Child Safety

CHILD SAFE STANDARDS

The Child Safe Standards are a set of 11 requirements that organisations must follow to create a culture and environment that is safe for children. These standards aim to prevent, respond to, and report child abuse by requiring organisations to implement policies, procedures, and practices that put children’s safety and well-being first. They were developed in response to inquiries and recommendations from Royal Commissions and aim to drive cultural change within organisations that provide services or facilities for children.

This year, the plan for all MACS Schools is to learn more about each standard - 11 standards in 11 months!

As such, we will be sharing the Standards and what each of them encompasses, in our Newsletter on a regular basis. Please take the time to read them as they are shared.

Standard 6

People working with children and young people are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice.

LITHIUM BATTERY SAFETY

As the school year continues, many students are using devices such as laptops, tablets, phones, e-bikes and e-scooters. Most of these devices contain lithium-ion batteries, which have become part of everyday life, but need to be used safely. 

Fire services are responding to an increasing number of fires caused by lithium-ion batteries, often caused by incorrect charging or leaving devices unattended. That’s why fire safety at home is especially important during the school year. 

You can help reduce the risk by: 

• Only using the charger and battery designed for each device 
• Unplugging devices once fully charged 
• Never charging devices on soft surfaces like beds or couches 
• Not charging devices overnight, or when no one is home 
• Charging larger devices such as e-bikes and e-scooters away from living spaces and keeping them clear of exits 
• Regularly checking devices and stopping use if a battery looks damaged, swollen or overheats 

You can watch Fire Rescue Victoria’s safety video here(opens in a new window) 

It’s also important to make sure smoke alarms are working and tested every month. Fire Rescue Victoria recommends installing smoke alarms in bedrooms, living rooms and near areas where devices are charged—because working smoke alarms save lives. 

For more tips on lithium-ion battery safety, visit: https://www.frv.vic.gov.au/battery-safety(opens in a new window)  

A few simple habits can help protect your home and your loved ones.