Child Safety and Well being

The Catholic school sets out to be a school for the human person and of human persons. ‘The person of each individual human being, in his or her material and spiritual needs, is at the heart of Christ’s teaching: that is why the promotion of the human person is the goal of the Catholic school’. (Congregation for Catholic education 1997, par. 9)

St Theresa’s School holds the care, safety and wellbeing of children and young people as a central and fundamental responsibility of Catholic education. This commitment is drawn from and inherent to the teaching and mission of Jesus Christ, with love, justice and the sanctity of each human person at the heart of the Gospel.

St Theresa’s School has a universal expectation for the protection of children. It is resolutely committed to ensuring that all those engaged in Catholic education in our school promote the inherent dignity of children and young people and their fundamental right to be respected and nurtured in a safe school environment.

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.

St Theresa’s School has a moral, legal and mission-driven responsibility to create nurturing school environment where children and young people are respected, their voices are heard and where they are safe and feel safe. If allegations of abuse concerning children and young people are raised, St Theresa’s School will take prompt action to have these appropriately referred and investigated. St Theresa’s School is committed to effective practices in child safety and identifying and responding to child harm. St Theresa’s School will strive for continual improvement that is responsive to emerging thinking, evidence and practice, so as to eliminate the possibility of abuse occurring in the first place.

CHILD SAFETY STANDARDS

Culturally safe environments– 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.
Leadership, governance and culture– Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in organisational leadership, governance and culture.
Child and student empowerment– Children and young people are empowered about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.
Family engagement– Families and communities are informed, and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing.
Diversity and equity– Equity is upheld and diverse needs respected in policy and practice.
Suitable staff and volunteers– People working with children and young people are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice.
Complaints processes– Processes for complaints and concerns are child focused.
Child safety knowledge, skills and awareness– Staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education and training.
Child safety in physical and online environments– Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for children and young people to be harmed.
Review of child safety practices– Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is regularly reviewed and improved.
Implementation of child safety practices– Policies and procedures document how the organisation is safe for children and young people.