Child Safe Standards: Creating a safe environment

Standard 1: Strategies to embed an organisational culture of child safety, including through effective leadership arrangements

Standard 2: A child safe policy or statement of commitment to child safety

Standard 3: A code of conduct that establishes clear expectations for appropriate behaviour with children

Standard 4: Screening, supervision, training and other human resources practices that reduce the risk of child abuse by new and existing personnel

Standard 5: Processes for responding to and reporting suspected child abuse

Standard 6: Strategies to identify and reduce or remove risks of child abuse

Standard 7: Strategies to promote the participation and empowerment of children.

The following principles are included as part of each standard:

• Promoting the cultural safety of Aboriginal children.
• Promoting the cultural safety of children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds.
• Promoting the safety of children with a disability.

Kids Like Us is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people. This will be the primary focus of our care and decision-making. Kids Like Us has zero tolerance for child abuse. Kids Like Us is committed to providing a child safe environment where children and young people are safe and feel safe, and their voices are heard about decisions that affect their lives. Every person involved in Kids Like Us has a responsibility to understand the important and specific role he/she plays individually and collectively to ensure that the wellbeing and safety of all children and young people is at the forefront of all they do and every decision they make. In its planning, decision-making and operations Kids Like Us will….

1. Take a preventative, proactive and participatory approach to child safety with reference to child abuse and general safety, taking all allegations and concerns very seriously and responding to them consistently in line with Kids Like Us’ policies and procedures;
2. Value, listen to and empower children to participate in decisions which affect their lives;
3. Foster a culture of openness that supports all persons to safely disclose risks of harm to children;
4. Promote cultural safety for Aboriginal children, cultural safety for children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds, and provide a safe environment for children with a disability while keeping child safety paramount;
5. Provide written guidance on appropriate conduct and behaviour towards children;
6. Engage only suitable people to work with children and have high quality staff and volunteer supervision and professional development;
7. Ensure children know who to talk with if they are worried or are feeling unsafe, and that they are comfortable and encouraged to raise such issues;
8. Report suspected abuse, neglect or mistreatment promptly to the appropriate authorities;
9. Share information appropriately and lawfully with other organisations where the safety and wellbeing of children is at risk; and
10. Value the input of and communicate regularly with families and carers