1.0 Why am I reading this?
Each wants children to be safe, welcome and listened to. This child-friendly Policy uses simple words to explain what we do.
This is for you. You have the right to be safe, be treated kindly and be heard. If something feels wrong, tell a safe adult. We will listen and help.
2.0 What you need to know
We will try to keep you safe at Each, in the Community, online and when we visit you.
2.1 Our promise to you
- You should feel safe with our workers.
- No one should hurt you, scare you, bully you or leave you out.
- We will listen if you say “no”, “stop”, “I’m worried” or “I need help,” if we don’t listen when you say these things it is really important you tell speak to an adult you trust.
- We will help if something feels wrong.
2.2 What child safety means
Child safety means adults help keep children safe. We look for unsafe things and fix them when we can.
2.3 What we will do
- We will be kind.
- We will explain things clearly.
- We will help you ask questions.
- We will help you speak up.
- We will keep your information safe.
2.4 Everyone belongs
You belong at Each. It does not matter what you look like, where your family comes from, what languages you speak, what your body or brain needs, or who you love.
Examples: you can ask for quiet time, an interpreter, a different way to talk, or a trusted person to sit with you.
- We will not accept unkind or unfair treatment toward you or your family/the people that look after you.
- We will ask what helps you feel safe and included.
2.5 Safe people, places and online spaces
- We check that our workers haven’t done anything bad, particularly toward children, before they work at Each.
- Our workers learn how to keep children safe.
- We watch for unsafe things, like broken equipment, unsafe games or online worries.
- If something goes wrong, we act.
We ask before taking photos or videos. If someone does not ask or something online worries you, tell us.
2.6 Speaking up
You can speak up about anything. Examples: someone is being mean, you feel left out, a game feels unsafe, someone takes your photo without asking, a message online worries you, or an adult does something that does not feel okay, particularly surrounding your body parts you use when you go to the toilet.
Tell an Each worker, parent, carer, teacher or another safe adult you trust.
What to do if you feel unsafe:
- Move away if you can.
- Find a safe adult.
- Say or show what happened.
- In an emergency, ask an adult to call 000.
You are not in trouble for telling.
- We will listen.
- We will be kind.
- We will help make things safer.
- Sometimes we may tell other helpers if we need to keep you or other children safe.
2.7 Keeping information safe
We keep your information safe. We only share it when we must or when it helps keep you or someone else safe.
2.8 We keep learning
We listen and keep learning so Each can be safer for children.
3.0 Words you might see
Safe adult: An adult you trust who listens and helps.
Speaking up: Telling someone when something feels wrong.
Personal information: Information about you, like your name or support needs.
Unfair treatment: Being treated badly or left out because of who you are.
4.0 Document owner
The Child Safe and Family Violence Lead is responsible for reviewing this document.
5.0 References and related documents
5.1 Related Each documents
- Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy – Young Peoples, Families and Communities
5.2 External sources, resources, standards, regulation and law
- National Principles for Child Safe Organisations, National Office for Child Safety
- Queensland Child Safe Standards
- New South Wales Child Safe Standards
- Australian Capital Territory Child Safe Standards Scheme
- Victoria Child Safe Standards
- Tasmania Child and Youth Safe Standards