Safeguarding children
We have created a Safeguarding Children Policy(PDF, 241KB) 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 wellbeing 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:
Darebin City Council
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:
| Situation |
You should contact |
| You see or hear something that is concerning, and you are not sure what to do or who to tell |
Commission for Children and Young People
Phone: 1300 782 978
Email: contact@ccyp.vic.gov.au
Website: ccyp.vic.gov.au |
| You receive a disclosure from a child about abuse or neglect, or observe indications of abuse or neglect |
Department of Health and Human Services, Child Protection
Phone: 1300 664 977
Website: dhhs.vic.gov.au |
| You have formed a reasonable belief that a child is experiencing abuse |
Victoria Police
Phone: 000
Website: police.vic.gov.au |
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)