11 Child Safe Standards

Culturally safe environments 

Wodonga Federation of Government Schools’ (The Federation) establish culturally safe environments in which the diverse and unique identities and experiences of Aboriginal children, young people and students are respected and valued.

Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in leadership, governance and culture

Member schools ensure that child safety and wellbeing is embedded in their school leadership, governance and culture.

Wodonga Federation of Government Schools has revised their Child Safe Policy and Child Safety Code of Conduct. These are publicly available on the Federation website and hard copies at each member school. All school staff sign the Code of Conduct annually.

Member schools have implemented Passtab (online visitor management software) to ensure visitors, contractors, volunteers sign the Code of Conduct upon entry to the school. Find out more here.

Each member school has developed a Child Safety Risk Register to prevent, identify and mitigate risks related to child safety and wellbeing in both the physical and online school environment. Each school’s risk register will be implemented and monitored by the school’s leadership team and child safety champion.

Our member schools have child safety as a regular meeting agenda item. This includes school councils and staff meetings.

Child and student empowerment

The Federation member schools ensure that children, young people and students are empowered about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.

All member schools have actively participated in the Department of Education and Training program Respectful Relationships – A Whole School Approach. This program supports schools to promote and model respect, positive attitudes and behaviours. It teaches child and young people how to build healthy relationships, resilience and confidence. To read more about the Federation’s approach to Respectful Relationships click here. The Rights. Responsibilities and Respectful Relationships program is explicitly taught and implemented across the Federation member schools.

Wodonga Federation of Government Schools has a strong commitment to student voice and student leadership. The Federation and its member schools believe that student voice / student leadership can have a positive impact on optimising student outcomes as well as improving schooling and society.

When students believe teachers are listening to them mutual trust and respect are likely to flourish (Quaglia, R & Corso, J 2014). Student voice fosters improved self-worth, engagement, self-efficacy and purpose in school (Quaglia, R & Corso, J 2014).

When students have a voice in their school and are heard they are more likely to see the school as serving their needs, have a sense of school pride and connection. Engaging students in student voice at school also enhances the development of skills that established a foundation for children and young people to express their views and participate in wider active citizenship in their community.

Please contact our member schools to find out more about their student leadership program. As a Federation, Teach the Teacher has become an integral part of our core work. Click here for more information on student leadership within the Federation.

Each member school has a Student Engagement Policy. The policy outlines the member school’s student engagement strategies and behavioural expectation. Contact our member schools for a copy of their Student Engagement Policy.

Annually the Federation and its member schools participate annually in National Child Protection week and Children’s Week. The Federation has a stall at the City of Wodonga’s Children’s Fair which is held during Children’s Week to celebrate families and children.

Family engagement

The Federation member schools ensure that families and communities are informed, and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing.

To support our school communities the Federation hosts a series of information sessions. In the past we hosted My Underpants Rule and YSafe.

The Federation regularly consults our school communities on child safety and reflects this feedback in our policies and practices.

Diversity and Equity

The Federation member schools ensure that equity is up held, and diverse needs are respected in policy and practice.

Related documents

Suitable staff and volunteers

Member schools ensure that staff and volunteers are equipped with knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education and training.

Schools within the Federation have a child safety training plan which is implemented annually.

Complaints processes

The Federation member schools ensure that people processes for complaints and concerns are child focused.

Child safety knowledge, skills, and awareness

The Federation member schools ensure that staff and volunteers are equipped with knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education and training.

Child safety in physical and online environments

The Federation member schools ensure that their physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for children, young people and students to be harmed.

Review of child safety practices

The Federation member schools ensure the implementation of the Ministerial Order 1359 is regularly reviewed and improved.

Implementation of child safety practices

The Federation member schools have policies and procedures that document how their school is safe for children, young people and students.