CHILD SAFETY IS EVERYONE'S RESPONSIBILITY 

CHILD SAFE STANDARD 5

Child Safe Standard 5: Equity is Upheld and Diverse Needs are Respected

At Ripponlea Primary School, every child has the right to feel safe, valued, respected and included. Child Safe Standard 5 focuses on ensuring equity and recognising the diverse needs, backgrounds and experiences of all children and young people. We believe that every student deserves the opportunity to participate fully in school life and to be supported to achieve success.

At RPS, we uphold this standard by creating an inclusive school culture where diversity is celebrated and respected. We recognise that every child is unique and that some students may require different levels of support to achieve the same opportunities for participation, learning and wellbeing.

We are committed to recognising and responding to the needs of all students, including:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
• Students with disability and additional learning needs.
• Students from diverse cultural, linguistic and religious backgrounds.
• Students who have experienced trauma.
• Gender-diverse and LGBTIQ+ students.
• Students in foster care, kinship care or out-of-home care.
• International students.
• Students experiencing social isolation, family hardship, homelessness or other vulnerabilities.
• Students who may be at a higher risk of harm.

At Ripponlea Primary School, this commitment is reflected through our:

• Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy.
• Student Wellbeing and Engagement Policy.
• Bullying Prevention Policy.
• Disability Inclusion practices and Student Support Group processes.
• Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).
• Respectful Relationships curriculum.
• Personal and Civic Mindsets (PCMS) approach.
• Complaints and Feedback processes.

We strive to make our school a welcoming and inclusive place for all students and families. Our learning environments celebrate diversity through student artwork, inclusive resources, cultural acknowledgements, First Nations perspectives and community events that reflect the rich diversity of our school community. We aim to ensure information is accessible, culturally safe and easy to understand for all families, and provide support where needed to help families engage with school processes, including child safety information, support services and complaints procedures.

Throughout the year, we recognise and celebrate important events that promote inclusion, diversity and belonging. These include Cultural Diversity Week, National Reconciliation Week, IDAHOBIT, World Mental Health Day, International Day of Persons with Disability and other awareness events that align with our community values. These opportunities help students develop empathy, understanding and respect for others while celebrating the diversity that strengthens our school community.

Our classrooms utilise books, learning resources and activities that reflect diverse perspectives, cultures, family structures, abilities and identities. We also endeavour to ensure school communications, displays and publications reflect the diversity of our students and community, reinforcing that everyone belongs at Ripponlea Primary School.

Our staff and volunteers are supported to understand the diverse circumstances, experiences and needs of children and young people. Through ongoing professional learning, child safety training, wellbeing initiatives and inclusive education practices, staff are equipped to recognise vulnerability, respond appropriately to concerns and provide support to students who may require additional assistance. Staff are also supported to recognise and respond to racism, discrimination, bullying and exclusion in all forms.

We pay particular attention to the needs of students with disability, students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, students who are unable to live at home, international students, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, and students who identify as LGBTIQ+. We recognise that some students may face additional barriers to participation, safety and belonging and we work proactively to remove these barriers and provide appropriate support.

Our staff work closely with students and families to ensure learning and wellbeing supports are tailored to individual needs. This includes Individual Education Plans, Behaviour Support Plans, Disability Inclusion supports, Student Support Groups and partnerships with allied health professionals and external agencies. Where additional expertise is required, we work collaboratively with psychologists, therapists, wellbeing practitioners and specialist services to ensure students receive the support they need.

We actively promote student voice and agency, ensuring all children feel heard, respected and know who they can talk to if they need help. Staff are committed to using students' preferred names and pronouns, valuing individual identity and creating learning environments where every child feels they belong. We regularly seek student feedback, ask students what they need to feel safe and listen carefully to their experiences and perspectives. We also recognise that some students may not feel confident advocating for themselves and proactively provide opportunities for trusted adults to check in and support them.

Through our Mental Health in Primary Schools (MHiPS) framework, Structured Play program, Social Stencil lessons, buddy and peer support opportunities, and targeted wellbeing supports, we help students develop positive relationships, emotional regulation skills and a strong sense of connection to school. We proactively check in with vulnerable students and families to ensure they feel supported, connected and able to access assistance when required.

We are committed to providing and promoting a culturally safe environment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. Through our Reconciliation Action Plan, Indigenous Garden, curriculum programs and community partnerships, we acknowledge, celebrate and respect Aboriginal cultures, histories and perspectives while fostering a strong sense of belonging for Aboriginal students and families.

Across our classrooms, staff use inclusive language, resources and examples that reflect the diversity of families, cultures, experiences and identities within our community. We actively foster a school environment where discrimination, bullying, harassment, racism and exclusion are not tolerated. Staff and volunteers receive training and guidance to recognise, prevent and respond appropriately to bullying, discrimination and racism, ensuring all students feel safe and respected.

Incidents are responded to consistently through our school policies, child safety procedures and restorative practices, with student safety and wellbeing at the centre of all decisions. Students are regularly reminded that they can raise concerns, seek support or report incidents both within and beyond the school environment. We encourage students to speak with a trusted adult and ensure they know how to access support when needed.

At Ripponlea Primary School, we respect students' privacy and dignity. Information is kept confidential wherever possible and shared only when necessary to protect a child or where required by law. We also take a holistic approach when responding to concerns relating to family violence, ensuring responses are safe, inclusive, respectful and aligned with our child safety obligations.

By embracing diversity and responding to the unique needs of every learner, we strengthen our vision of Care, Create, Connect and continue to build a safe, inclusive and supportive community where every child knows they belong.