Xavier College has developed the following Child Protection and Safety Policy. This policy is an overarching document that provides key elements of our approach to protecting children from abuse.
The policy forms the foundation of the College’s procedures, practices, decision-making processes and ultimately the College’s culture with respect to child safety.
It is designed to be published on our public website as well as communicated through other mediums such as newsletters, our annual report and in induction and welcome packs for College Board members, staff and Volunteers.
A PDF version of Xavier College's Child Protection and Safety Policy is available here.
The College’s Child Protection and Safety Policy has been approved and endorsed by the Xavier College Board and is regularly reviewed by the College.
The following is a Child Protection and Safety Policy that meets the guidelines set out in Standard 2 of the Victorian Child Safe Standards.
Objectives
This policy provides the framework for:
- the development of work systems, practices, policies and procedures that promote child protection within the College;
- the creation of a positive and robust child protection culture;
- the promotion and open discussion of child protection issues within the College; and
- compliance with all laws, regulations and standards relevant to child protection in Victoria.
Statement Of Commitment To Child Safety
At Xavier College we have a zero tolerance for child abuse and are committed to acting in children’s best interests and keeping them safe from harm. The College regards its child protection responsibilities with the utmost importance and as such, is committed to providing the necessary resources to ensure compliance with all relevant child protection laws and regulations and maintain a child safe culture.
Child abuse includes sexual offences, grooming, physical violence, serious emotional or psychological harm, serious neglect and a child’s exposure to family violence. Xavier College is committed to the protection of all children from all forms of child abuse and demonstrates this commitment through the implementation of a comprehensive Child Protection Program designed to keep children safe.
Child Safe Values & Principles
The College’s commitment to child safety is based on the following overarching principles that guide the development and regular review of our work systems, practices, policies and procedures to protect children from abuse.
- All children have the right to be safe.
- The welfare and best interests of the child are paramount.
- The views of the child and a child’s privacy must be respected.
- Clear expectations for appropriate behaviour with children are established in our Child Safety Code of Conduct and Staff and Student Professional Boundaries Policy.
- The safety of children is dependent upon the existence of a child safe culture.
- Child safety awareness is promoted and openly discussed within our College community.
- Procedures are in place to screen all staff, Direct Contact Volunteers** Third Party Contractors and External Education Providers who have direct contact with children.
- Child safety and protection is everyone's responsibility.
- Child protection training is mandatory for all College Board members, staff and Direct Contact Volunteers.
- Procedures for responding to alleged or suspected incidents of child abuse are simple and accessible for all members of the College community.
- Children from culturally or linguistically diverse backgrounds have the right to special care and support including those who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.
- Children who have any kind of disability have the right to special care and support.
**Direct Contact Volunteers are those volunteers who are involved in providing support, guidance and supervision directly to students and could potentially have direct contact with students during the normal course of providing the volunteer service.
The Working with Children Act 2005 (Vic) defines ‘direct contact’ as any contact between a person and a child (aged under 18) that involves:
- physical contact; or
- face to face contact; or
- contact by post or other written communication; or
- contact by telephone or other oral communication; or
- contact by email or other electronic communication.
Examples of Direct Contact Volunteer activities may include volunteers involved in College camps and excursions, coaching sporting teams or assisting in learning activities.
Child Protection Program
Xavier College is committed to the effective implementation of our Child Protection Program and ensuring that it is appropriately reviewed and updated. We adopt a risk management approach by identifying key risk indicators and assessing child safety risks based on a range of factors including the nature of our College's activities, physical and online environments and the characteristics of the student body.
Our Child Protection Program relates to all aspects of protecting children from abuse and establishes work systems, practices, policies and procedures to protect children from abuse. It includes:
- clear information as to what constitutes child abuse and associated key risk indicators;
- clear procedures for responding to and reporting allegations of child abuse;
- strategies to support, encourage and enable staff, Volunteers, Third Party Contractors, External Education Providers, parents and students to understand, identify, discuss and report child protection matters;
- procedures for recruiting and screening College Board members, staff and Direct Contact Volunteers;
- procedures for reporting reportable conduct and/or misconduct;
- pastoral care strategies designed to empower students and keep them safe;
- policies with respect to cultural diversity and students with disabilities;
- a child protection training program;
- information regarding the steps to take after a disclosure of abuse to protect, support and assist children;
- guidelines with respect to record keeping and confidentiality;
- policies to ensure compliance with all relevant laws, regulations and standards (including the Victorian Child Safe Standards); and
- a system for continuous review and improvement.
As a part of Xavier College’s induction process, all staff and Direct Contact Volunteers are required to complete a selection of training modules on the content of our Child Protection Program or undergo training through the Australian Childhood Foundation.
All staff, Direct Contact Volunteers and College Board members are provided with additional, ongoing child protection training at least annually.
Staff, Volunteers, Third Party Contractors and External Education Providers are supported and supervised by the College’s Child Safety Leads to ensure that they are compliant with the College’s approach to child protection.
Responsibilities
Child protection is everyone’s responsibility. At Xavier College all members of the College Board and staff, as well as Volunteers, have a shared responsibility for contributing to the safety and protection of children. Specific responsibilities include:
College Board
Each member of the College Board is required to ensure that appropriate resources are made available to allow the College’s Child Protection and Safety Policy and the Child Protection Program to be effectively implemented within the College and are responsible for holding the Principal and Management / Executive team accountable for effective implementation.
The Principal
The Principal is responsible, and will be accountable for, taking all practical measures to ensure that this Child Protection and Safety Policy and the College’s Child Protection Program are implemented effectively and that a strong and sustainable child protection culture is maintained within the College.
The College's Child Safety Leads
A number of key staff members are nominated as the College's Child Safety Leads. Our Child Safety Leads receive additional specialised training with respect to child protection issues. They are the first point of contact for raising child protection concerns within the College. They are also responsible for championing child protection within the College and assisting in coordinating responses to child protection incidents.
Staff Members
All staff are required to be familiar with the content of our Child Protection and Safety Policy and our Child Protection Program and their legal obligations with respect to the reporting of child abuse. It is each individual’s responsibility to be aware of key risk indicators of child abuse, to be observant, and to raise any concerns they may have relating to child abuse with one of the College’s Child Safety Leads.
Direct Contact Volunteers
All Direct Contact Volunteers, as defined in this policy, are required to be familiar with the content of our Child Protection and Safety Policy, our Child Protection Program and their legal obligations with respect to the reporting of child abuse.
It is each individual’s responsibility to be aware of key risk indicators of child abuse, to be observant, and to raise any concerns they may have relating to child abuse with one of the College’s Child Safety Leads.
Indirect Contact Volunteers
Indirect Contact Volunteers (or 'Indirect Volunteers') are those volunteers who are involved in providing support and services whilst not directly assisting a specific group of students.
All Indirect Volunteers are responsible for contributing to the safety and protection of children in the College environment.
All Indirect Volunteers are required by the College to be familiar with our Child Protection and Safety Policy and our Child Safety Code of Conduct.
Examples of Indirect Contact Volunteer activities may include assisting with College administrative functions.
Third Party Contractors
All Third Party Contractors (service providers) engaged by the College are responsible for contributing to the safety and protection of children in the College environment.
Third Party Contractors include, for example, maintenance and building personnel, consultants, casual teachers, tutors, sports coaches and college cleaners.
This also includes music teachers and other extra-curricular teachers and instructors who are engaged by students and their families directly, rather than the College, but have an agreement with the College to use the College’s facilities
Direct Contact Contractors
Direct Contact Contractors are:
- those who have direct contact** with students during the normal course of their work;
- those who may be in a position to establish a relationship of trust with a student notwithstanding that unsupervised access to students would be rare (for example full-time maintenance personnel); and
- any contractors whom a school is legally required to screen.
**The Working with Children Act 2005 (Vic) defines ‘direct contact’ as any contact between a person and a child (aged under 18) that involves:
- physical contact; or
- face to face contact; or
- contact by post or other written communication; or
- contact by telephone or other oral communication; or
- contact by email or other electronic communication.
Indirect Contact Contractors
Indirect Contact Contractors are those contractors who do not meet the definition of “Direct Contact Contractor”. Refer to Third Party Contractors’ Responsibilities for more information.
All service providers engaged by the College are required by the College to be familiar with our Child Protection and Safety Policy and our Child Protection Program.
The College may include this requirement in the written agreement between it and the service provider.
External Education Providers
An External Education Provider is any organisation that the College has arranged to deliver a specified course of study that is part of the curriculum, to a student or students enrolled at the College. The delivery of such a course may take place on College premises or elsewhere.
All External Education Providers engaged by the College are responsible for contributing to the safety and protection of children in the College environment.
All External Education Providers engaged by the College are required by the College to be familiar with our Child Protection and Safety Policy and our Child Protection Program.
Xavier College may include this requirement in the written agreement between it and the External Education Provider.
Reporting Child Protection Concerns
Our Child Protection Program provides detailed guidance for members of the College Board, staff and Direct Contact Volunteers as to how to identify key risk indicators of child abuse and how to report child abuse concerns to one of our College's nominated Child Safety Leads. It also contains detailed procedures with respect to the reporting of child abuse incidents to relevant authorities.
Staff, Third Party Contractors, External Education Providers, Volunteers, students, parents/guardians and other community members who have concerns that a child may be subject to abuse or grooming are asked to contact the relevant Campus' Senior Child Safety Lead.
Communications will be treated confidentially.
| Name | Campus | Position | Contact No | Email address |
| Jeremy Nicholls | Senior Campus | Head of Students | 03 9815 4882 | Jeremy.Nicholls@xavier.vic.edu.au |
| Maree Girolami | Burke Hall | Student Wellbeing Coordinator | 03 9855 4130 (Mob: 0418 139 653) |
Maree.Girolami@xavier.vic.edu.au |
| Stephen Findley | Kostka Hall | School Counsellor | 03 9519 0628 (Mob: 0428 487 863) |
Stephen.Findley@xavier.vic.edu.au |
Whenever there are concerns that a child is in immediate danger the Police should be called on 000.
Related Policies And Procedures
- Risk Management Program
- Compliance Program
- Human Resources Program
- Student Duty Of Care Program
- Occupational Health & Safety Program
- Child Protection Staff Training
- Recruitment & Selection Procedures
- Induction Procedures
Policy & Program Review
Xavier College is committed to the continuous improvement of our Child Protection Program. The Program is regularly reviewed for overall effectiveness and to ensure compliance with all child protection related laws, regulations and standards.
