Child Safety

St Mary's Primary School is committed to the safety and welfare of all children, within a secure environment. All children have the right to be treated with respect and to be protected from abuse and harm. 

As part of our commitment to Child Safety across our school, we will be including links to our safeguarding policies and the Child Safe Standards in our school newsletter each fortnight. 

Victoria's Child Safe Standards were put into place in 2016 to protect children and young people from harm and abuse. On the 1st July 2022, eleven Standards replaced the previous seven and include requirements to:

• involve families and communities in organisations’ efforts to keep children and young people safe
• provide greater focus on safety for Aboriginal children and young people
• manage the risk of child abuse in online environments.

The new Standards provide greater clarity and practical steps for each Standard. They outline what action organisations need to take to keep children and young people safe.

Standard 2: Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in organisational leadership, governance and culture

Leaders, staff, volunteers, and children actively promote a culture of child safety. They prioritise children's wellbeing, respond to concerns, and follow the Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy. Leaders set clear expectations and encourage a strong culture of reporting.

St Mary’s is dedicated to the safety and wellbeing of the students in our care and as such we abide with the Child Safeguarding procedures as listed below:

• Commitment to Child Safeguarding Statement - Click Here 
• Child Safeguarding Policy - Click Here
• Child Friendly Child Safeguarding Policy - Click Here
• Child Safe Code of Conduct - Click Here 
• Child Friendly Student Child Safeguarding Code of Conduct - Click Here