Children who’ve experienced extreme violence, urgently need your help.
1. Introduction
The Alannah & Madeline Foundation is committed to protecting children from violence. This includes complying with the requirements and spirit of Victoria’s Child Safe Standards. All concerns, disclosures, allegations or complaints relating to abuse and/or inappropriate behaviour towards children and young people are taken seriously and responded to promptly. This includes reporting to relevant authorities, recording on the Child Safety Report – Form, an internal investigation if necessary, and actions as appropriate to prevent or minimise the risk of harm to children.
This policy & procedure document has been prepared to ensure that all Foundation employees and volunteers:
2. Background & context
Under the Child Safe Standards, a duty of care exists for the Board, employees and volunteers in their relationship with children involved with the Foundation. This duty of care is a moral and legal responsibility to ensure that no child is harmed through negligence or omission (or failure to act) by any person employed by or volunteering with the Foundation.
This duty of care means that child safety, protecting children and reporting child abuse is the responsibility of all the Foundation’s Board members, employees and volunteers.
‘Failure to disclose’ is also a criminal offence that requires all adults (aged 18 and over) who hold a reasonable belief that a sexual offence has been committed in Victoria by an adult against a child under 16 to disclose that information to police (unless they have a reasonable excuse not to, for example because they fear for their safety or the safety of another).
In addition, the ‘failure to protect’ criminal offence applies where there is a substantial risk that a child under the age of 16 under the care, supervision or authority of a relevant organisation will become a victim of a sexual offence committed by an adult associated with that organisation. A person in a position of authority in the organisation will commit the offence if they know of the risk of abuse and have the power or responsibility to reduce or remove the risk, but negligently fail to do so.
It is the responsibility of all Foundation employees and volunteers to report child abuse or risk of harm to a child to relevant authorities, the Child Safety Contact and the Chief Operating Officer, both verbally and (internally) by completing the Child Safety Report – Form.
If you believe the child is at immediate risk of abuse, phone 000.
3. Scope
This policy & procedures document applies to the Foundation Board and all Foundation employees and volunteers. It covers all aspects of child abuse including:
For more information about these forms of abuse, see Attachment 1 of this policy & procedure document.
4. Procedures
In all instances of:
the following steps must be taken:
You need to be aware that some people from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds may face barriers in reporting allegations of abuse. For example, people from some cultures may experience anxiety when talking with police, and communicating in English may be a barrier for some. You need to be sensitive to these issues and meet people’s needs where possible, such as having an interpreter present (who could be a friend or family member).
If an allegation of abuse involves an Aboriginal child, you will need to ensure a culturally appropriate response. A way to help ensure this could include engaging with parents of Aboriginal children, local Aboriginal communities or Aboriginal community-controlled organisations to review policies and procedures.
Some children with a disability may experience barriers disclosing an incident. For example, children with hearing or cognitive impairments may need support to help them explain the incident, including through sign language.
All efforts must be made to ensure that children from diverse backgrounds and with diverse needs are kept safe, and that they and their families are kept informed (as appropriate) when issues of the child’s or children’s safety are raised.
5. Failure to comply
An employee, volunteer or contractor who breaches this policy will be subject to disciplinary procedures which can include termination of employment/engagement.
6. Reference documents
This policy should be read in conjunction with the following Foundation documents:
7. Relevant legislation
Attachment 1: definitions and information about child abuse
Note: The indicators included here are possible indicators. The presence or absence of physical or behavioural indicators does not on its own confirm that abuse has or has not occurred.
Physical violence: when a child suffers, or is likely to suffer, significant harm from a non-accidental injury or injuries inflicted by another person. Physical violence can be inflicted in many ways, including beating, shaking, burning or use of weapons (such as, belts and paddles).
Possible physical indicators include:
Possible behavioural indicators include:
Sexual offences: when a person involves the child in sexual activity, or deliberately puts the child in the presence of sexual behaviours that are exploitative or inappropriate to his/her age and development. Child sexual abuse can involve a range of sexual activity including fondling, masturbation, penetration, voyeurism and exhibitionism. It can also include exposure to, or exploitation through, pornography or prostitution.
Possible physical indicators include:
Possible behavioural indicators include:
Emotional or psychological abuse: when harm is inflicted on a child through repeated rejection, isolation, or by threats or violence. It can include derogatory name-calling and put-downs, or persistent and deliberate coldness from a person, to the extent where the behaviour of the child is disturbed, or their emotional development is at serious risk of being impaired. Serious emotional or psychological abuse could also result from conduct that exploits a child without necessarily being criminal, such as encouraging a child to engage in inappropriate or risky behaviours.
Possible physical indicators include:
Possible behavioural indicators include:
Serious neglect: the continued failure to provide a child with the basic necessities of life, such as food, clothing, shelter, hygiene, medical attention or adequate supervision, to the extent that the child’s health, safety and/or development is, or is likely to be, jeopardised. Serious neglect can also occur if an adult fails to adequately ensure the safety of a child where the child is exposed to extremely dangerous or life-threatening situations.
Possible physical indicators include:
Possible behavioural indicators include:
If you believe that a child is at immediate risk of abuse, phone 000.