Associate Principal, Operations Report

Child Safety and Working with Children Checks

As a result of the Royal Commission into Institutional Child Abuse, certain new requirements have been placed upon schools to ensure the safety of the children in their care.  To ensure we meet all these requirements, we have recently reviewed our policies in this area.

Pleasingly, much of what is needed was already covered by our policies or can be readily accommodated in them.

One area where we need to ensure compliance is in the area of checking that all people who could be in a situation where they are responsible for, or in charge of, a student or group of students have a Working with Children Check (or equivalent coverage such as Victorian Institute of Teaching registration which includes a current National Criminal Records Check). 

Accordingly, in addition to teaching, administration, boarding, cleaning, grounds and medical staff (who are already required to have this certification), the following will need to have provided evidence of their VIT registration or WWC from the commencement of the 2017 school year:

• Helpers at the uniform shop
• Kitchen staff at Myrniong
• Examination supervisors
• Tuckshop helpers
• Sports coaches and designated team managers
• Non-teachers on overnight camps and excursions
• Non-teachers on the China Experience
• Parent helpers at the ELC and primary levels
• Teachers’ aides
• Library helpers
• Anyone else in a role where unsupervised activities with students may occur

Many of these people already provide evidence of their WWC status. If there is any doubt as to whether a person requires a WWC, the College will insist upon the WWC being provided.

Volunteers are not required to pay for a WWC which is able to be arranged on-line.  For those who need to pay for a WWC, the College will refund costs of the Check upon receipt of a copy of the Card and printed receipt for the cost borne.

From 2017, new GAP students will need to provide a letter from their overseas school which includes the following statement: “I know of no matter (substantiated or pending, within or outside school) as to why _____(name of GAPper) should not be allowed unsupervised access to children.”

These steps are in line with current “best practice” and are designed to ensure that all students in our care are safe and assured of good care.

Mr Neil MacLean