Child Safe: Standard 3
In continuing our regular communication about the Child Safe Standards, we’re taking a closer look at Standard 3.
Keeping children safe is at the heart of everything we do, and these standards guide our ongoing commitment to creating a secure, supportive environment for every student. Standard 3 requires us to:
3.1 Children and young people are informed about all of their rights, including to safety, information and participation.
We do this through both our Health curriculum and our Pastoral Care teaching and learning program. We also provide visual information pertaining to rights in the form of posters around the school and general discussions as a normal part of class interactions.
3.2 The importance of friendships is recognised and support from peers is encouraged, to help children and young people feel safe and be less isolated.
Students in every year level are encouraged to support their peers and to recognise signs of distress within others. As a Christian school one of the things, we emphasise is the importance of respecting the dignity of each individual. Programs such as camps go a long way to helping student bond with each other. We also teach students work collaboratively and that teamwork is an important way of achieving goals.
3.3 Where relevant to the setting or context, children and young people are offered access to sexual abuse prevention programs and to relevant related information in an age-appropriate way.
We have a comprehensive pastoral care program and Health program that touches on this very sensitive issue. We also hold incursions throughout the year with specialist bodies who have programs tailored to work through issues such as the prevention of sexual abuse. These programs are all carried out in an age-appropriate manner. Our wellbeing leaders are also an excellent source of support for students who are concerned about their safety.
3.4 Staff and volunteers are attuned to signs of harm and facilitate child-friendly ways for children and young people to express their views, participate in decision-making and raise their concerns.
All staff and volunteer’s complete compulsory training each year related to recognising and responding to students who raise concerns about their own safety or the safety of others.
3.5 Organisations have strategies in place to develop a culture that facilitates participation and is responsive to the input of children and young people.
We are very fortunate to have our PIVOT Wellbeing Surveys that we conduct on a regular basis in Homeroom. The survey allows students to give us an indication of how they are feeling and if there are any concerns raised this is followed up by the Homeroom teacher. The data gained from the surveys also allows us to pick up on any concerning trends within the year level. We have been impressed by how students have welcomed the use of these surveys and at how honest they are in their responses.
3.6 Organisations provide opportunities for children and young people to participate and are responsive to their contributions, thereby strengthening confidence and engagement.
Our college vision speaks to us about ensuring every student at Lakeside College is known, loved and heard. We take student voice and agency seriously hear at Lakeside and we do this in several ways. We have an active student representative body that consults widely with the student body. We also gain insights into the experience of learning students have through our student learning surveys. These surveys provide students with an important opportunity to provide feedback to teachers on ways in which they can assist students to learn more effectively.