Child Safety Commitment

Saint Ignatius College Geelong is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all students at the College.

On 26 November 2015, the Victorian Parliament passed the Child Wellbeing and Safety Amendment (Child Safe Standards) Bill 2015 to introduce child safe standards into law.

These child safe standards were reviewed and updated and came into effect in July 2022. The Child Safe Standards are part of the Victorian Government’s response to the Betrayal of Trust Inquiry into the Handling of Child Abuse by Religious and other Non-Government Organisations. The Betrayal of Trust Report found that while the majority of children are safe in organisations and in the community, more work could be done to strengthen existing approaches to child safety.

The child safe standards aim to drive cultural change in organisations that provide services for children so that protecting children from abuse is embedded in everyday thinking and practice. Saint Ignatius College Geelong will implement the Child Safe Standards to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all students at the College and promote an organisational culture that manages the risk of child abuse and neglect.

To help create and maintain a child safe organisation and adhere to the Child Safe Standards, we are required to ensure that we met the standards as listed below:

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
Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in organisational leadership, governance and culture
Children and young people are empowered about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously
Families and communities are informed, and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing
Equity is upheld and diverse needs respected in policy and practice
People working with children and young people are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice
Processes for complaints and concerns are child focused
Staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education and training
Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for children and young people to be harmed
Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is regularly reviewed and improved
Policies and procedures document how the organisation is safe for children and young people

We firmly believe that these standards will further strengthen our existing policies and practices already in place, to prevent and respond to child abuse while also maintaining consistency in how we manage any potential concerns in our school. They will also reflect our commitment to maintaining a culture focused on protecting all children from abuse that currently forms an integral part of our everyday thinking and practice.

Click on this link to read the College's policy documents on Child Safety

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March

2020

Child Safety Commitment

Saint Ignatius College Geelong is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all students at the College.

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