C 10 Child Safety & Wellbeing
LEGAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND
POLICY STATEMENT
The purpose of this policy is to offer a
framework for best practice in
maintaining safe environments for
children. It responds to the
compulsory Victorian Child Safe
Standards and aims to assist
Educators to understand and comply
with their legal responsibilities and
provide clear procedures to effectively
manage child protection issues if they
arise.
RATIONALE
A child is any persons aged from birth
to eighteen years (UNICEF).
Children have the right to be physically
and emotionally safe at all times. As
children are not in a position to ensure
their own wellbeing, that responsibility
is shared between the family, the
community and relevant legislative
bodies. Early identification and
effective intervention supports
vulnerable children and their families.
A clear procedure supports staff,
contractors and volunteers in effecting
their duty of care with regard to
children in care.
Yarra Ranges Council is 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.
As a licensed children’s service,
Sherbrooke Family and Children’s
Centre abides by the Early Childhood
Services – Identifying and Responding
to Incidents, Disclosures and
Suspicions of Child Abuse (Draft).
 Yarra Ranges Council - Sherbrooke Children’s Centre Policies and Procedures
OBLIGATIONS
Yarra Ranges Council employee’s who
care for and educate children have a
legal duty of care (Teachers with a
Victorian Institue of Teaching (VIT)
registration are mandated) to report to
child protection if they believe on
reasonable grounds that a child is in
need of protection from emotional /
psychological harm, physical injury or
sexual abuse. There may be
reasonable grounds when:
 a child states that they have
been physically or sexually
abused
 a child states that they know
someone who has been
physically or sexually abused
(sometimes the child may be
talking about themselves)
 a relative, friend, acquaintance
or sibling of the child, states that
the child has been physically or 1
sexually abused
 observations of the child’s
behaviour or development lead
to the belief that a child has
been abused
 signs of physical or sexual
abuse lead to a belief that a
child has been abused
It is important that all Educators have a
clear understanding of their
responsibilities in relation to this policy
and that the practices and procedures
are implemented consistently. All
Educators should be aware of the
common signs and indicators of child
abuse and be clear about their
responsibilities and the process of
reporting such issues.
If you hold a reasonable belief that a
child has been, or is at risk of being
abused, you must make a report to
DHHS Child Protection and/or Victoria
Police, regardless of advice given to
C 10 Child Safety & Wellbeing
you by others. This report may be
critical in protecting a child from abuse.
PROCEDURES
In relation to child protection
matters the Centre Coordinator will:
 keep up to date and comply with any
relevant changes in legislation and
practices in relation to this policy
 ensure that staff members at the
service who work with children are
advised of current child protection
legislation, its application, and any
obligations that they may have under
that law on their induction into the
service and at any other time as
appropriate
 identify the potential for and signs of
child abuse and develop and
implement effective prevention
strategies in consultation with the
Leadership Team and
Educators/staff
 ensure recruitment and induction
processes for Educators, staff and
contractors are in line with this
policy
 screen all Educators, staff,
contractors, volunteers and
students, including undertaking
criminal history checks (if required),
Working with Children Checks
(except for individuals under the age
of 18), reference checks and
interviews
 ensure that kindergarten teachers
employed by Yarra Ranges Council
undergo a Working with Children
Check as well as their Victorian
Institute of Teaching (VIT)
registration
 ensure that volunteers/students,
parents/guardians and other visitors
to the service are not left with sole
supervision of individual children or
groups of children
 Yarra Ranges Council - Sherbrooke Children’s Centre Policies and Procedures
 ensure that where the service has
been notified of a court order
prohibiting or restricting an adult
from contacting an enrolled child,
such contact does not occur outside
the requirements stated in the court
order
 ensure clear procedures (refer to
Procedure for responding to
incidents, disclosures and
suspicions of child abuse –
Appendix 1) are in place for
reporting suspected child abuse and
management of complaints
 ensure Educators, staff, contractors,
volunteers and students undertake
appropriate and annual training and
education on child protection,
including recognising the signs and
symptoms of child abuse, knowing
how to respond, and understanding
processes for reporting and
managing concerns/incidents
 ensuring that families are made 2
aware of support services available
to them (such as Child FIRST), and
of the assistance these services can
provide
 develop co-operative relationships
with appropriate services and/or
professionals (including Child
FIRST) in the best interests of
children and their families
 identify and implement appropriate
programs and practices to support
the principles of a child safe
organisation, in consultation with the
Leadership Team and
Educators/staff at the service
 notify the Approved Provider
immediately and DET, in writing,
within 24 hours of becoming aware
of a notifiable serious incident or
allegation regarding the health,
safety and/or welfare of a child
 recognise the challenges and
stresses that may be involved in
working with families in the area of
C 10 Child Safety & Wellbeing
child protection and wellbeing.
Accordingly, an Educator will be
closely supported during and
following any report or concern
raised. It may be appropriate that
additional support is required, such
as EAP
 maintain confidentiality at all times.
In relation to child protection
matters Educators/staff will:
 keep up to date and comply with any
relevant changes in legislation and
practices in relation to this policy
 undertake appropriate and annual
training and education on child
protection, including recognising the
signs (see appendix 2) and
symptoms of child abuse, knowing
how to respond, and understanding
processes for reporting and
managing concerns/incidents
 ensure that where the service has
been notified of a court order
prohibiting or restricting an adult
from contacting an enrolled child,
such contact does not occur outside
the requirements stated in the court
order
 implement the procedures (appendix
1) for reporting suspected child
abuse and management of
complaints
 notify the Room Leader or Centre
Coordinator immediately on
becoming aware of any concerns,
complaints or allegations regarding
the health, safety and welfare of a
child at Sherbrooke Children’s
Centre. If the Coordinator is not
immediately available or you do not
feel secure in discussing this with
this person, discuss the issue with
the Executive Officer of Family and
Children’s Services (Approved
Provider)
 offer support to the child and their
family, and to other Educators and
 Yarra Ranges Council - Sherbrooke Children’s Centre Policies and Procedures
staff in response to concerns or
reports relating to the health, safety
and wellbeing of a child
 thoroughly record/document all
observations and or conversations
related to any concerns, complaints,
allegations or disclosures regarding
the health, safety and welfare of a
child at Sherbrooke Children’s
Centre (see appendix 3)
 identify and implement appropriate
programs and practices to support
the principles of a child safe
organisation in consultation with the
Centre Coordinator and Educational
Leader
 cooperate with other services and/or
professionals (including Child
FIRST) in the best interests of
children and their families
 ensure that where they are
questioned by the Department of
Education and Training, Department
of Health and Human Services or 3
Police during the course of a child
protection investigation, they
cooperate fully and provide a full and
accurate account of the events and
reasons that resulted in the
notification of the alleged abuse or
neglect. Thorough and factual
records must be kept at all times.
 ensure that no child is left alone (or
is out of sight) with a contractor,
visitor, volunteer, student or
parent/guardian at any time
 in the case of a parent/guardian or
authorised nominee arriving to
collect a child and that person is
displaying behaviour or their state of
mind is inappropriate eg: under the
influence of drugs or alcohol
Educators are to refer to Delivery
and Collection of Children Policy
 not engage in private babysitting
assignments for families of
Sherbrooke Children’s Centre
 maintain confidentiality at all times
C 10 Child Safety & Wellbeing
 review this policy in consultation with
Centre Coordinator, the Leadership
Team, other Educators, and
parents/guardians.
Supporting Children whilst at the
Centre
Providing holistic support to address
the trauma and wellbeing issues
associated with child abuse is best
achieved through careful planning.
Where appropriate, Educators in
consultation with their Room Leader
and Centre Coordinator should
consider:
 establishing regular communication
with the child’s parent/carer to plan
support strategies and discuss a
child’s progress and the success of
any support strategies
 engage allied health professionals
with expertise in addressing child
abuse and trauma to support the
service to design and implement
support strategies
 establish a safety plan, in instances
where the abuse has been led by a
person within the service, and or
visiting the service to mitigate risk
of further abuse.
In relation to providing a child safe
environment at the service the
Centre Coordinator will:
 ensure children are adequately
supervised and that Educator-to-
child ratios are maintained at all
times
 ensure parents/guardians have
completed the enrolment form
including details of authorised
nominees, and permission forms for
 Yarra Ranges Council - Sherbrooke Children’s Centre Policies and Procedures
excursions and administration of
medication
 ensure the physical environment at
the service is safe, secure and free
from hazards for children
 ensure that Educators conduct risk
assessments for excursions and
consider children’s safety when
leaving the service premises
 ensure all equipment and materials
used at the service meet relevant
safety standards (all Council owned
playground facilities undergo an
annual external audit to ensure that
the equipment meets Australian
Standards)
 implement and practise emergency
and evacuation procedures at least
4 times per year
 ensure there are appropriate
procedures in place for the safe
delivery and collection of children
 ensure that Educators and all staff at 4
the service who work with children
are aware that it is an offence to
subject a child to any form of
corporal punishment, or any
discipline that is unreasonable or
excessive in the circumstances
 implement and review this policy in
consultation with the Leadership
Team, Educators, staff, and
parents/guardians
 identify and provide appropriate
resources and training to assist
Educators, staff, contractors,
visitors, volunteers and students to
implement this policy
 protect the rights of children and
families, and encourage their
participation in decision-making
 ensure the Leadership Team,
Educators, staff, contractors,
volunteers and students are kept
informed of any relevant changes in
legislation and practices in relation
to this policy
C 10 Child Safety & Wellbeing
 ensure that all Educators and staff
who work with children are aware of
this policy, and are supported to
implement it in the service in
consultation with the Educational
Leader
 ensure learning environments are
established that provide sufficient
space, and include carefully chosen
and well- maintained resources and
equipment that will help enhance the
quality of children’s learning and
experiences
 organise / facilitate regular
compliance audits
 keep up to date and comply with any
relevant changes in legislation and
practices in relation to this policy.
In relation to providing a child safe
environment at the service
Educators/staff will:
 maintain learning environments that
provide sufficient space, and include
carefully chosen and well-
maintained resources and
equipment to ensure a safe
environment
 maintain a regular cleaning schedule
for all equipment to avoid cross-
contamination
 maintain a clean environment daily,
and remove tripping/slipping
hazards as soon as these become
apparent
 conduct a daily check of the building,
and outdoor environment. A written
record of the daily check will be kept,
signed by an Educator and filed for
future reference
 educate and empower children to
talk about events and situations that
make them feel uncomfortable
 ensure all children are adequately
and actively supervised at all times
 Yarra Ranges Council - Sherbrooke Children’s Centre Policies and Procedures
 ensure the physical environment at
the service is safe, secure and free
from hazards for children
 conduct risk assessments for
excursions and considering
children’s safety when leaving the
service premises
 ensure all equipment and materials
used at the service meet relevant
safety requirements
 actively participate in practising
emergency and evacuation
procedures at least 4 times per year
 comply with appropriate procedures
for the safe delivery and collection of
children
 ensure that children at the service
are not subjected to any form of
corporal punishment, or any
discipline that is unreasonable or
excessive in the circumstances
 implement and review this policy in
5
consultation with the Centre
Coordinator, the Leadership Team,
Educators, and parents/guardians
 protect the rights of children and
families, and encourage their
participation in decision-making
 keep up to date and comply with any
changes in legislation and practices
in relation to this policy.
Volunteers and students, while at
the service, are responsible for
following this policy and its
procedures.
C 10 Child Safety & Wellbeing
 Incident, Injury, Trauma and
Illness
RELATED POLICIES
 Inclusion and Equity
 Administration of First Aid  Interactions with Children
 Medication  Occupational Health and Safety
 Anaphylaxis  Participation of Volunteers and
 Code of Conduct Students
 Complaints and Grievances  Privacy and Confidentiality
 Infectious Diseases Illness  Staffing
 Medical Conditions  Sun Protection
 Emergency Management  Supervision
 Enrolment and Orientation  Water Safety
 Excursions and Incursions
 Hygiene
SOURCES
 Children, Youth and Families Act 2005
 Child Protection Protocol - Shire of Yarra Ranges and Department of Human
Services (Eastern Region) 2003
 Australian Early Childhood Code of Ethics (2016)
 NAPCAN Victoria www.napcan.org.au 6
 Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (Vic), amended in 2011:
www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/vic/consol_act/cohrara2006433/
 Childsafety Australia: www.childsafetyaustralia.com.au/
 A guide for creating a child safe organisation. Commission for Children and Young
People. Version 2.0 December 2015
 Choose With Care: Building child safe organisations – an information and training
program: www.childwise.net
 Department of Education and Training (DET):
http://www.education.vic.gov.au/Pages/default.aspx aspx
 Victorian Department of Health and Human Services: http://dhhs.vic.gov.au/
 Department of Human services - Child Safe Standards Guidelines
http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/about-the-department/documents-and-
resources/policies,-guidelines-and-legislation/child-safe-standards
 Office of the Child Safety Commissioner: www.kids.vic.gov.au
 Safeguarding Children accreditation program, Australian Childhood Foundation:
www.childhood.org.au
 Service Agreement Information Kit for Funded Organisations:
http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/facs/bdb/fmu/service-agreement/1.introduction/1.1-
about-the-kit
 The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child: www.unicef.org/crc
 What is Child Abuse?: www.dhs.vic.gov.au/for-individuals/children,-families-and-
young-people/child-protection/what-is-child-abuse

 Yarra Ranges Council - Sherbrooke Children’s Centre Policies and Procedures

C 10 Child Safety & Wellbeing
 Working with Children (WWC) Check: www.justice.vic.gov.au/workingwithchildren
 DRAFT Victorian Early Childhood Services: Identifying and Responding to
Incidents, Disclosures and Suspicions of Child Abuse

APPENDIX
Appendix 1 - Procedure for responding to incidents, disclosures and suspicions of
child abuse
Appendix 2 - Identifying and Responding to Incidents, Disclosures and Suspicions of
Child Abuse (DET)
Appendix 3 – Early Childhood Reporting Template

POLICY INFORMATION
Date Developed 2002
Date Reviewed September 2016
Version Number 5
Due for Review September 2018

National Quality Standard Elements

2.3: Each child is protected 2.3.1: Children are adequately supervised

at all times 7
2.3.2: Every reasonable precaution is taken
to protect children from harm and any
hazard likely to cause injury
2.3.4: Educators, co-ordinators and staff
members are aware of their roles and
responsibilities to respond to every child at
risk of abuse and neglect

3.1: The design and location of the 3.1.1: Outdoor and indoor spaces,
premises is appropriate for the operation buildings, furniture, equipment, facilities
of a service and resources are suitable for their
purpose
3.1.2: Premises, furniture and equipment
are safe, clean and well maintained
5.1 Respectful and equitable relationships 5.1.1 - Interactions with each child are
are developed and maintained with each warm, responsive and build trusting
child. relationships.
5.1.2 - Every child is able to engage with
educators in meaningful, open interactions
that support the acquisition of skills for life
and learning.
 5.1.3 - Each child is supported to feel
secure, confident and included.

 Yarra Ranges Council - Sherbrooke Children’s Centre Policies and Procedures

C 10 Child Safety & Wellbeing
6.2 Families are supported in their 6.2.2 - Current information is available to
parenting role and their values and beliefs families about community services and
about child rearing are respected. resources to support parenting and family
wellbeing.
6.3 The service collaborates with other 6.3.1 - Links with relevant community and
organisations and service providers to support agencies are established and
enhance children's learning and maintained.
wellbeing.

7.1: Effective leadership promotes a 7.1.2 - The induction of educators,

positive organisational culture and builds coordinators and staff members is
a professional learning community comprehensive.
 7.1.5: Adults working with children and
those engaged in management of the
service or residing on the premises are fit
and proper
7.3 Administrative systems enable the 7.3.1 - Records and information are stored
effective management of a quality service appropriately to ensure confidentiality, are
available from the service and are
maintained in accordance with legislative
requirements
7.3.3 - The Regulatory Authority is notified
of any relevant changes to the operation of
the service, of serious incidents and any
8
complaints which allege a breach of
legislation
7.3.5 - Service practices are based on
effectively documented policies and
procedures that are available at the service
and reviewed regularly

 Yarra Ranges Council - Sherbrooke Children’s Centre Policies and Procedures