Child Safe & Wellbeing

ldrenChild Safety and School Swimming Lessons at St Thomas the Apostle

At St Thomas the Apostle Primary School, the safety and wellbeing of every child is at the heart of everything we do. As part of our ongoing commitment to creating a nurturing and protective environment, we continue to uphold the Child Safe Standards and embed them into every aspect of school life—including our co-curricular programs such as swimming lessons.

Child Safety: Everyone’s Responsibility

St Thomas the Apostle is a Child Safe School, which means we are committed to:

• Creating a culture of child safety where children feel valued, heard, and respected.
• Ensuring staff are trained in identifying and responding to child safety concerns.
• Actively promoting the participation and empowerment of children, especially in understanding their rights.
• Engaging with families and communities in conversations about child safety and protective behaviours.
• Implementing policies and practices that reduce the risk of harm and respond promptly to any issues.

All staff and volunteers must hold a current Working with Children Check and adhere to our school’s Code of Conduct. We encourage open communication and transparency so that all students and families know they are supported and protected.

Safe and Supportive School Swimming Lessons

This term, our Year 6 students have been participating in school swimming lessons—an exciting and essential part of our Physical Education program. Beyond learning vital water safety skills, swimming lessons offer an opportunity for children to grow in confidence, resilience, and teamwork.

To ensure a safe and inclusive experience for all students, we have put the following

 measures in place:

• Qualified instructors who are experienced in delivering age-appropriate, engaging lessons.
• Small group supervision to support each child’s skill level and comfort in the water.
• Clear expectations and safety procedures, both in and out of the pool environment.
• Support for students with additional needs, including visual aids, social stories, and one-on-one guidance where required.
• Safe transport and transition routines, aligned with our school’s broader safety protocols.

We also take time to teach students how to behave respectfully in public facilities, look out for each other, and take responsibility for their belongings and personal safety.

Your Role as Families

We thank all our families for supporting our child safety approach by:

• Speaking with your children about their swimming experiences and how they feel during lessons.
• Informing staff of any concerns, anxieties, or specific needs related to swimming or school programs.
• Partnering with us to reinforce the importance of respectful behaviour and personal boundaries.

Please be aware of the process of the school with regards to absences:

1. Parents will receive an sms notification of your child/children's absence

2. Parents will be contacted to follow up on your child/children's whereabouts, followed by calls to your listed emergency contacts.

3. An email will be sent about the unexplained absence

4. The Executive Team will be informed

5. Victoria Police will be contacted

Please avoid this but logging your child's absence via PAM or contact the school dire

Please be aware of the recess and lunch times of our children as follows: 

                    Recess: 11:05 - 11:35am

                    Lunch: 1:45 - 2:15pm

We are not able to call them in during these times and you will need to wait until their break is over before you can take them with you for early pick-up or to go to appointments. 

Please ensure that you call reception at 5998 9293 for early pick-ups. Logging them on to PAM will not send an alert to the office, so we will not be able to inform the class ahead of time. 

By embedding child safety into every aspect of school life—including exciting programs like swimming—we help our children thrive in a secure, respectful, and empowering environment.

If you have any questions about our Child Safe Standards or the swimming program, please don’t hesitate to contact the school office or speak to your child’s teacher.

Together, let’s continue to make St Thomas the Apostle a place where every child feels safe, seen, and supported.

Kind regards,

Jen Gulavin

Deputy Principal (Inclusive Education) and a Child Safe Champion.

St Thomas the Apostle Primary School