CHILD SAFE STANDARDS AT ST AGNES'

Child Safe Standards at St Agnes’

At St Agnes’, the safety, wellbeing and dignity of every child are central to all that we do. We are committed to fostering a school environment where every student feels safe, valued, respected and empowered. As part of this ongoing commitment, each month we will be sharing one of the Victorian Child Safe Standards with our community.

The Victorian Child Safe Standards are a set of eleven standards designed to help schools create and maintain child safe environments through strong policies, practices and partnerships with families. They support schools in building cultures where children’s voices are heard, their wellbeing is prioritised, and safeguarding is embedded into everyday school life.

This month, we begin with Child Safe Standard 1, which focuses on creating culturally safe environments in which the diverse and unique identities and experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people are respected and valued. This standard highlights the importance of promoting belonging, inclusion, understanding and respect, while ensuring cultural awareness is meaningfully embedded throughout school practices and relationships.

We encourage all families to take a moment to read the information provided and continue partnering with us in this important work, as together we strengthen a culture of safety, inclusion and care across our St Agnes’ community.

What this looks like at St Agnes'

At St Agnes', we are deeply committed to fostering a culturally safe environment where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students feel respected, valued and proud of their identity. This is reflected in both our curriculum and our daily practices. Through our Religious Education and Inquiry units, students engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and perspectives in meaningful and age-appropriate ways.

As a staff, we have continued to engage in professional learning aimed at deepening our cultural understanding and strengthening our capacity to support all students in this important area. Alongside this, we have undertaken a review of the relevant policies to ensure they reflect best practice and support a safe, inclusive and respectful environment for every member of our community.

Throughout Term Two, there will be many opportunities for students to explore and celebrate cultural diversity through their learning, particularly within our Australian History units. Our novel studies across each year level will provide meaningful opportunities for students to develop understanding, empathy and appreciation of different perspectives, with strong links to the historical concepts being explored in class.

Within Religious Education, students will also engage with scripture and Catholic Social Teaching principles, particularly Solidarity and Human Dignity, as they explore the theme Belonging to God’s Family: Living Love in Community. Through this learning, we continue to nurture a culture of inclusion, respect and belonging across our school community.

We acknowledge Country at assemblies and significant school events, creating space for reflection and respect. Our staff continue to build their knowledge and understanding through ongoing professional learning, ensuring that cultural responsiveness is embedded across all areas of school life.

Most importantly, we strive to create a strong sense of belonging for every child at St Agnes', where diversity is celebrated and each student feels safe, seen and supported.