Child Safety

At Emmaus we establish a culturally safe environment in which the diverse and unique identities and experiences of Aboriginal children and young people are respected and valued.

To meet Standard 1 the College must ensure

• a child or student’s ability to express their culture and enjoy their cultural rights is encouraged and actively supported
• staff, students, volunteers and the school community are prepared to acknowledge and appreciate the strengths of Aboriginal culture, and its importance to the wellbeing and safety of Aboriginal children and students
• measures are adopted to ensure racism is identified, confronted and not tolerated
• any instances of racism are addressed with appropriate consequences
• the participation and inclusion of Aboriginal children and students, and their families, are actively supported

How Emmaus College is implementing Standard 1

• Camp Programs and Central Australia Tour involve ATSI Cultural Experiences
• ATSI curriculum content included across year levels
• FIRE carrier committee and program implemented at the College
• The College runs Reconciliation and NAIDOC week activities and experiences
• Professional Learning for all staff on how to establish and ensure a culturally safe environment

At Emmaus College Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in organisational leadership, governance and culture.

To meet Standard 2 the College must ensure

• a commitment to child safety
• actions the school will take to ensure a child safe culture is championed and modelled across the school
• governance arrangements the school uses to implement the policy
• processes the school will use to review its child safe practices
• implement the Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy and Procedures.
• contextualise the MACS School Child Safety Code of Conduct.
• implement the Child Safety Code of Conduct
• make the Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy and Child Safety Code of Conduct publicly available
• develop and implement risk management strategies that focus on preventing, identifying and mitigating risks related to child safety and wellbeing in both the physical and online school environments
• record identified child safety risks in a risk register (or other document), including the risk controls and treatments to reduce or remove the risks
• approve the risk register (or other document)
• monitor and annually review the risks related to child safety and wellbeing, and the effectiveness of the implementation of the risk controls
• implement the Child Safety and Recordkeeping Policy and procedures and ensure the school’s processes meet Public Record Office Victoria Recordkeeping Standards
• create, maintain and dispose of child safety and wellbeing records in accordance with Public Record Office Victoria Recordkeeping Standards, including minimum retention periods
• ensure staff and volunteers understand their obligations on information sharing and recordkeeping.

How the College is implementing Standard 2

• Our commitment to Child Safety can be found on our College website. 
• Child Safety is a standing agenda item at the School Advisory Council (SAC) and College Leadership. 
• Child Safety risks are included in our College risk register. 
• Our Staff and Volunteer induction programs support understanding of Child Safety reporting obligations and behavioural expectations. 
• Child Safety Committee, comprised of students, parents and staff, meet twice a term (minimum) to design, implement and evaluate child safe practices within the College. 
• The employment process includes a specific section on Child Safety questions. 
• The College has nominated Child Safety Officers. 
• Child Safety Code of Conduct signed by all staff, volunteers and contractors 
• PROTECT posters and the Four Critical Actions are displayed around the school in key spaces 

At Emmaus College students are empowered about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.

To meet Standard 3 the College must ensure

• inform children and students about their rights (including the right to safety), access to information, and participation in decisions impacting their safety and wellbeing
• recognise the importance of friendships and encourage support from peers to help students feel safe and be less isolated
• attune staff and volunteers to signs of harm and facilitate child-friendly ways for children and students to express their views, participate in decision-making and raise their concerns
• develop a culture that facilitates participation and is responsive to the input of children and students
• provide opportunities for students to participate, and for Emmaus to be responsive to their contributions to strengthen confidence and engagement
• ensure students have access to age-appropriate sexual abuse prevention programs and relevant related information.

How the College is implementing Standard 3

• Student-led Child Safety Committee. 
• Peer Mentoring Program (Year 10 to Year 7). 
• Student Voice as part of subject-specific areas within the College Curriculum. 
• Community Care Tile to support students in reporting concerns in confidence. 
• Student Representative Council (SRC) meetings. 
• Child Safe and Student Code of Conduct Presentations across P-12. 
• Respectful Relationships program, including external presenters. 
• Circle time for P-4 where students voice their concerns. 
• Sequenced Pastoral Program across P-12 with a strong focus on Wellbeing.

At Emmaus College families and communities are informed, and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing.

To meet Standard 4 the College must ensure

• families participate in decisions related to child safety and wellbeing which affect their child
• there is engagement and open communication with families and the school community about the school’s child safe approach, and relevant information is accessible
• families and the school community have a say in the development and review of child safety and wellbeing policies and practices

How the College is implementing Standard 4

• Detailed and informed consent to parent/carers for all school activities via Operoo. 
• Families are provided with communications about child safety through newsletters and social media, outlining updates or current issues. 
• All School Advisory Council meetings include Child Safety as a standing agenda item. 
• The school promotes processes within the school community around strict confidentiality of reporting of suspected abuse. 
• The newsletter is published every three weeks, communicating College commitment to the Child Safe Standards. 
• Parent Forum Series events held across P-12 throughout the school year. 
• Parent involvement in the Child Safety Committee. 
• School Advisory Council consulted on Child Safe Strategies, improvements and initiatives. 
• Family involvement through Wellbeing, Academic and Learning Diversity meetings. 
• Website accessibility for the Emmaus community, with child safety information readily available.

At Emmaus College equity is upheld and diverse needs respected in policy and practice.

To meet Standard 5 the College must ensure

• support staff and volunteers to understand the diverse circumstances of children and students, and provide support and respond to vulnerable children and students
• make sure children, students, staff, volunteers and the school community have access to information, support and complaints processes that are culturally safe, accessible and easy to understand
• pay particular attention to the needs of:
  • students with disability
  • students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
  • students who are unable to live at home
  • international students
  • lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender diverse, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ+) students
• pay particular attention to the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, and provide and promote a culturally safe environment for them

• publish the policy and make this known to the school community
• ensure the strategies and actions outlined in the policy are implemented.

How the College is implementing Standard 5

• The College has a Learning Diversity Team that supports required adjustments to meet the diverse needs of our students, including those needing additional support, including extension. 
• The college delivers a Parent Forum Series across the school year.  
• Social Justice Student Committee, supported by the Director of Education in Faith brings to life Inclusion and Celebration of Diversity within our College community, such as: 
  • Katherine Immersion 
  • Exchange Programs 
  • Hosting of International visitors through local Parish  
  • K’s for Caritas

At Emmaus College people working with students are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice.

To meet Standard 6 the College must ensure

• implement recruitment practices for staff and contractors engaged in child-connected work that ensure:
  • all job advertisements have a statement setting out the job’s requirements, duties, responsibilities and essential or relevant qualifications, experience and attributes in relation to child safety and wellbeing
  • all applicants for jobs are informed about the child safety practices, including the Child Safety Code of Conduct and Code of Conduct for MACS Staff
  • Working with Children clearances are sighted, verified and recorded, where required, under the Worker Screening Act 2020 (Vic.) or any equivalent background check, for example, Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) registration
  • where the person will be engaged in child-related work, proof of identity, essential or relevant qualifications, history of work involving children, and references addressing suitability for the job and working with children are collected and recorded
• implement engagement practices for volunteers engaged in child-connected work, including:
  • sighting, verifying and recording Working with Children clearances where required under the Worker Screening Act or any equivalent background check
  • considering the child safety risks relevant to the volunteer’s role and, if reasonable and appropriate, collecting and recording proof of identity, essential or relevant qualifications, history of work involving children, and references addressing suitability for the job and working with children
  • making volunteers aware of the Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy and Procedures, Child Safety Code of Conduct and, where appropriate, the Code of Conduct for MACS Staff.
• ensure that all newly appointed school staff, school advisory council members and volunteers engaged in child-connected work receive an induction regarding child safety and wellbeing appropriate to their roles, including information about:
  • the Child Safety Code of Conduct
  • the Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy and Procedures
  • the procedures for managing complaints and concerns related to child abuse
  • the Code of Conduct for MACS Staff
• ensure that school staff, members of the governing body and volunteers engaged in child-connected work are aware of their responsibilities to children and students, information sharing and reporting obligations, and recordkeeping obligations
• ensure recruitment policies and practices are followed, and appropriate records kept
• review practices for the ongoing supervision and people management of staff and volunteers to ensure there is a focus on child safety and wellbeing.

How the College is implementing Standard 6

• Recruitment practices ensure that a child safe elements are incorporated in all steps from advertising to onboarding including a rigorous reference checking process.
• At induction, all new staff members must provide valid VIT or WWCC registration including current criminal record check. They are provided with relevant child safe policies, and with the MACS Code of Conduct and are required to sign the Emmaus Staff Code of Conduct.
• A child safety statement is included in all position descriptions and child safety is an element of all induction presentations.
• All staff, not just those mandated, undertake online Child Safety training annually
• Annual Staff Professional Learning Program, including child safe information, training and the College Principal's presentation of staff expectations in working with children.

At Emmaus College the processes for complaints and concerns are child focused.

To meet Standard 7 the College must ensure

• the process for making a complaint about the school or any person within the school (i.e. staff, volunteers, contractors, families, children or students)
• the roles and responsibilities of leaders, staff and volunteers in complaint handling
• the process for dealing with different types of complaints, breaches of relevant policies or the code of conduct, and obligations to act and report
• ensure complaints are taken seriously, and responded to promptly and thoroughly
• implement clear procedures for responding to complaints or concerns relating to child abuse which must:
  • cover all forms of abuse
  • be sensitive to the diversity and characteristics of the school community
  • be made publicly available
  • be accessible to all members of the school community
  • apply to complaints and concerns relating to child abuse made by or in relation to a child or student, staff, volunteers, contractors, service providers, visitors or other persons while connected to a school
  • identify roles and responsibilities of staff to act and report on complaints and concerns relating to child abuse
  • not displace or discharge any other obligations that arise if a person reasonably believes that a child is at risk of child abuse
  • clearly describe the actions the school will take to respond to a complaint or concern relating to child abuse.
• ensure the Complaints Handling Policy and the procedures for responding to complaints or concerns relating to child abuse address reporting of complaints and concerns to school leaders and other relevant authorities, whether or not the law requires reporting, and cooperate with law enforcement
• approve the procedures for responding to complaints or concerns relating to child abuse
• ensure the Complaints Handling Policy and the procedures for responding to complaints or concerns relating to child abuse are publicly available and accessible
• ensure all recordkeeping, reporting, privacy and employment law obligations are met when responding to complaints and concerns
• ensure the Complaints Handling Policy and the procedures for responding to complaints or concerns relating to child abuse are implemented.

How the College is implementing Standard 7

• The Complaints Handling Policy clearly articulates the complaints process and is accessible on the College website. 
• The Child Safety and Wellbeing Record Keeping Policy is implemented and reviewed on a regular basis. 
• Student-focused complaints process through an online Community Care tile. 
• Complaint processes and procedures are communicated to the College community annually. 
• Pastoral structure supports students engaging with a staff member to voice concerns or complaints. 
• Clear circles of communication are shared with the community to best support any concerns.

At Emmaus College staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep students safe through ongoing education and training.

To meet Standard 8 the College must ensure

• ensure that at least annually, members of the School Advisory Council receive appropriate guidance and training about: 
  • individual and collective responsibilities for implementing the Child Safe Standards and managing risks of child abuse 
  • child safety and wellbeing risks in the school environment
  • the child safety policies, procedures and practices of the school
• ensure that, at least annually, staff engaged in child-connected work receive training and information on child safety that include guidance on:
  • the Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy and Procedures
  • the Child Safety Code of Conduct
  • the school’s procedures for responding to complaints and concerns relating to child abuse
  • recognising indicators of child harm, including harm caused by other children, students or adults (including family violence)
  • responding effectively to issues of child safety and wellbeing, and supporting colleagues who disclose harm
  • building culturally safe environments
  • information sharing and recordkeeping obligations
  • how to identify and mitigate child safety and wellbeing risks in physical and online environments without compromising a child or student’s right to privacy, access to information, social connections and learning opportunities
• provide child safety training and information for volunteers engaged in child-connected work that are appropriate to their role and responsibilities. Consider whether or not it is reasonable and necessary to include training and information on any or all of the same guidance provided to staff, listed above
• ensure that staff and volunteers are supported to implement the Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy, where the policy applies to their role and responsibilities.

How the College is implementing Standard 8

• Yearly staff training on understanding and implementing the college’s Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy. 
• Annual staff training on Mandatory reporting compliance requirements. 
• Annual Staff Professional Learning Program, including child safe information and training. 
• Internal sharing of Professional Learning resources. 
• House-based meetings ensures a fortnightly meeting to discuss child safety knowledge.

At Emmaus College physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for students people to be harmed.

To meet Standard  9 the College must ensure

• revise or develop a statement on online conduct and online safety that is consistent with the Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy and Procedures, and the Child Safety Code of Conduct
• publish the statement and make this known to the school community
• ensure the statement on online conduct and safety is implemented
• ensure child safety and wellbeing policies, procedures and practices enable staff and volunteers to identify and mitigate risks in both physical and online environments without compromising a child or student’s right to privacy, access to information, social connections and learning opportunities
• ensure that procurement policies for facilities and services from third parties address the safety of children and students.

How the College is implementing Standard 9

• The Student Behaviour Policy, Student Code of Conduct, Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy and the ICT Acceptable Usage Policy direct how the physical and online environment is used at the College. 
• A registration and sign-in procedure is implemented for all College events where there is visitor participation. 
• Cyber-safety presentations are delivered to all students. 
• Parent Forum Series on supporting parents to help their child safely navigate the online world. 
• Planning for all college-based activities includes the development of a detailed risk assessment and the implementation of risk mitigation strategies. 
• Reflection Days and Pastoral lessons are focused on student spiritual and personal development and expectations regarding respectful relationships, identity, and use of online social platforms. 
• Camps and International Travel are supported by the MACS policy, procedures and guidelines.

At Emmaus College the implementation of the Child Safe Standards is regularly reviewed and improved.

To meet Standard 10 the College must ensure

• review and evaluate the child safety and wellbeing policies, procedures and practices at least every two years in consultation with students, families and staff. This may also require consultation with relevant MACS personnel
• ensure there is a review of child safety and wellbeing policies and practices after any significant child safety incident, and that improvements are put in place where applicable
• implement systems and processes to record and analyse all complaints, concerns and safety incidents to identify causes and systemic failures, and make improvements
• report on the outcomes of relevant reviews to the governing body, staff, volunteers, the school community, families and students.

How the College is implementing Standard 10

• The school has policies relating to Child Safe Standards and review cycles. 
• Reviews of existing Child Safe Standards policies and any updates are communicated to the wider College community. 
• The College Risk and Compliance Officer regularly reviews all policies and procedures.  
•  The Staff Child Safety Committee meets twice a term to provide oversight and address concerns of child safety practices. 
• The College Policy Register lists all current policies/plans/procedures for all College staff. This supports the College’s processes around child safety and wellbeing.  

At Emmaus College policies and procedures document how the College is safe for students.

To meet Standard 11 the College must ensure

• ensure that all the child safety and wellbeing policies, procedures and practices related to the Child Safe Standards and Ministerial Order No. 1359 are effectively implemented
• ensure that the policies, procedures, and any other statements and records required by Ministerial Order No. 1359:
  • address all the Child Safe Standards
  • are championed and modelled by leaders
  • are documented, accessible and easy to understand
• establish processes to ensure that the policies, procedures and any statements associated with child safety and wellbeing are understood and implemented by all relevant staff and volunteers
• provide students, families, staff and volunteers with opportunities for regular input into policies, procedures, practices and risk strategies related to child safety and wellbeing.

How the College is implementing Standard 11

• The College’s child safety policies address all Child Safe Standards. 
• Child safety policies are easily accessible to all staff and college community members. 
• Child safety policies are developed and reviewed in consultation with relevant experts, staff and community members to ensure they meet best practice models and reflect college approaches to child safety. 
• The college’s Leadership team review and contribute to the development of child safety policies and procedures and actively role model implementing them. 
• Staff and volunteers attend yearly professional learning sessions to support their understanding and implementation of the college’s child safety policies and procedures. 
• Provisionally Registered Teachers (PRT) are supported through their application for full registration including attendance at child safety meetings/discussions, informed about eSafety resources, National Child Protection week, where child safety related policies are stored on EmmLink and discussion about the VIT Code of Conduct and Code of Ethics.