Child Safe Standards Implemented at MGC

This year all schools had to ensure that they complied with the new Child Safe Standards. Ministerial Order 1359provides the framework for implementing the Child Safe Standards in schools. The need for such standards came out of the 2012- 2013 Betrayal of Trust Inquiry and the 2013 – 2017 Royal Commission. Initially, Victorian schools had the 7 original standards and this year schools were mandated to implement all eleven standards provided below. 

Throughout this year, MGC has introduced its child safety policies and procedures, we have developed our policy, which also includes our Child Safety Risk Register and our Child Safety Code of Conduct. The initial policy is an umbrella policy and over the next few years, we will continue to update any connected policies. 

Consultation began with the wellbeing staff and the principal team. The Department of Education provides a template and checklist and we worked our way through each aspect. Creating the policy involved consultation with different groups in the school like our human resources and office staff to ensure we complied with all recruitment aspects. All staff were inducted into each aspect of the policy, the Student Representative Council were consulted, and the MGC School Council trained. 

Here is a copy of our policy: Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy .docx

It is also on our website with our other policies https://mgc.vic.edu.au/policies/

Shaunagh O’Connell | Assistant Principal 

Curriculum and Student Wellbeing 10, 11 &12