We are committed to creating and maintaining an environment that promotes the safety of all children. This includes encouraging a culture where the prevention and reporting of abuse is supported and encouraged. All committee members, employees, contractors and volunteers are responsible for promoting the safety, wellbeing and empowerment of children.
This Code of Conduct sets expectations for how adults in the KNYP should behave around children. This is important to help prevent children from being harmed. Child abuse takes many forms and can include physical, sexual and psychological abuse, ill-treatment and neglect. Our Child Safe Policy provides more information about these different types of abuse.
This Code of Conduct identifies positive child safe behaviours that we encourage all adults to support.
It also identifies behaviours that we consider unacceptable.
Engaging in unacceptable behaviour is a breach of this Code of Conduct and may result in managerial or disciplinary action.
All committee members, contractors, employees, volunteers, families and community members are encouraged to speak up if they have concerns about the safety of children.
Complaints about a breach of this Code of Conduct must be reported to Project Manager, Christine Anderson on 0458 366 543 or via her email:anderson4rotary@gmail.com.
Some breaches of this Code of Conduct may need reporting to Victoria Police and/or Child Protection Services.
Staff and volunteers who breach our Code of Conduct may be subject to disciplinary action. This can include suspension or termination from the KNYP.
PLEASE NOTE:
An adult in child-related work in an organisation will commit an offence if they know another adult there poses a serious risk of abusing a child (under 18 years), and they have the power to reduce or remove the risk, and they negligently fail to do so.
All adults in Victoria are required to report information to police if they know, believe or reasonably ought to know that a child (under 18 years) has been abused.
As An Adult Helper in the Knox Nocturnals Youth Program
I WILL:
- Treat all children and young people with respect
- Listen to and value children and young people’s ideas and opinions
- Welcome all children and their families and carers by being inclusive
- Actively promote cultural safety and inclusion
- Listen to children and respond to them appropriately
- Welcome parents and carers to participate in decisions about their child’s participation and any matters about their safety
- Report any conflicts of interest (such as an outside relationship with a child)
- Adhere to all relevant Australian and Victorian legislation and our child safe policies and procedures
- Work within a team to ensure that the needs of the child (and their family) remain the paramount focus
- Participate in all compulsory training
- Raise concerns with management if risks to child safety are identified, including cultural, environmental and operational risks
- Report and act on any concerns or observed breaches of this Code of Conduct
- Take all reasonable steps to protect children from abuse
- Respect the privacy of children and their families by keeping all information about child protection concerns confidential
- Inform parents and carers if there are situations that need to be safely managed but are outside the boundaries of this Code of Conduct
- Take a child seriously if they disclose harm or abuse
- Ensure breaches of this Code are reported immediately
- Uphold the rights of the child and always prioritise their needs
I WILL NOT:- Condone or participate in illegal, unsafe or abusive behaviour towards children, including physical, sexual or psychological abuse, ill-treatment, neglect or grooming
- Ignore or disregard any concerns, suspicions or disclosures of child abuse
- Exaggerate or trivialise child abuse issues
- Use hurtful, discriminatory or offensive behaviour or language with children
- Fail to report information to police if I know a child has been abused
- Engage in unwarranted and inappropriate touching involving a child
- Persistently criticise and/or denigrate a child
- Deliberately prevent a child from forming friendships
- Verbally assault a child or create a climate of fear
- Offer children and young people alcohol, cigarettes or other drugs
- Show children pornographic images
- Encourage a child to communicate with me in a private setting
- Share details of sexual experiences with a child
- Use sexual language or gestures in the presence of children
I understand the following types of behaviour may be of concern.
- Being alone with a child when there is no professional reason for doing so
- Showing favour to one child over others
- Babysitting, mentoring and/or tutoring a child outside the KNYP hours
