Our Lady Star of the Sea Ocean Grove eNewsletter

Student Wellbeing

Child Safety and Wellbeing

At Our Lady Star of the Sea School, we hold the care, safety and wellbeing of children and young people as a central and fundamental responsibility of our school. Our 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 (CECV Commitment Statement to Child Safety).

All students enrolled at Our Lady Star of the Sea School have the right to feel safe and be safe. The safety and wellbeing of children in our care will always be our first priority and we do not and will not tolerate child abuse. We aim to create a child-safe and child-friendly environment where children are free to enjoy life to the full without any concern for their safety.

Child Safe Standards

1. 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.

2. Leadership, governance and culture – Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in organisational leadership, governance and culture.

3. Child and student empowerment – Children and young people are empowered about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.

4. Family engagement – Families and communities are informed, and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing.

5. Diversity and equity – Equity is upheld and diverse needs respected in policy and practice.

6. Suitable staff and volunteers – People working with children and young people are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice.

7. Complaints processes – Processes for complaints and concerns are child focused.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. Review of child safety practices – Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is regularly reviewed and improved.

11. Implementation of child safety practices – Policies and procedures document how the organisation is safe for children and young people.

Our commitment to our students

We commit to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people enrolled in our school.
We commit to providing children and young people with positive and nurturing experiences.
We commit to listening to children and young people, and empowering them by ensuring that they understand their rights (including to safety, information and participation), and by taking their views seriously and addressing any concerns that they raise with us.
We commit to taking action to ensure that children and young people are protected from abuse or harm.
We commit to ensuring that the needs of all children and young people enrolled in our school are met, including those who are most vulnerable.
We commit to recognising the importance of friendships and to encouraging support from peers, to help children and students feel safe and less isolated.
We commit to developing a culture that facilitates and provides opportunities for children and student participation, and that strengthens the confidence and engagement of children and students by being responsive to their input.
We commit to teaching children and young people the necessary skills and knowledge to understand and maintain their personal safety and wellbeing.
We commit to seeking input and feedback from students regarding the creation of a safe school environment.

Our commitment to parents, guardians and carers

We commit to communicating honestly and openly with parents, guardians and carers about the wellbeing and safety of their children.
We commit to engaging with, and listening to, the views of parents, guardians and carers about our child safety and wellbeing practice, policies and procedures.
We commit to transparency in our decision-making with parents, guardians and carers where it will not compromise the safety of children or young people.
We commit to open engagement and communication with parents, guardians and carers about our child safe approach and our operations and governance related to child safety and wellbeing.
We commit to ensuring that relevant information relating to child safety and wellbeing is accessible to parents, guardians and carers.
We commit to acknowledging the cultural diversity of students and families, and being sensitive to how this may impact on student safety issues.
We commit to continuously reviewing and improving our systems to protect children from abuse.

Responsibilities and organisational arrangements

Everyone employed or volunteering at Our Lady Star of the Sea School has a responsibility to understand the important and specific role they play individually and collectively to ensure a child safe culture in which the wellbeing and safety of all students is at the forefront of all they do and every decision they make (CECV Commitment Statement to Child Safety).

Policy Updates to support the Victorian Child Safe Standards and Ministerial Order No. 1359

To build on the existing child safety policies and practices, Our Lady Star of the Sea, assisted by Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) have updated the following policies which will be published on our School Website.

Paul Anderson

Deputy Principal & Student Wellbeing Leader