Child Safe Standards at Carranballac P-9 College

Protecting the safety and wellbeing of children enrolled at Carranballac College is our highest priority. Families put their trust in the Leadership, staff, volunteers and external providers to keep their children safe as they learn. We know students learn best when they feel they are in a safe and supportive environment.

Carranballac College has five Child Safe Officers. You can contact the Early Years and Middle Years Assistant Principals at each Campus, and the Wellbeing Team Leader. If you need to contact a Carranballac Child Safe Officer, please telephone the College Office on 93953533 and ask for the Officer you wish to speak to.

As required by Ministerial Order 870 all schools are required to:

have a zero tolerance for child abuse
demonstrate commitment to providing a child safe environment
have systems to protect children from abuse, and take all allegations and concerns seriously with the commitment to respond to them consistently in line with the Schools policies and procedures
be committed to raising awareness of the importance of child safety
actively work to listen to and empower children
promote the cultural safety of Aboriginal children, children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds and children with a disability

In response to the Ministerial Order, the Victorian Government has introduced seven Child Safe Standards across all organisations in the Victorian communities where children spend time.

These standards will:

build a stronger and more consistent approach to preventing and responding to child abuse
support the empowerment of all students
embed a culture of child safety at Carranballac College

Schools should be the safest place for children after the family home, and these new standards will support the work that School staff do to maintain the safety and security of our children.

Child Safe Standards will build on existing School Policies, and strengthen the work across Victorian early years services. Carranballac P-9 College is committed to the protection of all children from all forms of child abuse. Meeting the Standards is about considering the needs of all children, particularly those who may be vulnerable due to age, family circumstances, abilities, or indigenous, cultural or linguistic backgrounds.

Carranballac P-9 College is embedding a culture of Child Safety at the school in numerous ways already.

Over seven weeks, the Carranballac Child Safe Standards will be released one at a time in order to provide families, staff and School Council members the opportunity to read and respond with valid feedback concerning each Child Safe Standard. Brief Feedback forms will be uploaded and listed below each Standard as it is released.

To create and maintain a child safe organisation Carranballac P-9 College will be implementing, reviewing and improving each of the standards as below:

Standard 1 – Strategies to embed an organisational culture of child safety, including thorough effective leadership arrangements.

Standard 2 – Child Safe Policy

Standard 3 – Child Safe Code of Conduct

Standard 4 – Screening, Supervision and Training for New and Existing Personnel

Standard 5 – Processes for Responding to and Reporting Suspected Child Abuse

Standard 6 – Strategies to Identify and Reduce or Remove Risks of Child Abuse

Standard 7 – Strategies to Promote the Participation and Empowerment of Children