Student Wellbeing

Child Safe Standards (CSS)

As a whole staff this week, we took time in our professional learning meetings to analyse and become familiar with the updated Victorian Child Safety Standards, as set out in Ministerial Order 1359. Each of the eleven standards, guides us in what we need to do to maintain safe environments. 

As a staff we listed the various actions that we take in each of the 11 areas. We were delightfully surprised at the number of strategies that are already in place.

Child Safe Standard 1: Culturally safe environments

Religious Education program promoting equality and respect for all, Social & Emotional Learning Programs, Explicitly teaching social skills, Respectful Relationships taught at all levels focusing  on anti bullying behaviors and tolerance. Italian Day – Culture Day, Harmony Day, NAIDOC Week, Acknowledgment of Country and raising of the Australian, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags, Kitchen Garden Program - multicultural recipes, Indigenous studies resources compiled for staff access for programs, Religions of the World focus in RE program, students with diverse needs supported through Australian government funding - Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD) or Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) programs.

Child Safe Standard 2: Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in leadership, governance and culture

Staff complete online Mandatory Reporting course, New staff are inducted on child safe procedures, Staff are required to sign and acknowledge declaration of Child Safety Code of Conduct annually, SJWH Community is updated about the Child Safe Standards via the school newsletter,  School Advisory Council (SAC) ensure that the school is functioning in accordance with governing authority, which incorporate the CDD, regular practice of emergency evacuation / lockdown plans.

Child Safe Standard 3: Child and student empowerment

Year 6 Leadership, student voice in curriculum, SRC, Health focused inquiry unit, with a focus on safety and Cyber safety, Minnie Vinnie's, Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships Program, Surveys - MACSSIS, Student goal setting, Student-led conferences, Buddy Program, Students sharing learning with families via Seesaw, classroom leadership roles, Wellbeing check-ins

Child Safe Standard 4: Family engagement

Sacramental Information Sessions and Celebrations, School Newsletter, St. Justin’s Website, Parents and Friends, Class Parent Representative, School Advisory Council, Fair on the Hill, School Diaries, Emails, Skoolbag App, Operoo, Seesaw, Parent Teacher Meetings, Mothers, Day and Fathers, Day Stall

Child Safe Standard 5: Diversity and equity

Mandatory Reporting Professional Development, Child Safety Professional Development, Staff Meetings, Well Being Check Ins, Respectful Relationships, Check in with Learning Diversity and Wellbeing Leaders, Senior School Survey, Italian Day, Acknowledgement of Country, Disability Facilities, Code of Conduct,  Flags at Assembly, Play pals, Student Clubs, After School Activities, Special Day/Week Celebrations - NAIDOC Week, National Reconciliation Week, RUOK Day, Harmony Day, Saint Days, Health Education Year 5 & 6, Buddy Program, 

Child Safe Standard 6: Suitable staff and volunteers

Staff Meetings, Website, Pass tab sign-ins, Lanyards, Volunteer Interviews, 

Employment Interviews, User Agreements - Staff/Student, Employment Contract

Child Safe Standard 7: Complaints processes

Regular Parent Teacher interviews and student led meetings, parents raise meetings as needed for issues, annual staff students and parents MACSIS survey, SRC - to address student issues  eg: playground places to play (basketball court), Parents able to arrange meetings to raise an issue, termly level newsletters with information and staff contact details, visible Code of Conduct in all classrooms, leadership available before and after school.

Child Safe Standard 8: Child safety knowledge, skills and awareness

All staff undertake Smart Safe training annually, all staff agree to / sign code of conduct annually, all visitors to school check in at office, staff visibility on yard duty, staff regularly updated about child safety and revisit information, parent forums available on child safety and wellbeing.

Child Safe Standard 9: Child safety in physical and online environments

Students regularly revisit Code of Conduct, ICT Acceptable Usage Policy for students and parents/guardians to read through and sign at the beginning of the year, Cyber safety Incursions for students, Cyber safety Workshops for parents and families, school policies / agreements regularly reviewed with students, Hapara program to monitor students’ ICT usage during school hours

Child Safe Standard 10: Review of child safety practices

Regular staff discussions on policies and practices, whole school focus on Code of Conduct, teaching of Social & Emotional Learning through Respectful Relationships program, Safety online programs, staff and volunteer induction programs, all staff complete annual Mandatory Reporting online module, playground safety audits

Child Safe Standard 11: Implementation of child safety practices

Staff child safety team who conduct briefings regularly, staff access to documentation through portal, use of MACS protocols and templates for child safety policies, policies available for parents through the website