Wellbeing News

Child Safety

Child Safe Standard 3

Children and young people are empowered about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.

What Standard 3 means in simple terms

Students:

• Know their rights
• Have a voice in matters that affect them
• Feel safe to speak up
• Trust that adults will listen and act

In the Classroom

Teaching rights and safety explicitly

• Students learn about:
  • Personal safety (trusted adults, help-seeking)
  • Respectful relationships
  • Their right to feel safe and be heard
• Using age-appropriate language like: “You have the right to feel safe at school”

Building student voice into learning

• Students contribute to:
  • Class norms and expectations
  • Goal setting and reflection
• Teachers ask for and act on student feedback (e.g. “What helps you learn best?”)

Creating safe conditions to speak up

• Regular check-ins (circle time, wellbeing check-ins)
• Multiple ways to share concerns (verbal, written, anonymous)
• Teachers respond seriously and respectfully every time

In the Playground and Daily Life

Students are supported to speak up

• Encouraged to report concerns (friendship issues, unsafe behaviour)
• Staff respond promptly and consistently

Student leadership opportunities

• Roles such as:
  • School leaders
  • Peer support/buddy systems
• Students involved in shaping aspects of school life (events, initiatives)

Across the School

Student voice is visible and valued

• Surveys (e.g. MACSSIS) are used—and results are shared and acted on
• Students are involved in discussions about their learning and wellbeing
• Clear, accessible processes for raising concerns

Adults take students seriously

• Concerns are:
  • Listened to
  • Followed up
  • Communicated appropriately

In a Catholic context

This Standard connects strongly to:

• Dignity of the human person – every child’s voice matters
• Justice and respect – students are heard and treated fairly
• Community – students actively contribute to school life

 It reflects our call to walk alongside young people, not just lead them.

What it looks like when it’s working well

• Students can say:
  • “I feel safe here”
  • “Teachers listen to me”
  • “I can speak up if something is wrong”
• Staff can say:
  • “We actively seek and respond to student voice”

Message from Ange,

Each month for the next ten months we will spotlight each of the 11 Child Safety Standards. MACS has developed resources  to support a deepened understanding of the standards for parents and teachers and how they help support the safety of each child.

If you have any feedback as to how we can further support upholding standard 3 or what we are already doing well, please email angela.flint@smnthmelbourne.catholic.edu.au