SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN

SAFEGUARDING CHILDEN

Scotch Oakburn College’s most important responsibility.

At Scotch Oakburn, our most important responsibility is to ensure our programs are provided in an environment that is caring, nurturing and safe for all children and young people. We are committed to implementing best practice that is aligned with the Tasmanian Child and Youth Safe Standards that mirror the National Principles. We are also very proud that we’ve been awarded full Safeguarding Children accreditation through the Australian Childhood Foundation. This means our entire team strive for the highest possible standards with respect to safeguarding children and young people from abuse.

The Tasmanian Child and Youth Safe Standards outline ten principles that form part of the Child and Youth Safe Organisations Framework.

Source: Office of the Independent Regulator: Child and Youth Saftey Standards.

This means all people in the organisation care about children and young people’s safety and wellbeing above everything else, and make sure they act that way and lead others to act that way.

This means children and young people are told about their human rights, have a say in decisions and are taken seriously.

This means families and communities know about and are involved in the organisation’s child and safety and wellbeing activities.

This means the rights of every child and young person are being met, and children and young people are treated with dignity, respect and fairness.

This means people working with children and young people are safe to work with children and young people and respectful of them. They are taught how to keep children safe and well.

This means children, young people, families, staff and volunteers are listened to and can share problems and concerns.

This means staff and volunteers keep learning all the time so they know how to keep children and young people safe and well.

This means children and young people are safe in online and physical spaces.

This means the organisation keeps reviewing and improving its child safety and wellbeing practices.

This means organisation writes down how it keeps children and young people safe and well, and makes sure that everyone can see these documents.

We have a detailed Safeguarding Children and Young People (SCYP) Policy and SCYP Code of Conduct Policy. These guide the College team in their behaviour towards, and in the presence of, children and young people to prevent potentially harmful behaviour. We also have a Reporting Policy which outlines how we will respond to abuse and neglect if it occurs.

Our SCYP Policy, Staff Code of Conduct and Reporting Policy have all been approved by our Board of Directors. Every staff member at the College is committed to providing a safe and nurturing environment for all children and young people.

In particular, we are committed to safeguarding children and young people at the College from any form of sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional or psychological abuse or neglect.

Scotch Oakburn College Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy

Scotch Oakburn College Inclusion and Diversity Policy

Child Protection Statement

Scotch Oakburn College Wellbeing Policy

Notification of concerns direct to Child Safety Services – Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) – non urgent 

For additional information about child wellbeing and safety, contact 

Strong Families, Safe Kids Advice and Referral Line: 

  • Phone: 1800 000 123 

For free and confidential support for people who have been affected by sexual violence, contact the Tasmanian Sexual Assault Support Line (24 hour response state-wide): 

  • Phone: 1800 697 877 

This line is run by the Sexual Assault Support Service in the South, and Laurel House in the North West. 

For information and support for children, young people and adults affected by family violence, contact 

Family Violence Counselling and Support Service: 

  • Phone: 1800 608 122 

For free and confidential support for people impacted by crime, contact 

Victims of Crime Service: 

  • Phone: 1300 300 238 

For support for relationships and to live positive lives, contact 

Relationships Australia Tasmania: 

  • Phone: 1300 364 277 

  

Why is Safeguarding Accreditation important?

  1. It optimises the College’s risk management policies and procedures with regard to the safety of children and young people in its services and programs. 
  2. It provides the College with access to an evidence-based approach to protecting children and young people. 
  3. It enables Scotch Oakburn to assure parents and carers that it values and knows how to keep children and young people safe from abuse and exploitation.