WCC CHILD SAFETY INFORMATION & ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Warrnambool City Council is a Child Safe organisation. As a Child Safe organisation, all people connected with Council - Councillors, Council staff, volunteers and contractors - are required to commit to Child Safety & Wellbeing.
What is Child Safety & Wellbeing?
Child Safety & Wellbeing relates to the safety of children in our care, and to ensuring safe environments for children. Council has a zero tolerance for child abuse or harm. Council want all children and young people in our community to be safe, happy and thrive.
A Child Safe organisation recognises children are vulnerable and acts to protect them.
Child Safe Standards
At Council, we promote:
Everyone’s responsibility to ensure Child Safety & Wellbeing
Everyone’s responsibility to raise child safety concerns or allegations of child abuse
A culture where we listen to children respectfully, and advocate for their right to feel safe, valued and protected
Equal rights for all children and young people, to be protected from abuse regardless of: Gender identity, Ability, Race, Age, Sexual orientation, Religious beliefs, Family or Social background
The rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people to express cultural identity, to be supported to enjoy culture, and to feel their culture is valued and respected.
Child Safe Standards
Council has legal requirements to implement the Victorian Child Safe Standards - CCYP - Child Safe Standards Victoria
The Child Safe Standards aim to:
Promote the safety of children
Prevent child abuse
Ensure organisations have effective processes to respond to and report all allegations of child abuse
Provide support and respect to children with disability and children from diverse cultures
Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy
Warrnambool City Council’s Child Safety & Wellbeing Policy (available on PP HUB) contains information about how we provide safe environments for children and young people, and guidance on the reporting and response process. Volunteers, as part of the Council team, also have a legal responsibility to report and respond to any child safety concerns.
What is Child Abuse?
Child abuse is an act or an omission, which endangers a child’s health, wellbeing and/or development. Child abuse can occur anywhere – in the family, within an organisation, or in the community.
It is important that we understand the different forms of Child Abuse:
What Child Safety concerns need to be reported?
Child Safety concerns include any incident, suspicion or reasonable belief that a child’s safety may be at risk.
Concerns can include:
Disclosure of abuse or harm from the child
Disclosure of abuse or harm to someone else the child knows or witnesses
Any allegation, suspicion or observation – regarding the child’s welfare, health, or behaviour response to environment and/or people
Any inappropriate behaviour or breach of Code of Conduct – relating to colleagues, volunteers, or members of the public.
Concerns must be reported to your direct Supervisor, or to a Council Child Safety Officer.
Council takes all concerns seriously, and will respond promptly – including directing essential reports to other channels - such as Victoria Police, and/or Child Protection, and/or the Commission for Children and Young People.
Recognising Disclosures from children and young people
It is important that volunteers be aware that children may disclose their concerns in different ways:
Disclosure can be direct, or indirect, accidental, prompted, partial or full
Disclosure can come through words, behaviours or behavioural changes, non- verbal communication, drawings, writing letters, stories and play.
Responding to Disclosures
If the child is in immediate danger or requires medical assistance – CALL 000
Write down what the child tells you as soon as you can, using exact words. Take note of their behaviour and appearance at the time.
Contact your direct Supervisor or Council Child Safety Officer as soon as possible
Do not contact the child’s family or discuss your concerns with them
Do not discuss concerns with other unauthorised people
All concerns should be reported immediately – do not delay until another time or another day
Who do I report to at Council?
Volunteers can report concerns to their direct supervisor, or to one of Council’s Child Safety Officers listed below:
Director of Community Development
Manager of Children’s and Family Services
Service Manager Early Years Learning & Development
Service Manager Early Years Intervention & Support
Manager Governance, Property, Projects and Legal
Safety & Risk Management Coordinator
Manager of Organisation Development
Human Resources Coordinator
How do I report?
Contact your direct Supervisor, or Council Child Safety Officer in person or by phone. You will need to have a conversation with them, to make sure they have the information they need.
Please do not email or leave a voice mail – as you cannot be sure the person received your message. To contact Child Safety Officers - phone or visit main reception - City Assist 555 94 800 (business hours).
For afterhours support, contact your direct Supervisor Amanda Kenneally or program Manager Meg Deyell.
Volunteer Wellbeing
Please be mindful of your own wellbeing in these situations. If you have concerns that arise from Child Safety, need more support or if are impacted by the information provided here, please contact any of these support organisations:
Helpful Contacts:
Lifeline 131114 Lifeline – Crisis & support
1800 RESPECT 1800 737 732 Domestic, family & sexual violence
Blue Knot Helpline 1300 657 380 Adult survivors of childhood trauma
Q Life 1800 184 527 LGBTQI+ peer support
13 Yarn 13 92 76 ATSI support
Redress Helpline 1800 737 377 Institutional child sexual abuse
Kids Helpline 1800 551 800 Kids & young people (5 – 25 yrs)
Headspace 1800 650 850 Counselling & Mental Health (15/25 yrs)
Child Safety & Wellbeing Acknowledgement
Council requires that you acknowledge receiving this information, and that you can apply your understanding of Child Safety responsibilities within volunteer programs.
As a VOLUNTEER in the PP Program, I confirm that:
I have received information about Child Safety requirements at Council
I have access to, and will adhere to Council’s Child Safety & Wellbeing Policy (PP HUB)
I agree to report all Child Safety & Wellbeing concerns to a Council Child Safety Officer, and/or my direct Supervisor immediately
I understand the importance of maintaining a Child safe environment.
