Policy Page
Child Safety Commitment Statement
Our Commitment to Child Safety:
The Connecting Families Group’s vision is for children and young people to be safe and thrive. We are committed to the safety, well-being, and empowerment of all children and young people in our programs and services. We support and respect the dignity and rights of all children and ensure that their voice is heard for decisions that affect their lives.
We have zero tolerance for child abuse, and all allegations and safety concerns will be treated seriously, consistent 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. The Connecting Families Group is committed to preventing child abuse, identifying risks early, and removing and reducing these risks.
National Principles for Child Safe Organisations
We have adopted the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations (Australian Human Rights Commission, 2018) and ensure that they are embedded in the Connecting Families Group culture, reflected in our policies and procedures, and understood and practiced at all levels of our work.
The Connecting Families Group is committed to promoting and adhering to the requirements of the National Principles by:
- Committing to promoting inclusive and welcoming environments for children and young people;
- Committing to creating an accountable child safe culture through all levels of the organisation;
- Enabling children and young people to understand their rights and responsibilities in an age-appropriate way;
- Acknowledging the strengths and individual characteristics of children, and embracing all children regardless of their abilities, sex, gender, or social, economic or cultural backgrounds;
- Ensuring policy and procedures are in place to screen all staff and volunteers prior to employment;
- Actively listening to feedback and complaints from children and young people, families, staff and volunteers, and stakeholders and committing to continual improvement of our services and processes to enhance the safety and wellbeing of children and young people;
- Committing to providing regular training and education to staff and volunteers on their understanding of child safety responsibilities and cultural safety concepts with appropriate supervision;
- Committing to ensuring compliance with all relevant child protection legislations and maintaining safe and supportive physical and online environments for all children;
Implementing regular reviews of our services, and policies and procedures to ensure that organisations comply with child safety standards and legislations and address new challenges.
