Child Safeguarding

The safety and wellbeing of children and young people is our most important responsibility.

We are proud to be a Child Safe organisation and to comply with the Victorian Child Safe Standards and National Child Safe Principles. This means our entire team strives for the highest possible standards in safeguarding children and young people from abuse and ensuring our programs and services create an environment where all children and young people are safe and inspired with the freedom to flourish.

Our detailed Child Safeguarding Policy and Framework and Code of Conduct govern our team in their behaviour towards, and in the presence of, children and young people to prevent potentially harmful behaviour.

Every single member of our team – including all staff, volunteers, Board members, suppliers and partners – are committed to providing a safe and nurturing environment for all children and young people whom we come into contact with in the community and in our programs and services.

In particular, we are committed to safeguarding children and young people participating in our programs from any form of sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional or psychological abuse or neglect.

Child Safeguarding Policy & Framework

Child Safety Standards of Behaviour

Keeping children and young people safe from harm is everyone’s responsibility – and we all have a duty of care to ensure that any form of abuse against a child is reported.

The Foundation has zero tolerance for any form of child abuse or maltreatment within the organisation and zero tolerance for not reporting any suspected abuse or maltreatment both internally and to external authorities including Police and Child Protection.

If you are concerned about the safety of a child or young person and you need to contact Child Protection, you can find their contact details relevant to your state here.

At the Foundation, we believe that all children and young people have the right to be safe and feel safe, and the right to tell us when they don’t feel safe or want to report an issue of concern – and for us to listen to them and take appropriate steps to make them feel safe.

Children and young people are active participants in our programs and services and we take their feedback, feelings and opinions seriously. We have developed information specifically for children and young people, so they understand these rights and know who to speak to if they don’t feel safe or if someone has harmed them.

We listen to children and young people. We welcome and encourage their feedback, as well as feedback from families, carers and educators participating in our programs and services. We also welcome and encourage feedback from our donors, supporters, partners, and members of the community.

We are always happy to hear what we are doing well, and we are just as keen to hear how we can improve.

We take complaints seriously

If you would like to make a complaint or have any feedback you would like to share, here's how you can do it:

• Phone our Supporter Care Team on 1300 720 747 
• Speak to a Foundation team member 
• Send us a message via our Feedback form
• Drop us a line at 387 City Road, South Melbourne Vic 3205 
• Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

If you have a concern or complaint about child safety, you can let us know by completing the form below or calling us on 1300 720 747 and asking to speak to our Child Safety Officer. You can also email [email protected].

Our Child Safety Officer will investigate the complain and take any appropriate action - including referring the matter to Police and/or Child Protection if appropriate.

If you would like to find out more about our Whistleblower procedure or to lodge a Whistleblower complaint, read our policy.