Child Safety

At St James Catholic Primary School, we believe that ensuring the safety, protection and wellbeing of students in our care is an integral part of who we are as a Catholic faith community.  We adhere to the 11 National Child Safe Standards and Victorian Ministerial Order No. 1359.

Child Safety is the responsibility of every adult in the school. We strive to work collaboratively with parents, students, staff and other community agencies to ensure a safe school environment where we are relentlessly working to protect students from any kind of harm.  Our children are created in the likeness of God and therefore, in our words and actions the sacred dignity of children is prioritised, maintained and respected and this is embedded in the teaching and mission of Jesus Christ.

Our children have the inherent right to feel safe and protected at all times and this begins with respectful relationships, the promotion of student voice and ensuring procedures and policies that support child safety are known and evident in the daily life of the school. This is particularly so for the most vulnerable children, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds, and children with a disability.

Working with the Diocese of Sale Catholic Education Limited Secretariat [DOSCEL] Guidelines we use their policies to guide the procedures that are implemented in our school.

Our Child Safe Committee leader is Julieanne Dell’Oro – jdelloro@stjamesnng.catholic.edu.au, alternatively you are most welcome to contact our Principal Bec Kollaris- principal@stjamesnng.catholic.edu.au

Diocese of Sale Catholic Education Ltd. commitment to child safety

Student physical and sexual abuse, and neglect

Children’s rights to be safe are fundamental to our work in the Diocese of Sale. It is crucial that each child is protected against physical and sexual abuse, and neglect.

When teachers form a belief that a child may be at risk of harm due to sexual abuse or physical injury that results from abuse or neglect, they have a legal responsibility to notify the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing. St James adheres to the 11 Child Safe Standards, as set out by the Ministerial Order 1359.

Child Safety Standards

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
Standard 2: Child Safety and wellbeing is embedded in organisational leadership, governance and culture
Standard 3: Children and young people are empowered about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously
Standard 4: Families and communities are informed and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing
Standard 5: Equity is upheld and diverse needs respected in policy and practice
Standard 6: People working with children and young people are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice
Standard 7: Processes for complaints and concerns are child focused
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
Standard 9: Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for children and young people to be harmed
Standard 10: Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is regularly reviewed and improved
Standard 11: Policies and procedures document how the organisation is safe for children and young people

In 2010, education and human services stakeholders established a joint protocol ‘Protecting the safety and wellbeing of children and young people’ to provide a unified and consistent approach that defines roles and responsibilities to protect the safety and wellbeing of all Victorian children and young people. The protocol provides information for licensed children’s services and Victorian schools to take appropriate action when it is believed that a child has suffered harm, or is likely to suffer harm, through abuse or neglect.