CHILD SAFE ADVOCATE ROLE

I would like to introduce myself and let you know a little about this role. I have been trained and am familiar with the Child Safe Standards which have been designed by the Office of the Children's Guardian. This role is close to my heart and sits comfortably with my role as AP and Yr 4 teacher. Please reach out if you would like more information or have any concerns or issues you would like to discuss

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (the Royal Commission) shone a spotlight on thousands of cases where organisations in Australia failed to protect children in their care from abuse. It highlighted that abuse that occurs within an organisational context is not just a problem of the past, it continues today. Many victims and survivors were motivated to tell their stories to the inquiry, to prevent harm to children now and into the future.

The Child Safe Standards recommended by the Royal Commission provide a framework for making organisations safer for children. They have been accepted by the NSW government. Based on extensive research and consultation, the Standards provide tangible guidance for organisations to create cultures, adopt strategies and act to put the interests of children first, to keep them safe from harm.

The Standards have been designed to:
• help drive cultural change in organisations
• be principle-based and outcome-focused
• be flexible enough that they can be adapted by
organisations of varying sizes and characteristics
• avoid placing undue burden on organisations
• help organisations address multiple risks
• balance caution and caring
• be a benchmark against which organisations
can assess their child safe capability and set
performance targets
• be of equal importance and interrelated.

A child safe culture is a set of values and practices that guide the attitudes and behaviour of all staff.
Good leaders champion these values and embed them in organisational governance.

The following values should be at the heart of any approach that prioritises
children’s safety:
• The best interests of children and their protection from harm is paramount.
• Child abuse is not tolerated and must not happen.
• Children’s rights are understood and respected.
• Concerns about child safety raised by children and their parents and carers are acted on.
• Reporting abuse is not obstructed or prevented.

Our school shares a responsibility with everyone working in NSW to care for and keep children safe. In this space I plan to share strategies and tips as to how you can keep your children safe from harm.