Our Child Safety Code of Conduct sets out the expected behaviour of adults with children and young people in our organisation.
All Fair Music staff, volunteers, contractors, service providers, organisation council members and any other adult involved in child-connected work must follow the Child Safety Code of Conduct.
The Child Safety Code of Conduct applies to all physical and online environments used by young people. It also applies during or outside of organisation hours and in other locations provided by the organisation for student use (for example, an organisation camp).
All personnel of Fair Music are responsible for supporting the safety, participation, wellbeing and empowerment of children by:
● upholding our Fair Music Organisation's commitment to child safety at all times and adhering to our Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy.
● treating young people and families in our organisation community with respect in our organisation environment and outside our organisation environment as part of normal social and community activities
● listening and responding to the views and concerns of young people, particularly if they disclose that they or another child or student has been abused or are worried about their safety or the safety of another child or student
● promoting the cultural safety, participation and empowerment of Aboriginal young people,young people with culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds, young people with a disability, international young people, young people who are unable to live at home and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LQBTIQ+) young people
● promoting the cultural safety, participation and empowerment of Aboriginal children (for example, by never questioning an Aboriginal child’s self-identification)
● promoting the cultural safety, participation and empowerment of children with culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds (for example, by having a zero tolerance of discrimination)
● ensuring, as far as practicable, that adults are not alone with a young person–one-to-one interactions between an adult and a young person are to be in an open space or in line of sight of another adult.
● reporting any allegations of child abuse or other child safety concerns to Fair Music’s Director, and ensure any allegation to reported to the police or child protection
● understanding and complying with all reporting and disclosure obligations (including mandatory reporting) inline with our child safety responding and reporting policy and procedures and the PROTECT Four Critical Actions.
● if child abuse is suspected,ensuring as quickly as possible that the young person (people) are safe and protected from harm.
● encouraging young people to ‘have a say’ and participate in all relevant organisational activities where possible, especially on issues that are important to them.
● understanding privacy of information within the context of their role and or purpose of their work at Fair Music.
Staff and volunteers must not:
● Fair Music staff, volunteers, contractors and member of our organisation community involved in child-connected work we must not:
● ignore or disregard any concerns, suspicions or disclosures of child abuse or harm
● develop a relationship with any student that could be seen as favouritism or amount to ‘grooming’ behaviour (for example, by offering gifts)
● display behaviours or engage with young people in ways that are not justified by the educational or professional context
● ignore an adult’s overly familiar or inappropriate behaviour towards a student
● discuss intimate topics or use sexualised language, except when needed to deliver the organisation curriculum or professional guidance
● treat a child or student unfavourably because of their disability, age, gender, race, culture, vulnerability, sexuality or ethnicity
● communicate directly with a student through personal or private contact channels (including by social media, email, instant messaging, texting etc) except where that communication is reasonable in all the circumstances, related to organisation work or extra-curricular activities or where there is a safety concern or other urgent matter
● photograph or video a child or student in a organisation environment except in accordance with the Photographing, Filming and Recording Students policy or where required for duty of care purposes
● consume alcohol against organisation policy or take illicit drugs in the organisation environment or at organisation events where young people are present
● have contact with any student outside of organisation hours except when needed to deliver the organisation curriculum or professional guidance and parental permission has been sought.
Breaches to the Child Safety Code of Conduct
All Fair Music staff, volunteers, contractors and any other member of the organisation community involved in child-connected work who breach this Child Safety Code of Conduct may be subject to disciplinary procedures in accordance with their employment agreement or relevant industrial instrument, professional code or terms of engagement. The Organisation will seek advice from the Reportable Conduct Team.
In instances where a reportable allegation has been made, the matter will be managed in accordance with the Child safety Commission and may be subject to referral to Victoria Police.
All breaches and suspected breaches of the Fair Music Child Safety Code of Conduct must be reported to the Director of Fair Music. If the breach or suspected breach relates to the Director, contact the Reportable Conduct Team, Child Safety Commission or Police.
By observing these standards you acknowledge your responsibility to immediately report any breach of this code to Fair Music If you believe a child is at immediate risk of abuse phone 000.