Safeguarding

At Scotch College we consider the health, safety and wellbeing of all children and young people to be our highest priority. The College’s commitment to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children and young people is clearly manifest in our Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy and Child Safety and Wellbeing Code of Conduct.  The College complies with the requirements of Ministerial Order 1359: Implementing the Child Safe Standards – Managing the Risk of Child Abuse in Schools and School Boarding Premises.   

Following a rigorous assessment and accreditation process, the College became an accredited organisation with the Australian Childhood Foundation in 2018. Click here for further information regarding the College’s accreditation and Safeguarding Programme.

In May, 2015, the Principal wrote to Old Boys noting the College’s desire for former students who had suffered trauma, including sexual abuse, to contact the College Psychologist. This remains the wish of the College. The College Psychologist, Nick Clark, can be contacted via nick.clark@scotch.vic.edu.au and on 9810 4287.

The College’s key Safeguarding policies, as required under Ministerial Order 1359, are the Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy and the Child Safety and Wellbeing Code of Conduct. These policies are publicly available and accessible via links below. Policies, guidelines and information for parents, students and staff are published on relevant portals. These documents collectively provide a framework that informs:

• the screening and recruitment of our personnel
• the behaviour of our personnel towards children and young people,
• the induction and training of our personnel about safeguarding children and young people and our reporting obligations,
• effective communication with children and young people and their parents,
• our responses to the abuse and neglect of children, and
• the maintenance of a safeguarding culture in the organisation.

Our teaching staff are required to:

• have current registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching which includes a national criminal history check,
• sign an agreement to abide by the Child Safety and Wellbeing Code of Conduct
• complete the Safeguarding Children online Course administered by the Australian Childhood Foundation, along with training as required under Ministerial Order 1359
• behave professionally and with care towards children and young people
• understand the important responsibility they have to protect children and young people from all forms of abuse, bullying and exploitation either by our personnel or that occurs outside the scope of our operations and services
• create and maintain a child safe culture.

Our support and operational staff and volunteers are required to:

• sign an agreement to abide by the Child Safety and Wellbeing Code of Conduct
• complete the Safeguarding Children online Course administered by the Australian Childhood Foundation, along with training as required under Ministerial Order 1359
• maintain a current Working With Children Check.
• maintain the highest standards of professional conduct towards children and young people.

The College considers any form of child abuse including emotional, physical and sexual abuse, family violence, grooming or neglect as intolerable under any circumstances.

The College has a legal, moral and mission driven responsibility to protect children and young people from harm and to ensure that any child abuse disclosure, incident or suspected child abuse is addressed appropriately and as promptly as possible. Our personnel are required to report incidents of child abuse, including disclosures and suspected child abuse, as required under our reporting obligations.

If a College staff member forms a reasonable belief that a child has been, or may be at risk of child abuse a report to child protection authorities or the police will proceed. The  College will co-operate with the child protection authorities and police and other agencies as required by law.

Scotch College embraces diversity and is committed to meeting the needs of every child in an environment where safety and respect for difference is paramount.

Katrina Brennan

Email: katrina.brennan@scotch.vic.edu.au
Phone: 03 9810 4259

How we support children in our care:

• Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy

How Scotch is committed to the establishment of an environment of safety:

• Safeguarding – Child Safety and Wellbeing Code of Conduct