Student Engagement

MACS Care: 11 Child Safe Standards in 11 Months

Working Together for Child Safety

At Sacred Heart, the safety and wellbeing of every child remains at the heart of all we do. As part of the Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) initiative, we are engaging in the MACS Care: 11 Standards in 11 Months campaign.

Throughout the year, we will continue sharing information about the 11 Victorian Child Safe Standards and what they look like in practice within our school community. These standards are designed to help schools create environments where children are safe, respected, heard and supported to flourish. They also strengthen partnerships between schools, families and the wider community to ensure child safety remains everyone’s responsibility.

What Are the Child Safe Standards?

The Victorian Child Safe Standards are a set of 11 minimum requirements that all organisations working with children must meet. They aim to:

• Prevent child abuse and harm
• Make child safety a shared responsibility
• Support the wellbeing of all children
• Promote the participation and empowerment of children and young people.

What We’ve Covered So Far: Standards 1–4

Standard 1: Creating Culturally Safe Environments

Child Safe Standard 1 focuses on ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people feel culturally safe, respected and valued. At Sacred Heart, this includes celebrating Aboriginal culture and perspectives, promoting inclusion, and continuing to strengthen our understanding of cultural safety through ongoing learning and reflection.

Standard 2: Child Safety in Leadership and Culture

This standard highlights the importance of strong leadership, governance and school culture in promoting child safety. Families may notice this through clear policies, staff professional learning, visible wellbeing supports and a shared commitment to ensuring every child feels safe, known and valued within our school community.

Standard 3: Empowering Student Voice

Children and young people have the right to be heard and involved in decisions that affect them. At Sacred Heart, we value student voice through classroom discussions, leadership opportunities, Year 6 portfolio groups, Mary MacKillop leaders, wellbeing check-ins and creating safe ways for students to express concerns, ideas and feedback. When children feel heard, they are more connected to school.

Standard 4: Partnering with Families and Community

Families play an essential role in promoting child safety and wellbeing. We are committed to working in partnership with parents and carers through open communication, shared decision-making and opportunities for feedback. Together, we create the strongest support network for children and young people.

Looking Ahead

Each month, we will continue highlighting a different Child Safe Standard and share practical ways we can work together to strengthen a culture of safety, respect and belonging for all children.

Together, we all play an important role in ensuring every child feels safe, supported and able to flourish.

Kind Regards,

Erin 

Erin Stone

Deputy Principal: People and Culture of Safety and Wellbeing

Student Engagement

estone@shnewport.catholic.edu.au

Rosy Cubero

Learning Diversity Leader P-2

Student Engagement

rcubero@shnewport.catholic.edu.au

Michael Gowland

Intervention Leader

Student Engagement

mgowland@shnewport.catholic.edu.au