Child Safe
The Child Safe Standards (the Standards) are compulsory minimum standards for all organisations that provide services to children including Victorian schools. The aim of the Standards is to ensure organisations are well prepared to protect children from abuse and neglect. It is recognised that many schools will have existing policies and procedures that aim to keep children safe.
Warracknabeal Secondary College is committed to providing a child safe environment where children and young people are safe and feel safe, and their voices are heard about decisions that affect their lives. Particular attention will be paid to the cultural safety of Aboriginal children and children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds, as well as the safety of children with a disability. (Ministerial Order 1359)
The Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA) as regulator for all Victorian schools has responsibility for ensuring compliance with the Child Safe Standards in schools. The Standards are:
Standard 1: Culturally safe environments – 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: Leadership, governance and culture – Ensure that child safety and wellbeing are embedded in school leadership, governance and culture.
Standard 3: Child and student empowerment – Children and young people are empowered about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.
Standard 4: Family engagement – Families and communities are informed and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing.
Standard 5: Diversity and equity – Equity is upheld and diverse needs are respected in policy and practice.
Standard 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.
Standard 7: Child-focused complaints processes – Ensure that processes for complaints and concerns are child focused.
Standard 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.
Standard 9: Physical and online environments – Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for children and young people to be harmed.
Standard 10: Review of child safety practices - Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is regularly reviewed and improved.
Standard 11: Implementation of child safety practices – Policies and procedures that document how schools are safe for children, young people and students.
Related policies -
Resources - The Department and the VRQA have developed practical resources to assist schools to fully implement each Standard. See:
the Department's website, which includes the new Identifying and Responding to All Forms of Abuse in Victorian Schools guidance - PROTECT