- Purpose
- Scope
- Legislative Context
- Definitions
- Actions
- 1. Applying a risk management framework to minimise the potential for child abuse to occur
- 2. Adhering to University's Child Safe Code of Conduct
- 3. Focused actions to support unique identities and experiences of Aboriginal young people
- 4. Educating staff and students about their responsibilities in ensuring child safety
- 5. Managing child safety reports in a compliant and consistent manner
- 6. Promotion of the involvement and awareness of children
- Supporting documents
- Responsibility
- Promulgation
- Implementation
- Records Management
This procedure details how the University embeds a culture of ‘no tolerance’ for child abuse and implements the child safe standards across all areas of University operations. The Procedure provides advice regarding the University risk management framework, adherence to the University and external legislation, focused actions for Aboriginal young people, educating staff, managing complaints and promotion of awareness strategies. This procedure will ensure that the fundamental rights of all children to be safe from harm will be undertaken through the following:
- Preventing all forms of child abuse, identifying risks early, and removing / reducing those risks.
- Complying with the legal and moral obligations of the University Community in reporting allegations of child abuse, and alerting the appropriate authorities if there is a reasonable belief a child is in need of protection.
- Upholding the safety of all children, including Aboriginal children, children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds, children with a disability and from gender diverse and religious backgrounds.
- Providing regular training and education to members of the University Community on the risks of child abuse.
- Adverse risk associated with online presence (i.e. aligned to online learning and/or social media associated with the University).
This procedure aims to address the:
- ten principles outlined in the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations (Feb 2019); and,
- eleven standards outlined in the Child Safe Standards (Vic) (July 2022).
It is a shared and collective responsibility of all members of the University Community to create a child safe culture and environment.
This procedure applies to all interactions with children (<18 years of age) associated with the University.
- National Principles for Child Safe Organisations
- Child Safe Standards (Vic) (2022)
- Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 (Vic)
- Worker Screening Act 2020 (Vic)
- Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005 (Vic)
- Crimes Act 1958 (Vic)
- Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act)
- Federation University Australia Act 2010 (Vic)
- Federation University Australia Union Enterprise Agreement 2023 -2026
- Federation University Australia TAFE Teaching Staff Agreement 2019
- Australian Skills Quality Authority ASQA –Standards for RTO’s 2015
- Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority VRQA Minimum Standards 2019
Term | Definition |
Associated | This includes all children on University campus' and utilising learning in the online environment, including but not limited to students and children of staff and students. |
Child | means a person under the age of 18 years. |
Child Abuse |
Child abuse can include physical or sexual harm, grooming, emotional or psychological harm, neglect, or family violence. It does not have to involve physical contact or force. It can include online elements associated to the learning environment. Child abuse can include:
|
Child Safe Standards |
means the compulsory minimum standards (enacted pursuant to the Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005) which apply to organisations. The eleven Victorian Child Safe Standards (2022) are listed below: Child Safe 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 Child Safe Standard 2 – Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in organisational leadership, governance and culture Child Safe Standard 3 – Children and young people are empowered about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously Child Safe Standard 4 – Families and communities are informed, and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing Child Safe Standard 5 – Equity is upheld and diverse needs respected in policy and practice Child Safe Standard 6 – People working with children and young people are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice Child Safe Standard 7 – Processes for complaints and concerns are child focused Child Safe 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 Child Safe Standard 9 – Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for children and young people to be harmed Child Safe Standard 10 – Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is regularly reviewed and improved Child Safe Standard 11 – Policies and procedures document how the organisation is safe for children and young people |
Grooming | when a person engages in predatory conduct to prepare a child for sexual activity at a later time. Grooming can include communicating electronically or face-to-face and/or attempting to befriend or establish a relationship or other emotional connection with the child or their/parent carer. |
National Principles |
means the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations developed as a key national reform in response to recommendations from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse and endorsed by all Commonwealth, state and territory governments. The ten ??? are listed below: Principle 1 - Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in organisational leadership, governance and culture. Principle 2 - Children and young people are informed about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously. Principle 3 - Families and communities are informed and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing. Principle 4 - Equity is upheld and diverse needs respected in policy and practice. Principle 5 - People working with children and young people are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice. Principle 6 - Processes to respond to complaints and concerns are child focused. Principle 7 - Staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education and training. Principle 8 - Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for children and young people to be harmed. Principle 9 - Implementation of the national child safe principles is regularly reviewed and improved. Principle 10 - Policies and procedures document how the organisation is safe for children and young people. |
Reasonable belief |
A reasonable belief or a belief on reasonable grounds is not the same as having proof but is more than a mere rumour or speculation. A ‘reasonable belief’ is formed if a reasonable person in the same position would have formed the belief on the same grounds. For example, a ‘reasonable belief’ might be formed if:
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Working with Children Check | A legislative requirement and process of assessment as prescribed in the Worker Screening Act 2020 (Vic) and subsequent Regulations as amended from time to time. |
University Community |
The University Community includes the following people and organisations:
|
Activity | Responsibility | Steps | |
A. | Developing and implementing strategies to identify and remove or reduce risks of child abuse. | Chief Operating Officer |
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Pro Vice-Chancellors Executive Deans Deans Deputy Deans Directors |
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Deputy Vice-Chancellors and Pro Vice-Chancellors Chief Operating Officer (COO) Manager, Risk |
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B. | Utilising child safe recruitment practices. | Recruiting supervisor and People and Culture Selection Chair Panel |
|
Activity | Responsibility | Steps | |
A. | Adhering to the University’s Child Safe Code of Conduct. | All members of the University Community | Read and follow all the aspects of the University’s Child Safe Code of Conduct. |
B. | Adhere to all internal university policies, procedures, reporting frameworks and external legislative standards and requirements. |
All members of the University Community Executive Deans/Deans Directors/Managers |
|
Activity | Responsibility | Steps | |
A. | Supporting Aboriginal children and young people to express their culture. |
Director, People and Culture Executive Deans/Deans Directors/Managers |
Note: Institutional plans must have evidence of engagement with relevant communities and families for the purpose of creating a child safe environment. |
B. | Ensuring all staff and volunteers receive relevant cultural training so they have an understanding of Aboriginal culture, and an appreciation for culturally sensitive issues. |
Director, People and Culture Executive Deans/Deans Directors/Managers |
|
C. | Identifying and addressing incidences of racism with the involvement of Aboriginal children and young people, and their families, and |
Director, People and Culture Executive Deans/Deans Directors/Managers |
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D. | Ensuring the organisation’s policies, procedures, systems, processes and measures create a culturally safe and inclusive environment for Aboriginal children and young people. | All members of the University Community |
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Activity | Responsibility | Steps | |
A. | Ensuring all new employees are provided with an overview of the Child Safe Standards and the University’s commitment to child safety. | Director, People and Culture |
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B. | Ongoing training for all employees. | Director, People and Culture |
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C. | Information provided to students regarding expectations and processes aligned to child safe practices and logging a complaint. |
Dean, Students and Registrar Executive Deans |
|
Activity | Responsibility | Steps | |
A. | Responding to an emergency on University Campuses, in University activities or online where a child has just been abused or is at immediate risk of harm. | Any person at the scene |
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B. | Responding to an incident, disclosure or suspicion of child abuse. | Any member of the University Community over 18 years. |
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C. | Mandatory reporting to authorities by designated professionals where through the course of their profession or employment a reasonable belief is formed that a child is at significant risk of harm and in need of protection from physical injury or sexual abuse. |
Designated professionals under the Children Youth and Families Act 2005. The following are categories mandatory reporters in Victoria that are typically associated with Federation University:
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D. | Reporting to authorities where a reasonable belief is formed that a child is in need of protection. | Any member of the University Community over 18 years. |
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E. | Reporting to authorities where a reasonable belief is formed that a sexual offence has been committed by an adult against a child under 16. | Any member of the University Community over 18 years. |
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F. | Contacting parents/carers. | Deputy Vice-Chancellor/Pro Vice-Chancellor/Executive Deans/Deans/Directors. |
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G. | Removing someone from the University Community who poses a substantial risk. | Deputy Vice-Chancellor/ Pro Vice-Chancellor/Chief Operating Officer (in consultation with the Legal Office and Director, People and Culture). |
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H. | Investigating allegations against a FedUni staff member, volunteer, contractor or officeholder. | Legal Office/People and Culture. |
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I. | Providing on-going support. | Executive Deans/Deans/Directors/Managers/Student Registrar. |
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J. | Students logging a complaint or concern. | All students |
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Activity | Responsibility | Steps | |
A. | Increase staff and students’ awareness of the University Child Safe Procedure. |
Director, People and Culture, Legal Office Registrar Director, People and Culture |
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Internal Documents:
- People and Culture Policy
- ???
- Children in University Activities Procedure
- Risk Management Framework Procedure
- Equal Opportunity and Valuing Diversity Guidelines
- Health and Safety Operations Manual
- Security Procedure
- Student Sexual Harm Procedure
- Continuing and Fixed-Term Recruitment and Appointment Procedure
- Working With Children (WWC) Check Procedure
External Documents:
- Report Recording Document - PROTECT Responding to Suspected Child Abuse: A Template for all Victorian Schools
- Four Critical Actions for VET & Higher Education Providers (PDF136.3kb)
- Child Safe Standards - Guidance for TAFEs & RTOs (DFFH)
- Child Safe Standards - Guidance for Universities (DFFH)
- ???
- ???) - Tip Sheet for Child Safe Organisations
Forms
- HIRAC Child Safety (PDF 230.5kb)
- Chief Operating Officer (as the Approval Authority) is responsible for monitoring the implementation, outcomes and scheduled review of this procedure.
- Head of Legal (as the Document Owner) is responsible for maintaining the content of this procedure as delegated by the Chief Operating Officer.
The Child Safe Procedure will be communicated throughout the University community in the form of:
- an Announcement Notice via FedNews website and on the ‘Recently Approved Documents’ page on the ‘Policies, Procedures and Forms @ the University’ website to alert the University-wide community of the approved procedure; and
- distribution of e-mails to Deputy Vice-Chancellors, Pro Vice-Chancellors, Deans, Executive Deans and Directors.
The Child Safe Procedure will be implemented throughout the University via:
- an Announcement Notice via FedNews website, FedEngage and on the ‘Recently Approved Documents’ page on the ‘Policies, Procedures and Forms @ the University’ website to alert the University-wide community of the approved procedure;
- staff induction sessions
- training sessions
Document Title | Location | Responsible Officer | Minimum Retention Period |
HIRAC for Child Safety | Relevant Institute or Directorate | Deputy Vice-Chancellor / Executive Dean / Director. | 7 Years |
PROTECT Responding to Suspected Child Abuse: A Template for all Victorian Schools | Head of Legal | Director, Governance, Legal and Risk | Permanent retention |