Child Safe Standards

Child Safe Standard 3:

Developing a Child Safety Code of Conduct

A Code of Conduct is a highly effective strategy to help keep children safe from harm. A Code of Conduct lists behaviours that are acceptable and those that are unacceptable. It identifies professional boundaries, ethical behaviour and how to avoid or better manage difficult situations. The Child Safety Code of Conduct aims to protect children and reduce any opportunities for child abuse or harm to occur. It assists school staff to understand how to avoid or better manage risky behaviours and situations. It is intended to complement child protection legislation, school policies and procedures and professional standards, codes or ethics as these apply to staff and other personnel.

You can view Montmorency Primary School’s policies at:

 https://www.montmorencyps.vic.edu.au/policies

Child Safety:

Working with Children Checks

As of the 1st January 2017, all volunteers/parent helpers, MUST have a Working With Children Check. This is a part of the new Child Safe Standards and is mandated through law (Ministerial Order 870).

To apply for a Working With Children Check, go to http://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au. The Department of Justice advises that it can take approximately 3 weeks for the check to be completed, and a further 2 weeks for your card to arrive. As this check is for voluntary work, there is currently no fee. Working With Children Checks are valid for 5 years.