Commitment to Child Safety

Ministerial Order No. 1359 provides the framework for implementing the Child Safe Standards in schools. The 11 Standards taken together highlight the key strategies and actions that schools must put in place to support a culture of child safety. Standard 1 is unique to Victoria, while Standards 2 to 11 align with the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations developed by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Abuse.

The Child Safe Standards recognise that all children are vulnerable and promote cultures where, preventing child abuse, and protecting children from abuse is part of everyday thinking and practice in organisations.
 
The Child Safe Standards set out to create safe places for children to participate in the life of the community fully and actively, benefiting everyone. At Thomastown Meadows Primary School, we are committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children. We want children attending our school to be safe, happy, and respected.

Thomastown Meadows Primary School will ensure that the children in its care are protected to the best of its ability and in line with their duty of care and the compulsory child safe standards.

Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy

Child Safety Responding and Reporting Obligations Policy and Procedures

Child Safety Code of Conduct

The Child Safe Standards

To create and maintain a child safe school, we will comply with the following standards

1. Child Safe Standard 1: Culturally safe environments - Establish a culturally safe environment in which the diverse and unique identities and experiences of Aboriginal children and young people are respected and valued.
2. Child Safe Standard 2: Child safety and wellbeing - Ensure that child safety and wellbeing are embedded in school leadership, governance and culture.
3. Child Safe Standard 3: Child and student empowerment - Children and young people are empowered about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.
4. Child Safe Standard 4: Family engagement - Families and communities are informed and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing.
5. Child Safe Standard 5: Diversity and equity - Equity is upheld and diverse needs are respected in policy and practice.
6. Child Safe Standard 6: Suitable staff and volunteers - People working with children and young people are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice.
   
7. Child Safe Standard 7: Complaints processes - Ensure that processes for complaints and concerns are child focused.
8. Child Safe Standard 8: Child safety knowledge, skills and awareness - Staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education and training.
9. Child Safe Standard 9: Child safety in physical and online environments - Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for children and young people to be harmed.
10. Child Safe Standard 10: Review of child safety practices - Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is regularly reviewed and improved.
11. Child Safe Standard 11: Implementation of child safety practices - Policies and procedures that document how schools are safe for children, young people and students.

Ministerial Order No. 1359 provides the framework for to meet the requirements for child safety in schools.
In complying with the child safe standards above, we will be mindful of the diversity of students and school communities and include the following inclusion principles as part of each standard:

• promoting the cultural safety of Aboriginal children
• promoting the cultural safety of children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse and vulnerable backgrounds
• promoting the safety of children with a disability.