St. Mary's Statement of Commitment to Child Safety 

St Mary’s is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people.  This is the focus of our care and decision making. 

St Mary’s has zero tolerance for child abuse.

St Mary’s 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.

St Mary’s pays particular attention to the cultural safety of all children and children from diverse backgrounds as well as the safety of children with a disability. 

Every person involved at St Mary’s has a responsibility to understand the important and specific role they play to ensure the wellbeing and safety of all children.

To achieve this the school actively promotes and enforces Child Safety strategies to ensure that any person involved in ‘child-connected work’ is aware of their obligations and responsibilities for ensuring the safety of all children under their care.

Child Safety Standards

1. 1. Culturally safe environments – Organisations establish a culturally safe environment in which the diverse and unique identities and experiences of Aboriginal children and young people are respected and valued.

   2. Leadership, governance and culture – Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in organisational leadership, governance and culture.

   3. Child and student empowerment – Children and young people are empowered about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.

   4. Family engagement – Families and communities are informed, and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing.

   5. Diversity and equity – Equity is upheld and diverse needs respected in policy and practice.

   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.

   7. Complaints processes – Processes for complaints and concerns are child focused.

   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.

   9. Child safety in physical and online environments – Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for children and young people to be harmed.

   10. Review of child safety practices – Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is regularly reviewed and improved.

   11. Implementation of child safety practices – Policies and procedures document how the organisation is safe for children and young people.

All policies related to Child Safety can be found under 'Policies' via the 'Community' tab on our home page.

CECV Commitment Statement of Commitment to Child Safety

All school policies related to Child Safety can be found on our Policies page, under the Community drop-down menu.