Statement of Commitment to Child Safety
What are the Child Safe Standards?
The Victorian Child Safe Standards are a compulsory framework that supports organisations to promote the safety of children by requiring them to implement policies to prevent, respond to and report allegations of child abuse and harm. In Victoria, the legislation that creates the Standards is the Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005 (Vic). The Standards are designed to drive cultural change and embed a focus on child safety by placing children’s rights and wellbeing at the forefront of everything done within an organisation. New updated Standards were released by the Victorian Government in 2021 and apply from 1 July 2022.
Organisations in Victoria are usually required to comply with the Standards if they do one or more of the following:
- provide any services specifically for children,
- provide any facilities specifically for use by children who are under the organisation’s supervision, or
- engage a child as a contractor, employee or volunteer to assist the organisation in providing services, facilities or goods.
For those required to comply, the Standards are law and are mandatory within Victoria. Organisations must comply with all aspects of the Standards and there can be legal consequences for non-compliance. All organisations, even those not legally required to implement the Standards, are strongly encouraged to review how they interact with children and how they support children’s safety.
The standards aim to drive cultural change so that keeping children safe from abuse is at the forefront of all practice.
There are 11 standards that organisations need to implement. For further information on Child Safe Standards, visit the Commission for Children and Young People.
Prevention United’s statement of commitment to child safety
Prevention United is a child safe organisation which welcomes all children, young people and their parents/guardians/carers. We are committed to providing environments where children are safe and feel safe, where their participation is valued, their views respected, and their voices are heard about decisions that affect their lives. Our child safe policies, strategies and practices are inclusive of the needs of all children. We have no tolerance for child abuse and take proactive steps to identify and manage any risks of harm to children who interact with Prevention United. We promote positive relationships between children and adults and between children and their peers. These relationships are based on trust and respect.
As part of the Child Safe Standards, we commit to:
- preventing the abuse of children and young people we work with, by identifying risks early and removing and reducing these risks.
- taking all allegations and concerns about abuse very seriously and responding to them consistently, in line with our policies and procedures.
- complying with all legal requirements, including reporting suspicions of abuse to police and/or child protection.
We take proactive steps to identify and manage any risk of harm to children who interact with Prevention United. When child safety concerns are raised or identified, we will treat these seriously and respond promptly according to our documented policies and procedures. Particular attention is given to the child safety needs of Aboriginal children, those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, children with disabilities, those unable to live at home, children and young people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender diverse, intersex, queer and asexual (LGBTIQA+) and other children experiencing risk or vulnerability. Inappropriate or harmful behaviour targeting children based on these or other characteristics, such as racism, bigotry or homophobia, are not tolerated at Prevention United, and any instances identified will be addressed, in line with relevant policies and procedures.
Child safety is a shared responsibility. Every person involved in Prevention United plays a fundamental role in promoting child safety and wellbeing and promptly raising any issues or concerns about a child’s safety. We are committed to regularly reviewing our child safe practices, and seeking input from children, parents/guardians/carers, staff, and volunteers to inform our ongoing strategies.
Safety concerns about a child or young person
If you have immediate safety concerns about a child or young person, please call 000.
If you have general safety concerns about a child or young person, please contact the Child Protection intake office where the child lives.
After 5pm and on weekends, contact the Child Protection After Hours service on 13 12 78.
If you need information about making a formal report or notification to the Commission for Children and Young People, please see their Report a Concern or Allegation page.
If you have a concern about the safety of children or young people engaged with Prevention United, or you have a concern about any of our employees or volunteers, please contact our CEO Dr Stephen Carbone at info@preventionunited.org.au
Complaints about Prevention United
If you wish to make a complaint about Prevention United – not a complaint about another agency or organisation – please contact our CEO Dr Stephen Carbone at info@preventionunited.org.au and we will provide further advice about your formal options in directing your complaint for appropriate consideration, in line with our Child Safety Complaints and Reporting Policy and Procedure.
