Child Safety
At St Mary's we believe that the social, emotional, moral, spiritual and physical wellbeing of our students is pivotal to their health, saftey, learning and success.
At St Mary's we acknowledge and understand that child safety is the responsibility of every person and is an integral aspect of students wellbeing. We aim to work collaboratively with parents, students and other community members to ensure a safe school environment.
Our commitment to the protection of students is based in our belief that each person is made in the image of God, and our ethos is to provide a safe and supportive enviroment. All students have the right to expect that the school will always act to protect them from any kind of harm.
In 2019, a select group of students and staff rewrote the Child Safe Standards in child friendly language, so that they were able to be understood and valued by the school community of St Mary’s. These ‘Child Safety Standards for the children of St Mary’s’ have become an important part of our classrooms and our weekly liturgy. The Child Safety Standards for the children of St Mary’s are as follows:
- We have zero tolerance to any form of violence or child abuse.
- It is everyone’s responsibility to help others feel safe.
- As a school community we have conversations about our goal that all children should be treated with respect and care.
- We value differences in people. All members of our school community should feel respected and included.
- All children at St Mary’s have a right to feel safe and be safe regardless of their racial, language or religious background.
- Children, at St Mary’s you know that you can speak to any staff member, or the Principal directly, should you ever feel unsafe.
St. Mary's Primary School is committed to implementing and embedding the Child Safe Standards and requirements of Ministerial Order No. 1359
Debra Owens is our Child Safe Champion and can be contacted on 03 51825659
Child Safe Standard 1 – 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 Safe Standard 2 – Child safety and well-being is embedded in organisational leadership, governance and culture
Child Safe Standard 3 – Children and young people are empowered about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously
Child Safe Standard 4 – Families and communities are informed, and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing
Child Safe Standard 5 – Equity is upheld and diverse needs respected in policy and practice
Child Safe Standard 6 – People working with children and young people are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice
Child Safe Standard 7 – Processes for complaints and concerns are child-focused
Child Safe Standard 8 – Staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education and training
Child Safe Standard 9 – Physical and online environments promote safety and well-being while minimising the opportunity for children and young people to be harmed
Child Safe Standard 10 – Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is regularly reviewed and improved
Child Safe Standard 11 – Policies and procedures document how the organisation is safe for children and young people
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