Child Safe Standards

As of July 1st 2022, a new framework of Child Safe Standards was implemented across all Victorian schools. Ministerial Order 1359 replaces the previous Ministerial Order 870, outlining the minimum standards schools must meet to ensure they are adequately prepared to keep children and young people safe and protect them from abuse.

There are 11 Child Safe Standards:

• Standard 1: Culturally safe environments – Establish a culturally safe environment in which the diverse and unique identities and experiences of Aboriginal children and young people are respected and valued.
• Standard 2: Leadership, governance and culture – Ensure that child safety and wellbeing are embedded in school leadership, governance and culture.
• Standard 3: Child and student empowerment – Children and young people are empowered about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.
• Standard 4: Family engagement – Families and communities are informed and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing.
• Standard 5: Diversity and equity – Equity is upheld and diverse needs are respected in policy and practice.
• Standard 6: Suitable staff and volunteers – People working with children and young people are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice.
• Standard 7: Child-focused complaints processes – Ensure that processes for complaints and concerns are child focused.
• Standard 8: Child safety knowledge, skills and awareness – Staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education and training.
• Standard 9: Physical and online environments – Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for children and young people to be harmed.
• Standard 10: Review of child safety practices - Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is regularly reviewed and improved.
• Standard 11: Implementation of child safety practices – Policies and procedures that document how schools are safe for children, young people and students.

In line with the new Child Safe Standards, all of our school policies have been updated and placed on our school website. Scoresby PS staff have also signed a new Child Safe Code of Conduct, ensuring all employees have an understanding of the Standards and uphold all expectations and requirements of the Standards to ensure the highest level of safety at school.  It is also an expectation that any parents or carers wishing to help in the school sign our Code of Conduct which can be found on our school website or at the Office.

We always welcome community feedback on our practices as a school - if you have any questions or comments about the Child Safe Standards, you are welcome to contact the school for more information.