Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn
Catholic Education Office

Child Protection

Related Policies:

Child Protection – Mandatory Reporting ACT
Child Protection – Mandatory Reporting NSW
Child Protection (ACT) – Responding to Complaints Against Employees
Child Protection (NSW) – Responding to Allegations of Reportable Conduct and Allegations of Misconduct that May Involve Reportable Conduct Made Against Employees
Complaints
Discipline
Induction of Staff
Legal Responsibilities and Authority
Medication Dispensing
Restraint of Students
Sexual Harassment
Supervision
Visitors

Purpose:

This policy sets out guidelines for those caring for students either directly or indirectly in the school setting in fulfilling responsibilities for Child Protection.

Policy:

The Archdiocese of Canberra Goulburn Catholic Education Office is committed to making every effort to protect students in system schools from any form of harm.

Recruitment screening, educational training programs, rigorous supervision of practice and clearly articulated policy and procedure for expectations and requirements of ‘duty of care' are specifically designed to create a culture of care in schools.

CEO and School staffs, parents and students will be taught to identify potentially harmful risks and indicators of suspected harm. They will be informed about their rights, the support options available to them and the procedure for reporting incidents of harm.

Students will be taught protective strategies.

CEO and School staffs will be screened before confirmation of appointment. This employment screening check includes completion of the Working With Children Check and the Prohibited Employment Declaration.

Volunteers for school based programs are required to complete the Prohibited Employment Declaration.

chools are required to develop school policy and procedures for the prevention, identification and management of incidents causing harm to students.

Definitions:

Protection – Preventing injury or harm of any kind.

Student – A child enrolled in and attending a system school.

Procedures:

The Catholic Education Office, through its schools, will:

• Identify and implement appropriate curriculum programs to equip students with prevention strategies.
• Ensure that employees are equipped with the knowledge to identify indicators of abuse or neglect.
• Ensure employees are fully aware of their responsibility to report identified potential for harm and/or identified incidents of harm.
• Ensure that employees know the appropriate process for reporting such information.
• Implement measures to maintain procedural fairness in situations where allegations of harm have been made.
• Provide appropriate counselling and support for students and family of students who have been harmed.
• Ensure that, where allegations have been made against an employee, the employee is informed of available advisory and support mechanisms.
• Investigate allegations of harm.
• Fulfil all legislative requirements.

References:

•  Responding to Allegations of Child Abuse and other CCYP Notifiable Matters Protocol

•  The Working With Children Check Guidelines

•  NSW Ombudsman; Child Protection in the Workplace Responding to Allegations Against Employees

•  Children and Young People (Care and Protection) Act 1998 (NSW)

•  Children and Young People Act 1999 (ACT)

•  Child Protection (Offender's Registration) Act 2000 (NSW)

•  Ombudsman Act 1974 (NSW) Part 3A

•  Commission for Children and Young People Act 1988

•  Child Protection (Prohibited Employment) Act 1998

Forms:

Working with Children Check

Working With Children Check Employment Screening Consent Form

Prohibited Employment Declaration (NSW)

Child Related Employment Declaration (ACT)

Last updated on December 2, 2006