Child Safe Standards
Yarriambiack Shire Council Child Safe Standards
Yarriambiack Shire Council is committed to being a child-safe organisation, with zero tolerance for child abuse.
We all play an important role in protecting children, especially if we have concerns for a child’s safety.
We aim to create a culture of child safety that reduces the opportunity for harm and gives staff a clear process to follow when someone raises concerns about child safety or reports abuse.
Statement of Commitment to Child Safety
The Council is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and, as such is committed to creating and maintaining a child safe organisation.
We want children to be safe, happy and empowered.
We support and respect all children, as well as our staff and volunteers.
We are committed to the safety, participation and empowerment of all children.
We have zero tolerance of child abuse, and all allegations and safety concerns will be treated very seriously and consistently with our robust policies and procedures.
We have legal and moral obligations to contact authorities when we are worried about a child’s safety, which we follow rigorously.
Yarriambiack Shire Council is committed to preventing child abuse and identifying risks early and removing and reducing these risks.
Yarriambiack Shire Council has robust human resources and recruitment practices to reduce the risk of child abuse by new and existing Councillors, staff and volunteers.
Yarriambiack Shire Council is committed to regularly training and educating our Councillors, staff and volunteers on child abuse risks.
We are committed to the cultural safety of Aboriginal children, the cultural safety of children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds, and to providing a safe environment for children with a disability.
We have specific policies and procedures in place that support our Councillors, staff and volunteers to achieve these commitments.
The Child Safe Standards
This policy is supported by Council’s commitment to deliver the 11 Child Safe Standards.
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.
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.
Yarriambiack Shire Council is committed to the Child Safe Standards and has adopted the following Policies:
More information about the Child Safe Standards and the Reportable Conduct Scheme are available at the following Department of Education and Training links: