Child Safe Policy
Last updated: July 2021
This Policy was written to demonstrate the strong commitment AKC board, committee, artists and volunteers have to child safety.
Commitment to Child Safety
All children supported by AKC and participants of the artsbus have a right to feel safe. The welfare of the children we support will always be our first priority and we have zero tolerance towards child abuse. We expect all children to feel safe and undertake activities in a child friendly environment where they can feel safe and have fun.
Valuing Diversity
We value diversity and do not tolerate discriminatory practices.
Staff, Contractors, Fund Recipients, Committee & Volunteers
All AKC and artsbus employees, contractors, fund recipients, committee and volunteers with a direct involvement with AKC supported children, whether it be a committee member reading a grant application or a music teacher giving a lesson, is to have a current Working with Children Check. Staff that AKC directly employ for AKC initiated projects will need to undergo further reference checks and provide a police check.
We have an Employee / Volunteer Handbook to provide guidance to our employees, contractors, fund recipients, committee & volunteers.
Reporting a Child Safety Concern & Risk Management
Kylie Greer has been appointed as Child Safety Person with the specific responsibility for responding to and acting on any concerns. AKC and artsbus will report any concern or incident directly to the police. AKC recognise the importance of a risk management approach to minimising the potential for child abuse or harm to occur and use this to inform our policy, procedure and activity planning.
Commission for Children and Young People Seven Child Safe Standards
| The Standards | Current Strategies: AKC and artsbus |
| 1 Governance and Leadership |
✓ Kylie Greer is designated Child Safety Person
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| 2 Clear Commitment to child safety |
✓ Child Safe Policy in Agreement
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| 3 Code of Conduct | ✓ Expectations are established in Agreement
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| 4. Human Resource Practices | ✓ Requirement for WWCC ✓ Promoting child safety in PDs ✓ Volunteer application process ✓ Crimcheck for all new Volunteers |
5 Responding and Reporting
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✓ Complaints Policy in Employee Volunteer Agreement
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6 Risk Management
| ✓ arts bus risk assessment ✓ Volunteer training ✓ Registration form for Parent/ Guardian contact details and pick-up instructions
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| 7 Empowering Children | – mission of AKC is to empower through access to creativity – Provision of grants to children from diverse backgrounds – Free arts bus programs for children who may not have opportunity to otherwise access
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Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority principles (ACECQA)
The following principles of the ACECQA are central to AKC and artsbus:
- the rights and best interests of the child are paramount
- children are successful, competent and capable learners
- the principles of equity, inclusion and diversity underly the National Law
- that Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures are valued
- that the role of parents and families is respected and supported
- that best practice is expected in the provision of education and care services
Reviewing this Policy
This policy will be reviewed in six months.
