Statement of Commitment

Standard 2: Statement of Commitment.

A Statement of Commitment to child safety helps raise awareness about the importance of child safety in the school and community and affirms our commitment to child safety and expectations.

Barnawartha Primary School is committed to the safety and well being of all children and has a zero tolerance of child abuse. We are committed to providing a child safe environment where children are safe and feel safe, and their voices are heard about decisions that affect their lives. Particular attention given to the cultural safety of Aboriginal children and children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds, as well as the safety of children with a disability.  Every person at Barnawartha Primary School has a responsibility, morally and legally, to understand the important and specific role they play, individually and collectively, to keep children safe and to protect them from harm.

We will:

Take a preventative, proactive and participatory approach to child safety;

• Value and empower children to participate in decisions which affect their lives;
• Foster a culture of openness that supports all persons to safely disclose risks of harm to children
• Respect diversity in cultures and child rearing practices while keeping child safety paramount;
• Provide written guidance on appropriate conduct and behaviour towards children;
• Engage with only the most suitable people to work with children (hold an approved Working with Children Check). Have high quality staff and volunteer supervision and professional development (Mandatory Reporting online training);
• Ensure children know who to talk with if they are worried or are feeling unsafe, and that they are comfortable and encouraged to raise such issues.
• Families are to ensure that their child knows at all times who will collect them each day from school and to have an agreed upon ‘safe word’ or ‘code word’ they can use to confirm any changes in their day that might compromise their safety.
• Report suspected abuse, neglect or mistreatment promptly to the appropriate authorities (Police, DHHS Child Protection)
• Share information appropriately and lawfully with other organisations where the safety and wellbeing of children is at risk; and
• Communicate regularly with families and carers.

 LEGISLATION:

Ministerial Order No.870 requirements

Clause 8

The school governing authority must ensure that the school has a child safety policy or a statement of commitment to child safety that detail:

The values and principles that will guide the school in developing policies and procedures to create and maintain a child safe school environment and The actions the school proposes to take to: Demonstrate its commitment to child safety and monitor the school’s adherence to its child safety policy and statement of commitment. Support, encourage and enable school staff, parents and children to understand, identify, discuss and report child safety matters and Support or assist children who disclose child abuse, or are otherwise linked to suspected child abuse. The school governing authority must inform the school community about the policy and statement and make the policy or statement publicly available.

2019