Child Safety

Identifying and responding to all forms of abuse in Victorian schools 

Mandatory Reporting

The child safe standards require organisations that provide services for children to have processes for responding to and reporting suspected child abuse. 

 

Our staff are currently undertaking their annual Mandatory Reporting Training, which keeps them up to date with the current legislative requirements to ensure that we continue to promote an environment of Child Safety.

 

All teachers are required by law (mandatory reporting) to report any disclosures of abuse or suspected child abuse to the relevant authorities, including the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) and, in some cases, Victoria Police. 

 

All concerns about the well-being of students at Holy Family Primary School will be taken seriously and acted upon. This includes concerns about a student's well-being, which do not appear to be the result of abuse. 

 

If a student makes an allegation of abuse, we will: 

  • separate him/her from the other children discreetly and listen to them carefully
  • let the student use his/her own words to explain what has occurred
  • reassure the student that we take what he/she is saying seriously, and it is not his/her fault and that he/she is doing the right thing
  • explain to him/her that this information may need to be shared with others, such as with hisher parent/carer, specific people at school (e.g. the Principal or Student Wellbeing Coordinator), or the police
  • not make promises to the student, such as promising not to tell anyone about the incident, except that we will do your best to keep them safe
  • Ensure the student is not left in a distressed state
  • As soon as possible after the disclosure, record the information using the student's words and report the disclosure to the Principal and Student Well Being Coordinator, Melbourne Archdiocese, police or child protection
  • Ensure the disclosure is recorded accurately and that the record is stored securely

As Mandatory Reporters, all teachers at Holy Family take allegations of abuse seriously. It is, however, not our responsibility to investigate allegations ourselves, other than to listen to the student and act accordingly to ensure their safety.

 

You can access more information regarding this through the following resources:

Pauline Moran

Child Safety Officer