Child Safe Standards

Council, its leaders, staff and volunteers to are committed to child safety and to creating a child safe organisation that is consistent with the Child Safe Standards. Council will implement and maintain the Child Safe Standards as listed below:

• Standard 1

  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.

• Standard 2

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

• Standard 3

  Children and young people are empowered about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.

• Standard 4

  Families and communities are informed and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing.

• Standard 5

  Equity is upheld and diverse needs respected in policy and practice.

• Standard 6

  People working with children and young people are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice.

• Standard 7

  Processes for complaints and concerns are child-focused.

• Standard 8

  Staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education and training.

• Standard 9

  Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for children and young people to be harmed.

• Standard 10

  Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is regularly reviewed and improved.

• Standard 11

  Policies and procedures document how the organisation is safe for children and young people.

Council makes the following Statement of Commitment in relation to child safety:

Mildura Rural City Council is committed to child safety. We want children to be safe, happy and empowered. We support and respect all children, as well as our employees and volunteers.

We are committed to the safety, participation and empowerment of all children.

We have zero tolerance of child abuse, and all allegations and safety concerns will be treated very seriously and consistently with our robust policies and procedures.

We have legal and moral obligations to contact authorities when we are worried about a child’s safety, which we follow rigorously.

Mildura Rural City Council is committed to preventing child abuse and identifying risks early, and removing and reducing these risks.

Mildura Rural City Council has robust human resources and recruitment practices for all employees and volunteers.

We are committed to the cultural safety of Aboriginal children, the cultural safety of children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds, and in providing a safe environment for children with disability.

We have specific policies, procedures and training in place that support our leadership team, employees and volunteers to achieve these commitments.

If you believe a child is at immediate risk of abuse phone 000.

Reporting suspected abuse

If you suspect a child has been abused, is at risk of being abused or that a person is engaging in inappropriate behaviours with a child, you have a responsibility to make a report.  If this behaviour relates directly to a Council staff member please contact Council's Early Years Coordinator who acts as our Child Safety Officer on 5018 8100.

You can also make a report directly to the Commission for Children and Young People about Council Staff or any other person of concern online at https://ccyp.vic.gov.au/contact-us/ or the following numbers:

     Phone: 1300 78 29 78 (Answered 9.00am–5.00pm, local call from landline)
     Fax: (03) 8601 5877
     Email: contact@ccyp.vic.gov.au

     Child Protection Crisis Line on 13 12 78