CHILD SAFETY IS EVERYONE'S RESPONSIBILITY

Child Safe Standard 7:

Child Safety – Raising Concerns and Making Complaints

At Ripponlea Primary School, the safety and wellbeing of every child is our highest priority. We want children and families to feel confident that if something makes them feel uncomfortable, worried, or unsafe, they will always be listened to and supported.

Encouraging Children’s Voice

We encourage all students to speak with a trusted adult at school if they ever have a concern. We also talk with students about what helps them feel safe to speak up, and we value their feedback to make sure our processes truly work for children. Children are reminded that they can raise a complaint about any kind of harm – including bullying, cyberbullying, or abuse, whether it happens at school, at home, or in the community.

What We Do at Ripponlea

Accessible and Public Processes

Our Complaints Policy and Child Safety Responding and Reporting Obligations Policy and Procedures are published on the school website and available to all.
Policies are written in clear, accessible language and are reviewed with feedback from students and families.

Child-Friendly and Inclusive Practices

The Complaints Policy is designed to be child-friendly and easy for students to follow.
Students are encouraged to raise concerns with a trusted adult if anything makes them feel uncomfortable or unsafe.
Teachers and leaders facilitate discussions to help students feel confident about speaking up.
Children are asked to share their experiences with making complaints, and their feedback is used to improve our processes.
Students are reminded they can make a complaint about any kind of harm – including bullying, cyberbullying, and abuse – whether caused by another child or an adult, at school or elsewhere.

Clear Responding and Reporting Obligations

The Child Safety Responding and Reporting Obligations Policy and Procedures sets out exactly how staff must respond to concerns or allegations of harm.
Staff are trained and regularly reminded of their mandatory responsibilities.

Support and Accessibility

We advertise assistance and support services for students, families, staff, and volunteers who wish to raise concerns.
Translating and interpreting services are available to ensure our processes are inclusive.
All complaints are received thoughtfully and respectfully, with staff validating children’s experiences – recognising that what may seem small to an adult might feel significant to a child.

Confidentiality and Recordkeeping

Complaints are managed with strict confidentiality, and records are only accessible to authorised staff.
Our Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy sets out requirements for privacy, secure recordkeeping, and responsible information sharing.

Acting on Complaints and Continuous Improvement

Complaints about staff or contractors are managed in line with employment law, with advice sought from the Employee Conduct Branch and Legal Division where necessary.
We are committed to making improvements where complaints identify problems and we follow through on these commitments.
Families and children can also provide anonymous feedback, such as through secure suggestion boxes, which are regularly reviewed and acted upon.

Our Commitment

At Ripponlea, children’s voices are central to everything we do. By making our processes open, inclusive, and easy to follow, we ensure that raising a concern is always safe and supported. Working together with families, we are committed to keeping Ripponlea a safe, respectful, and welcoming place for every child.