningful opportunities for them to be actively involved in promoting the safety and wellbeing of every child.

Throughout the year, we provide a range of parent education opportunities designed to support families in navigating the challenges facing children today. One example is our annual Inform & Empower evening, where parents learn practical strategies to help their children stay safe online, manage screen time and navigate social media and online gaming. These learning opportunities ensure families and school are working together with a shared understanding of how best to support children.

We also communicate regularly with families through our newsletters, website and parent information evenings, sharing updates on the Victorian Child Safe Standards, student wellbeing initiatives, respectful relationships education and other important child safety information. Our policies are readily available, and families are encouraged to ask questions, provide feedback and work collaboratively with us to continually strengthen our child-safe practices.

At St Agnes', parents are valued as partners in their child's education. Through Parent-Teacher Interviews, parent information evenings, Personalised Learning Plan meetings, transition meetings, Family Maths Evenings, Parents & Friends events and regular communication with classroom teachers, families have many opportunities to engage with school life and contribute to decisions that support their child's learning, wellbeing and safety.

We also work closely with our parish, MACS, allied health professionals and external organisations to provide students and families with access to specialist support when needed. These partnerships help us ensure that every child is known, supported and able to thrive.

By maintaining open communication, providing practical learning opportunities for families and building strong relationships across our community, we continue to strengthen a culture where child safety is a shared responsibility and every child at St Agnes' feels safe, respected and valued.