Fleurieu Wellbeing is a Registered Child Safe Organisation # 8108 DHS
Child Safe Environments Policy
Commitment to the safety of children and young people
Fleurieu Wellbeing Pty Ltd is committed to providing a safe environment for all children and young people. Our policy complies with the Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017, and the Child Safety (Prohibited Persons) Act 2016 and aligns with the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations.
Our commitment includes valuing and respecting children and young people and welcoming them regardless of their abilities, sex, gender, or socio-economic or cultural background. We champion and model child safety through appropriate child-safe behaviours that are inclusive and empowering for children. Behaviours of bullying and harassment are not tolerated at Fleurieu Wellbeing.
Scope of policy
This policy applies to all employees, volunteers, work placement students, and contractors referred to throughout the policy collectively as workers. All workers must agree in writing to accept and act by the policy. This policy is registered with the Department of Human Services and is reviewed in accordance with legal requirements and best practice.
Communication
This child-safe policy and related documents are available on our website www.fleurieuwellbeing.com, on request, and provided as part of a welcome pack at the first visit.
We encourage and respect the views of children and young people and involve them in decision-making as appropriate. We provide clear, age-appropriate, or developmentally appropriate explanations to children and young people, including their right to safety and their right to be listened to. If they have concerns, they can provide feedback or make a complaint. They can ask any adult or parent/guardian to do this on their behalf. We will listen to and act upon any complaints or concerns that a child or young person raises with us.
Our Code of Conduct
Caring for children and young people brings additional responsibilities for all workers. All workers are responsible for promoting and protecting the safety and well-being of children and young people by:
Always adhering to the organisation’s child-safe policy and taking all reasonable steps to ensure the safety and protection of children and young people
Treating everyone, including those of different race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, social class, physical ability or attributes, and religious beliefs, with respect and honesty and ensuring equity is upheld
Being a positive role model to children and young people in all conduct with them
Setting clear boundaries and maintaining appropriate behaviours with children and young people – boundaries help everyone to understand their roles
Listening and responding appropriately to the views and concerns of children and young people
Being alert to bullying behaviours and responding promptly and appropriately
Ensuring another adult is always present or in sight when conducting one-to-one consulting, coaching, instruction, or other activity
Being alert to children and young people who have been harmed or may be at risk of harm and reporting this quickly to the Child Abuse Report Line (13 14 78).
Breaches or suspected breaches of the Code of Conduct should be reported to management as soon as practicable, either in person, by telephone at (08) 7444 4878, or via email at hello@fleurieuwellbeing.com.
Breaches or suspected breaches of the Code of Conduct will be taken seriously and dealt with quickly, fairly, and transparently. Any worker who breaches the Code of Conduct will face disciplinary action.
Reporting and responding to harm or risk of harm
We aim to ensure that children and young people are safe from harm and the risk of harm. Section 17 of the Safety Act defines ‘harm’ to mean physical or psychological harm (whether caused by an act or omission), including harm caused by sexual, physical, mental, or emotional abuse or neglect.
Mandated reporters in our organisation are workers who:
Provide services to children and young people
Hold a management position in the organisation, which includes direct responsibility for, or direct supervision of, the provision of those services to children and young people.
Mandated reporters have a legal obligation to notify the Child Abuse Report Line (CARL) on 13 14 78 as soon as practicable if they have a suspicion that a child or young person has been harmed or may be at risk of harm. If the child or young person is at immediate risk, report to South Australia Police (SAPOL) on 000. Even if not a mandated reporter, anyone can report harm or risk of harm to a child or young person. The individual who identifies the harm or risk of harm is encouraged to make the report to authorities and can request support from another worker to do so if required.
Information about making appropriate reports of harm or risk of harm is available from the South Australian Department for Child Protection website: https://www.childprotection.sa.gov.au/reporting-child-abuse. All adult workers (even if not mandated reporters) have a legal obligation to report child sexual abuse to the police and to protect a child from sexual abuse. Failure to meet these obligations may be considered a criminal offence.