Child Safe Standards
There are 11 Child Safe Standards that each organisation must adhere to. The 11 Standards are listed on the information sheet below. Waterfall Gully Pre School has updated all policies, procedures and expectations to ensure we are complying with the standards.
Our commitment to child safety Victorias-Child-Safe-Standards-Plain-language-poster-10.02.2023Child Safe Standard 1: 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
– Children are encouraged and actively supported to share their culture
– All members of our kindergarten community acknowledge and appreciate the strengths and importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture
– Racism is not tolerated at Waterfall Gully Preschool and processes are in place to deal with it if necessary. For example the complaints and grievances sub-commitee
– We actively the support the inclusion and participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families in our service
– The environment is culturally safe and inclusive of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families
Child Safe Standard 2: Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in organisational leadership, governance and culture.
– Waterfall Gully Preschool has made a public commitment to child safety. This is displayed in the foyers and on the website.
– Implementation of the child safety and wellbeing policy is supported at all levels of the service
– We have a thorough code of conduct policy for staff and volunteers to follow
– Risk management strategies are employed throughout the service to ensure the safety of all children
– Staff and volunteers are clear on their responsibilities regarding record keeping and information sharing
Child Safe Standard 3: Children and young people are empowered about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.
– Children are informed about their rights and ability to make choices
– Staff recognise the importance of friendships between peers and they are actively encouraged
– Staff are aware of signs of harm and build relationships with children so they feel safe and comfortable to express their views and emotions
– Children’s input into the curriculum is encouraged.
– Each child’s voice is valued
Child Safe Standard 4: Families and communities are informed, and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing
– Families are welcomed to participate in decision making about their child. This is through confidential parent/teacher consultation and being part of the Preschool Committee
– The Preschool promotes child safety through it’s website and is open and transparent about it’s child safe approach
– Policies and procedures are available for families on the kindergarten website. When policies are reviewed they are made available to families for comment
– The way the Preschool operates is clearly communicated on the website and on the kindergarten noticeboards
Child Safe Standard 5: Equity is upheld and diverse needs respected in policy and practice.
– Staff and volunteers have a good understanding of the diverse needs of children and families in their care and offer extra support to those who may be considered vulnerable
– The Preschool offers a clear process for complaints and grievances.
– The staff and volunteers at the Preschool treat all children and families respectfully. They understand the diversity of the kindergarten community and the varied needs and beliefs that this entails. Including,but not limited to children with a disability, children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, those who are unable to live at home, gender diverse children.
– The service pays particular attention to the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and promotes a culturally safe environment for them
Child Safe Standard 6: People working with children and young people are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice.
– Recruitment processes emphasise child safety and wellbeing
– Working with Children checks or equivalent are required for all staff, volunteers, visitors
– An induction process is implemented for all new employees
– Management is focused on child safety and wellbeing
Child Safe Standard 7: Processes for complaints and concerns are child focused
– The Preschool’s complaint handling procedure is clear and accessible
– Procedures are in place for different types of complaints and whether external agencies should be reported to
– Complaints are taken seriously and responded to promptly and thoroughly
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
– Staff are trained in child safety. They undertake online training through the Department of Education every 12 months
– Staff support each other to respond effectively to issues of child safety and wellbeing
Child Safe Standard 9: Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for children and young people to be
harmed.
– Risk assessments are conducted at the kindergarten on a daily basis. Processes are in place to minimise harmful risks and keep the physical environment safe for children, staff and volunteers.
– Online environments are assessed for risk and mitigation strategies implemented when required. The Preschool’s Code of Conduct policy is followed by staff and volunteers.
– Risk management plans are completed for all off site excursions/outings
– Risk minimisation plans are completed for all children with medical conditions
Child Safe Standard 10: Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is regularly reviewed and improved.
– The Preschool has an improvement plan in place for all 11 child safe standards. This plan is a working document that demonstrates goals and achievements under each standard
– Safety incidents are analysed to identify any systemic failures
Child Safe Standard 11: All child safe standards are addressed clearly in the Preschool’s policies and procedures
-Policies and procedures are easy to understand and clearly accessible on the premises and online
-Policies and procedures are developed in consultation with the kindergarten community, staff, management
-All staff, volunteers and management have a clear understanding of the service’s policies and procedures.