Child Safe Standards

In 2015, the State Government introduced a set of national child safe standards for organisations regulated or funded by government that provide services for children.

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 abuse and neglect.

Our statement of commitment
Melton City Council is committed to being a Child Safe organisation and has zero tolerance for child abuse.  

We want all children to feel and be safe, supported, respected, included and heard in the City of Melton.

The welfare of children attending Melton City Council events, services and community spaces is paramount and our legal and moral obligations to children are at the forefront of everything we do. 

Our Child Safe Strategy guarantees children in the City of Melton an environment that promotes child-safe and child-friendly practices.

For Children
We will prevent child abuse by identifying risks early and removing and reducing these risks.

 We will treat allegations of child safety concerns seriously and respond appropriately.

 We will contact authorities when there are reasonable concerns about a child’s safety.

 We will ensure the cultural safety of all children, including Aboriginal children, children from a culturally or linguistically diverse background and children with a disability.

We will maintain recruitment practices that consistently select staff, volunteers and labour hire contractors who do not pose a risk to children’s safety.

For Staff, Volunteers, Councillors and Organisations
We will train and educate our staff and volunteers about child safety and child abuse so they are aware of their obligations.

We require that Councillors, employees, volunteers, organisations and others associated with Council understand and follow child-safe principles and expectations for appropriate behaviour towards, and in the company of children.

 

Learn more about the Victorian Child Safety Standards