Wellbeing News
St Martin de Porres Catholic Primary School
In the month of November we are learning about the final child safety standard - Child Safety Standard Eleven - Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is regularly reviewed and improved.
Policies and procedures document how the organisation is safe for children and young people. As Catholic educators, our commitment to child safety is not only expressed in our values, but clearly articulated in the policies and procedures that guide our daily practice. Child Safe Standard 11 ensures that our approach to safeguarding is transparent, structured, and consistently applied across all aspects of school life. We recognise that strong intentions alone are not enough.
Our child safety policies clearly outline expected behaviours, reporting processes, complaint handling procedures, and support pathways for children and families. These documents ensure that every member of our school community understands their responsibilities and knows how to respond if concerns arise. By maintaining clear, accessible, and well-communicated policies, we create a safe and predictable environment where children’s wellbeing is prioritised, and families can feel confident in the systems that protect their children.
How Parents, Carers and Guardians can get involved:
Child Safe Standard 11 works best when families understand and engage with the school’s policies and procedures. Families can help by:
Familiarising themselves with the school’s Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy
Raising questions if any process is unclear
Using established complaint and feedback channels if concerns arise
Encouraging children to speak openly about their experiences at school
Partnering with the school to ensure shared understanding of expectations and boundaries When schools and families work together within clear and transparent frameworks, children benefit from consistent, coordinated support.
Australia’s Biggest Child Safety Lesson (ABCSL) 2026
This year SMDP is again participating in Australia's Biggest Child Safety Lesson. The lessons and content provided are designed to promote child safety and they are produced by the Daniel Morecambe Foundation. Our classes will be exploring the lessons in Weeks 6 - 8 of this term. If you have any questions or concerns about the lessons, please reach out to your child’s teacher or myself.
What's in the lesson?
Prep focus : In Jelly's Safety Circus Adventure, Ringmaster Rosie helps children understand that they're the boss of their own body, it's always okay to say no and to tell a safe adult when something feels uncomfortable.
Yr 1/2: At a community sporting event, Carmody and Jay learn to recognise body clues, speak up when something doesn't feel right and report to a safe adult.
Yr 3/6: Maya and Josh build critical thinking skills to question content created with artificial intelligence (AI), use AI tools safely and responsibly, protect their personal information and ask a safe adult for help.
We wish everyone a safe, relaxing long weekend!
Simone Whitehead
Wellbeing &
Family Engagement Leader