Child Safe Commitment
Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong is unwavering in our commitment to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. This is at the heart of everything we do.
Every child has the right to be informed, heard, respected, empowered and to feel safe.
As school communities and as individuals, we commit to keeping children and young people safe, and to work together with them to create cultures that honour dignity and enrich wellbeing.
In caring for children and young people we must act in their best interest and take all reasonable steps to ensure their protection.
The dignity of the human person is a central truth of the Gospel message of Jesus. In respecting the dignity of all human persons, Catholic School communities are called to ensure the welfare and safety of all of its members. The protection of the students entrusted to our care, then, is a very serious responsibility. In taking up this responsibility along with parents, who are recognised as the primary educators and carers of their children, Catholic School communities are committed to:
- ensuring that Catholic Schools have at their centre the total care of the whole student
- developing appropriate responses to individuals or families in crisis
- working collaboratively with other agencies involved in the care and protection of children
- inspiring hope and a positive vision for the future
Whilst all agencies that deal with children have particular responsibilities for the protection of the children in their care, child protection is essentially the responsibility of everybody.
The NSW Government has adopted a policy that requires agencies that deal with children, including Catholic Schools, to work in cooperation with each other for the overall protection of children, taking reasonable steps consistent with their function and expertise to coordinate child/family assistance.
Our child protection policy
- is based on NSW law
- meets the current professional expectation
- reflects the pastoral responsibility of those who work in Catholic Schools
Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Wollongong have a history of working collaboratively with CatholicCare, the social services agency of the Catholic Diocese of Wollongong. The Child Protection initiatives and joint endeavours of Catholic Education and CatholicCare, reflect the spirit of partnership that is essential to help ensure the protection of children and young people in our care.
CHILD PROTECTION POLICY FRAMEWORK
Child SAFE FRAMEWORK
CHILD PROTECTION OVERVIEW
CARE, WELLBEING AND PROTECTION OF CHILDREN - INFORMATION FOR SCHOOL COMMUNITIES
Code of conduct in the Protection of Children and Young People
Maintaining Right Relationships Policy
Professional Conduct and Child Protection - Responding to Allegations Involving WORKERS
CHILD PROTECTION POLICY, FORMS AND DOCUMENTS
Child Safe Framework
A. Child Protection Overview for CEDoW
A. Care, Wellbeing and Protection of Children
A.1 Reporting Child Protection Concerns
A.2 Mandatory Reporting and Information Exchange
A.3 Making a Risk of Significant Harm (ROSH) Report
A.4 Centralised Mandatory Reporting in Schools - ROSH
A.5 Reporting Educational Neglect Relevant Information - Checklist
A.6 Reporting to Police
A.7 CEDoW Responding to disclosure of alleged sexual assault or sexual touching
B.1 Community Services or Police Interview Student – Checklist
B.2 Community Services Removal of a Student or Assume Care - Checklist
B.3 CEDoW Protocol for Exchange of Information
G. NSW Reportable Conduct Scheme change - 1 March 2020
G. Code of Conduct in the Protection of Children and Young People
G. Maintaining Right Relationships Policy
G. Professional Boundaries and Arena of Safety
G. Professional Conduct - The Way to Effective Child Protection
G. Professional Conduct and Child Protection - Responding to Allegations Involving Workers
G.1 Report of Incident Involving an Employee
G.2 Report of Initial Details re Child Protection Allegation Involving an Employee
G.3 GIPA Provisions for Access to Information
G.3a GIPA Access Application Form
G_V.1 Volunteers and the Care of Students
H.1 Child Protection Allegation or Concern Involving an Employee - Guide for Principals
R.3 Recruitment Structured Referee Check
SB Responding to Concerns about Sexualised Behaviour of Students Procedure
T. Child Protection Training Courses
T.1 Child Protection Training Registration Form
W.0 WWCC Guide
W.1 School Induction - Child Protection Induction working with students
W_E.5 School induction - Employees and Child Protection working with students
W_E.1 Requirements for WWC Check for Child-Related Work in Catholic Education Wollongong
W_C.0 Contractors working with students - What to do
W_C.1 Requirements for Contractors Working in Schools Catholic Education Wollongong
W_C.2 WWCC Form - Contractors and Self-employed working with students
W_C.X WWCC Form - Organisations Contracted to provide service to students
W_C.3 School induction - Contractors and Child Protection working with students
W_C.4 Safe Schools Expectations - Contract (Building-Maintenance) workers in schools
W_R.2 WWCC Form - Member of a Religious Order
W_R.3 School induction - Religious and Child Protection working with students
W_V.1 Requirements for volunteers in Schools in Catholic Education Wollongong
W_V.2 School Volunteer has WWCC
W_V.3 School Volunteer Declaration and Undertaking
W_V.4 OCG Statutory Declaration and CEW Undertaking
W_V.5 OCG Statutory Declaration - OCG Consent and Undertaking
W_V.6 School induction - Volunteers and Child Protection working with students
W_P.3 School induction - Practicum or Work Placement and Child Protection working with students
CHILD PROTECTION LINKS
Catholic Schools New South Wales (CSNSW)
NSW Department of Communities and Justice - DCJ (formerly FaCS)
NSW Office of the Children's Guardian (OCG)
NSW Police Force - Young People
NSW Justice Website - Victims Services
Catholic Diocese of Wollongong
Catholic Church in Australia - Australian Catholic Safeguarding Ltd (ACSL)
Vatican - Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors
United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
Australian Institute of Family Studies
A Parent’s Guide to talking to children about safety
WORKING IN SCHOOLS WITH CHILDREN (WWC CHECKS AND DECLARATIONS)
Visit our Working with Children Check page for information and links regarding WWC checks and declarations - for CEDoW employees as well as contractors, self-employed persons, practicum or work placement students, volunteers and religious working in Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong schools and offices.
CONTACT FOR CHILD PROTECTION MATTERS
For further information, please contact one of our Child Protection Officers.
P: (02) 4250 9555
