Safeguarding children

We have created a Safeguarding Children Policy that applies to all of our staff and representatives.

The safety of children and young people is everyone’s responsibility.

If you believe a child is in immediate danger call the police on 000 (triple zero).

Darebin City Council prides itself on being a child safe organisation with zero tolerance for child abuse.

We recognise our legal and moral responsibilities to keep children and young people safe from harm

• We promote their health and well-being and support their best interests
• We have policies, procedures, and training in place that support our leadership team, employees and volunteers to achieve these commitments.

Child Safe Standards

The Darebin City Council is required by law to implement Child Safe Standards in order to protect children from harm.

The standards were recommended by the government’s parliamentary inquiry into the handling of child abuse by religious and other non-government organisations and are established under the Child Wellbeing and Safety Act (2005). They aim to ensure that organisations are well prepared to protect children from sexual, physical, emotional, and psychological abuse. It also covers serious neglect of children under the age of 18 years.

The Child Safe Standards are a set of eleven standards that aim to create and maintain child safe environments.

The purpose of the Child Safe Standards

The Child Safe Standards aim to:

• Promote the safety of children
• Prevent child abuse
• Ensure organisations and businesses have effective processes in place to respond to - and report all - allegations of child abuse

The Child Safe Standards work by:

• Driving changes in organisational culture – embedding child safety in everyday thinking and practice
• Providing a minimum standard of child safety across all organisations
• Highlighting that we all have a role to keep children safe from abuse

Child safety and those most at risk

Although all children are vulnerable, some face extra vulnerabilities. The standards provide three overarching principles that organisations must consider:

• The cultural safety of Aboriginal children
• The cultural safety of children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds
• The safety of children with a disability
• The cultural safety of LGBTIQ children

What is child abuse?

The Child Safe Standards aim to protect children from abuse in organisations. Under the Act, child abuse includes the following categories of abuse:

• Physical violence
• Sexual offences
• Serious emotional or psychological abuse
• Serious neglect

What should be reported?

Any child safety concerns, such as:

• Disclosure of abuse or harm
• Allegation of suspicion or observation
• Breach of Code of Conduct relating to child safety
• Environmental safety issues

How to report concerning conduct

If you are concerned about the conduct of a Darebin staff member, volunteer or work experience students towards a child, report it:

City of Darebin Child Safe Officer

Phone: 03 8470 8575
Email: childsafety@darebin.vic.gov.au

If you are concerned about the conduct of a community member towards a child there are a number of organisations you can contact:

Support services and resources

Please know that there are many other services that survivors of abuse, along with those concerned about others, can reach out to for confidential assistance and support.

Lifeline (24 hours)

Lifeline is a suicide prevention service, providing all Australians experiencing a personal crisis with access to 24-hour crisis support.

Open 24 hours

Website: lifeline.org.au
Phone: 131 114

Kids Helpline

Kids Helpline is a free, confidential and private counselling service specifically for children and young people aged 5 to 25 years. You can speak to them over the phone, via email, or even on-line live chat.

Open 24 hours

Website: kidshelpline.com.au
Phone: 1800 551 800

Commission for Children and Young People

The commission promotes improvement in policies and practices affecting the safety and wellbeing of Victorian children and young people. We have a particular focus on vulnerable children and young people.

Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

Website: ccyp.vic.gov.au
Phone: 03 8601 5884

National Redress Scheme

The National Redress Scheme provides support to people who experienced institutional child sexual abuse.

Website: nationalredress.gov.au
Phone: 1800 737 377

SAMSN (Survivors and Mates Support Network)

Support for male survivors of child sexual abuse

Website: samsn.org.au
Phone: 1800 472 676

Speak Up Its your right Poster

Information sheets

Information for parents and carers about the Child Safe Standards(PDF, 266KB)

Speak up – it’s your right(PDF, 330KB)

Teach your child how to keep themselves safe(PDF, 189KB)

What to look for in a child safe organisation(PDF, 335KB)