Child Safety Code of Conduct
All paid and unpaid staff (including the Headmaster, College Executive, boarding staff, practicum students, volunteers, interns or trainees), governing body members, contractors, visitors and external education providers (together referred to as "the Scotch College Community" for the purposes of this Code) are responsible for the safety and wellbeing of students at Scotch College. As such, the Scotch College Community is expected to act in accordance with this Child Safety Code of Conduct in their physical and online interactions with students as follows:
I will:
- At all times uphold Scotch College's Statement of Commitment to Child Safety and Wellbeing, as outlined in the College's Child Safety Policy.
- Act in accordance with Scotch College's Child Safety Policy and other child safe policies, procedures and guidelines published by Scotch College.
- Behave respectfully, courteously and ethically towards children and their families and towards other staff.
- Listen and respond to the views and concerns of children, particularly if they communicate (verbally or non-verbally) that they do not feel safe or well.
- Promote the human rights, safety and wellbeing of all children at Scotch College.
- Demonstrate appropriate personal and professional boundaries, in line with Scotch College's Staff and Students Professional Boundaries Policy.
- Consider and respect the diverse backgrounds and needs of all children.
- Create an environment that promotes and enables children's participation and is welcoming, culturally safe and inclusive for all children and their families.
- Involve children in making decisions about activities, policies and processes that concern them wherever possible.
- Contribute, where appropriate, to Scotch College's policies, discussions, learning and reviews about child safety and wellbeing.
- Identify and mitigate risks to children's safety and wellbeing as required by Scotch College's risk assessment and management policies and procedures.
- Respond to any concerns or complaints of child harm or abuse promptly and in line with Scotch College's Child Safety Policy and Procedures for Managing Child Safety Incidents/Concerns.
- Report all suspected or disclosed child harm or abuse as required by law and in line with Scotch College's Child Safety Policy and Procedures for Managing Child Safety Incidents/Concerns.
- Report any breaches of this Child Safety Code of Conduct.
- Comply with Scotch College's protocols on communicating with children.
- Comply with the law and Scotch College's Privacy Policy on record keeping and information sharing.
- Call the Police on 000 if there is an immediate concern for a child's safety.
I will NOT:
- Engage in any unlawful activity with or in relation to a child.
- Engage in any activity that is likely to physically, sexually or emotionally harm a child.
- Unlawfully discriminate against any child or their family members.
- Be alone with a child unnecessarily or engage in undisclosed private meetings with a child who is not my own child.
- Engage in inappropriate or unnecessary physical conduct or behaviours, including doing things of a personal nature that a student can do for themselves, such as toileting or changing clothes.
- Arrange personal contact, including online contact, with children I am working with for a purpose unrelated to Scotch College's activities.
- Disclose personal or sensitive information about a child, including images of a child, unless the child and their parent or legal guardian consent or unless I am required to do so by law or Scotch College's policy and procedure on reporting.
- Use inappropriate language in the presence of children or show or provide children with access to inappropriate images or material.
- Develop 'special' relationships with students that could be seen as favouritism (for example the offering of gifts or special treatment for specific students).
- Work with children while under the influence of alcohol or prohibited drugs.
- Ignore or disregard any suspected or disclosed child harm or abuse
If I think this Code of Conduct has been breached by another person at Scotch College I will:
- Act to prioritise the best interests of children.
- Take actions promptly to ensure that children are safe.
- Promptly report objectively observable behaviour which breaches or is suspected of breaching the Code, other than those subject to mandatory reporting obligations, to the Headmaster, a Scotch College Child Protection Officer or the Chair of the Scotch College Council, in line with the College's Child Safety Policy.
- Follow Scotch College's Procedures for Managing Child Safety Incidents/Concerns.
- Adhere to mandatory reporting of sexual abuse obligations and report in good faith all reasonable beliefs of child sexual abuse to the Department of Communities – Child Protection and Family Support (CPFS) and provide to the Headmaster (or Chair of Scotch College Council if the report relates to the Headmaster) the CPFS Report Receipt Number. Written and dated notes of observations must be recorded to assist in reporting the concerns to the CPFS or police.
Protection from Victimisation
- Scotch College assures protection from victimisation or other adverse consequences if reports are made in good faith.
Disciplinary Procedures
- Where a Scotch College Community member breaches this Child Safety Code of Conduct, Scotch College will take appropriate action, as required by law, including disciplinary action or termination of employment in the case of serious breaches.
Reviewed 18 September 2020.
