Student Wellbeing

Child Safety and Wellbeing

We believe that ensuring the safety of students in our care is an integral part of who we are as a Catholic faith community. St John’s is committed to meeting the The New Victorian Child Safe Standards introduced by the Victorian Parliament on 1st July 2022.

The new Child Safe Standards include new requirements, including:

  • the involvement of families and students in child safety efforts
  • focus on the safety of Aboriginal children and young people
  • management of the risk of child abuse in online environments
  • governance, systems and processes to keep students safe.

St John’s implements this in accordance with Ministerial Order No: 1359 in the development of its school Policies, staff training and ultimately, through the strategies used in dealing with the students and families within our school community.

The new Child Safe Standards are underpinned by Ministerial Order No. 1359. This Order defines the actions schools must take to meet the requirements of the new Child Safe Standards.

Please find further information on Child Safety below:

St John the Baptist Primary School’s Commitment Statement to Child Safety

St John the Baptist Primary School’s Child Safety Policy – Student Version

Diocese of Sale Catholic Education Limited’s Commitment Statement to Child Safety

Diocese of Sale Catholic Education Limited’s Closed Circuit Television Policy

CECV Child Safety Material

New Victorian Child Safe Standards

  1. Culturally safe environments– Organisations 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. Leadership, governance and culture– Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in organisational leadership, governance and culture.
  3. Child and student empowerment– Children and young people are empowered about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.
  4. Family engagement– Families and communities are informed, and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing.
  5. Diversity and equity– Equity is upheld and diverse needs respected in policy and practice.
  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. Complaints processes– Processes for complaints and concerns are child focused.
  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 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. Review of child safety practices– Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is regularly reviewed and improved.
  11. Implementation of child safety practices– Policies and procedures document how the organisation is safe for children and young people.

To meet the new Child Safe Standards, we have built on our existing child safety strategies, policies and practices to strengthen our school’s culture of child safety and protect children people from abuse.

Reporting and Contacts

Our Child Safety Officers are available to support you with any concerns or questions regarding Child Safety. It is our aim to work collaboratively with parents, students and other community members to ensure a safe school environment.

Jacqueline Taylor  jtaylor@stjohnskwr.catholic.edu.au

Rhiannon McFarlane  rmcfarlane@stjohnskwr.catholic.edu.au

Sarah Manelski  smanelski@stjohnskwr.catholic.edu.au

Phone: (03)59971653

St John the Baptist Child Safety Officers

 

Other supports available when responding to incidents, disclosures or suspicions of child abuse are listed below.

Diocese of Sale Catholic Education Limited

Industrial Relations / Human Resources

Child Protection Officer

24 Hour Services

Victoria Police: 000

DHHS Child Protection: 131 278

Other Services

Commission for Children and Young People: 1300 782 978

eHeadspace: 1800 650 890

Kids First:  (03) 9450 0900

Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800

Office of eSafety Commissioner: 1800 880 176

Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Teams (SOCIT)

  • Southern Metropolitan – Dandenong:  (03) 8769 2200

Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA)(03) 9287 8800

Other Resources

FOUR CRITICAL ACTIONS FOR SCHOOLS Responding to Incidents, Disclosures and Suspicions of Child Abuse

Guide to Reporting Conduct Under the Reportable Conduct Scheme

PROTECT – Identifying and Responding to Student Sexual Offending

PROTECT – Identifying and Responding to All Forms of Abuse in Victorian Schools

Legislation

Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic.)

Education and Training Reform Regulations 2017 (Vic.)

Ministerial Order No. 1359: Child Safe Standards – Managing the Risk of Child Abuse in Schools

Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005 (Vic.)