PURPOSE

The FAIR MUSIC Inc Organisation’s Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy demonstrates our organisation’s commitment to creating and maintaining a child safe and child-friendly organisation, where children and young people are safe and feel safe.

This policy provides an overview of our organisation’s approach to implementing Ministerial Order 1359 which sets out how the Victorian Child Safe Standards apply in organisation environments

It informs our organisation community of everyone’s obligations to act safely and appropriately towards children and guides our processes and practices for the safety and wellbeing of young people across all areas of our work.

OBJECTIVE

FAIR MUSIC Inc is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people. This will be the primary focus of our care and decision-making.

FAIR MUSIC Inc has zero tolerance for child abuse.

FAIR MUSIC Inc is committed to providing a child safe environment where children and young people are safe and feel safe, and their voices are heard about decisions that affect their lives. Particular attention will be paid to the cultural safety of Aboriginal children and children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds, as well as the safety of children with a disability.

Every person involved at FAIR MUSIC Inc Organisation has a responsibility to understand the important and specific role he/she/they plays individually and collectively to ensure that the wellbeing and safety of all children and young people is at the forefront of all they do and every decision they make.

SCOPE

This policy:

  • applies to all organisation staff, volunteers and contractors whether or not they work in direct contact with young people. It also applies to organisation board members where indicated.

  • applies in all physical and online organisation environments used by young people during or outside of organisation hours, including other locations provided by for a young person’s use (for example, a organisation camp) and those provided through third-party providers

  • should be read together with our other child safety and wellbeing policies, procedures, and codes – refer to the related organisation policies section below.

POLICY

Statement of commitment to child safety

FAIR MUSIC Inc Organisation is a child safe organisation which welcomes all children, young people and their families.

We are committed to providing environments where our young people are safe and feel safe, where their participation is valued, their views respected, and their voices are heard about decisions that affect their lives. Our child safe policies, strategies and practices are inclusive of the needs of all children and young people.

We have no tolerance for child abuse and take proactive steps to identify and manage any risks of harm to young people in our organisation environments.

We promote positive relationships between young people and adults and between young people and their peers. These relationships are based on trust and respect.

We take proactive steps to identify and manage any risk of harm to young people in our organisation environment. When child safety concerns are raised or identified, we treat these seriously and respond promptly and thoroughly.

Particular attention is given to the child safety needs of Aboriginal young people, those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, international young people, young people with disabilities, those unable to live at home, children and young people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender diverse, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ+) and other young people experiencing risk or vulnerability. Inappropriate or harmful behaviour targeting young people based on these or other characteristics, such as racism or homophobia, are not tolerated at our organisation, and any instances identified will be addressed with appropriate consequences.

Child safety is a shared responsibility. Every person involved in our organisation has an important role in promoting child safety and wellbeing and promptly raising any issues or concerns about a child’s safety.

We are committed to regularly reviewing our child safe practices, and seeking input from our young people, families, staff, and volunteers to inform our ongoing strategies.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

FM Leadership Team

Our organisation leadership team (comprising the director and secretary) is responsible for ensuring that a strong child safe culture is created and maintained, and that policies and practices are effectively developed and implemented in accordance with Ministerial Order 1359.

The leadership team will:

  • ensure effective child safety and wellbeing governance, policies, procedures, codes and practices are in place and followed

  • model a child safe culture that facilitates the active participation of young people, families and staff in promoting and improving child safety, cultural safety and wellbeing

  • enable inclusive practices where the diverse needs of all young people are considered

  • reinforce high standards of respectful behaviour between young people and adults, and between young people

  • promote regular open discussion on child safety issues within the organisation community including at leadership team meetings, staff meetings and organisation board meetings

  • facilitate regular professional learning for staff and volunteers (where appropriate) to build deeper understandings of child safety, cultural safety, young person wellbeing and prevention of responding to abuse

  • create an environment where child safety complaints and concerns are readily raised, and no one is discouraged from reporting an allegation of child abuse to relevant authorities.

FAIR MUSIC Inc staff and volunteers

All staff and volunteers will:

  • participate in child safety and wellbeing induction and training provided by the organisation and always follow the organisation’s child safety and wellbeing policies and procedures

  • act in accordance with our Child Safety Code of Conduct

  • identify and raise concerns about child safety issues in accordance with our Child Safety Responding and Reporting Obligations Policy and Procedures, and the Reportable Conduct Scheme.

  • ensure young people’ views are taken seriously and their voices are heard about decisions that affect their lives

  • implement inclusive practices that respond to the diverse needs of young people.

FAIR MUSIC Inc board

Board members will:

  • champion and promote a child safe culture with the broader organisation community

  • ensure that child safety is a regular agenda item at organisation board meetings

  • undertake annual training on child safety,

  • approve updates to, and act in accordance with the Child Safety Code of Conduct to the extent that it applies to organisation board employees and members

  • when hiring organisation board employees, ensure that selection, supervision, and management practices are child safe. At our organisation, organisation board employment duties are delegated to the principal who is bound by this policy.

Specific staff child safety responsibilities

FAIR MUSIC Inc Organisation’s Director is the first point of contact for child safety concerns or queries
and for coordinating responses to child safety incidents.

The Director is responsible for monitoring the organisation’s compliance with the Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy. Anyone in our organisation community should approach the Director if they have any concerns about the organisation’s compliance with the Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy.

The Director is responsible for informing the organisation community about this policy, and making it publicly available

Other specific roles and responsibilities are named in other child safety policies and procedures, including the Child Safety Code of Conduct, Child Safety Responding and Reporting Obligations (including Mandatory Reporting) Policy and Procedures, and Child Safety Risk Register.

Child Safety Code of Conduct

Our Child Safety Code of Conduct sets the boundaries and expectations for appropriate behaviours between adults and young people. It also clarifies behaviours that are not acceptable in our physical and online environments.

We ensure that young people also know what is acceptable and what is not acceptable so that they can be clear and confident about what to expect from adults in the organisation.

The Child Safety Code of Conduct also includes processes to report inappropriate behaviour.

Managing risks to child safety and wellbeing

At our organisation we identify, assess and manage risks to child safety and wellbeing in our physical and online organisation environments. These risks are managed through our child safety and wellbeing policies, procedures and practices.

Our Child Safety Risk Register is used to record any identified risks related to child abuse alongside actions in place to manage those risks. Our organisation leadership team will monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the actions in the Child Safety Risk Register at least annually.

Establishing a culturally safe environment

At FAIR MUSIC Inc Organisation, we are committed to establishing an inclusive and culturally safe organisation where the strengths of Aboriginal culture, values and practices are respected.

We think about how every young person can have a positive experience in a safe environment. For Aboriginal young people, we recognise the link between Aboriginal culture, identity and safety and actively create opportunities for Aboriginal young people and the Aboriginal community to have a voice and presence in our organisation planning, policies, and activities.

We have developed the following strategies to promote cultural safety in our organisation:


Young Person empowerment:

To support child safety and wellbeing at FAIR MUSIC Inc Organisation, we work to create an inclusive and supportive environment that encourages young people and families to contribute to our child safety approach and understand their rights and their responsibilities.

Respectful relationships between young people are reinforced and we encourage strong friendships and peer support in the organisation to ensure a sense of belonging through implementing our whole organisation approach to Respectful Relationships, our young person Code of Conduct and our organisation values.

We inform young people of their rights through our whole organisation approach to Respectful Relationships and give them the skills and confidence to recognise unsafe situations with adults or other young people and to speak up and act on concerns relating to themselves or their peers. We ensure our young people know who to talk to if they are worried or feeling unsafe and we encourage them to share concerns with a trusted adult at any time. Young Persons and families can also access information on how to report concerns on our website, by speaking with the front office.

When the organisation is gathering information in relation to a complaint about alleged misconduct or abuse of a child, we will listen to the complainant’s account and take them seriously, check our understanding of the complaint, support the young person and keep them (and their parents and carers, as appropriate) informed about progress.

Family engagement

Our families and the organisation community have an important role in monitoring and promoting children’s safety and wellbeing and helping children to raise any concerns.

To support family engagement, at FAIR MUSIC Inc Organisation we are committed to providing families and community with accessible information about our organisation’s child safe policies and practices and involving them in our approach to child safety and wellbeing.

We will create opportunities for families to have input into the development and review of our child safety policies and practices and encourage them to raise any concerns and ideas for improvement.

We do this by:

  • organisation website, organisation board, young person,  and staff,meetings

  • PROTECT Child Safety posters will be displayed across the organisation

Diversity and equity

As a child safe organisation, we celebrate the rich diversity of our young people, families and community and promote respectful environments that are free from discrimination. Our focus is on wellbeing and growth for all.

We recognise that every young person has unique skills, strengths and experiences to draw on.

We pay particular attention to individuals and groups of children and young people in our community with additional and specific needs. This includes tailoring our child safety strategies and supports to the needs of:

  • Aboriginal children and young people

  • children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds

  • children and young people with disabilities

  • children unable to live at home or impacted by family violence

  • international young people

  • children and young people who identify as LGBTIQ+

Suitable staff and volunteers

At FAIR MUSIC Inc Organisation, we apply robust child safe recruitment, induction, training, and supervision practices to ensure that all staff, contractors, and volunteers are suitable to work with children.

Staff recruitment

When recruiting staff, we follow Child Safe recruitment policies
When engaging staff to perform child-related work, we:

  • sight, verify and record the person’s Working with Children clearance or equivalent background check such as a Victorian teaching registration collect and record:

  • proof of the person’s identity and any professional or other qualifications o the person’s history of working with children

  • references that address suitability for the job and working with children. o references that address suitability for the job and working with children.

Staff induction

All newly appointed staff will be expected to participate in our child safety and wellbeing induction program. The program will include a focus on:

  • the Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy (this document)

  • the Child Safety Code of Conduct

  • the Child Safety Responding and Reporting Obligations (including Mandatory Reporting) Policy and Procedures and

  • any other child safety and wellbeing information that organisation leadership considers appropriate to the nature of the role.

Ongoing supervision and management of staff

All staff engaged in child-connected work will be supervised appropriately to ensure that their behaviour towards children is safe and appropriate.

Staff will be monitored and assessed to ensure their continuing suitability for child-connected work. 
Inappropriate behaviour towards children and young people will be managed swiftly and in accordance with our organisation and department policies and our legal obligations. Child safety and wellbeing will be paramount.

Suitability of volunteers

All volunteers are required to comply with our Volunteers Policy , which describes how we assess the suitability of prospective volunteers and outlines expectations in relation to child safety and wellbeing induction and training, and supervision and management

Child safety knowledge, skills and awareness

Ongoing training and education are essential to ensuring that staff understand their roles and responsibilities and develop their capacity to effectively address child safety and wellbeing matters.

In addition to the child safety and wellbeing induction, our staff will participate in a range of training and professional learning to equip them with the skills and knowledge necessary to maintain a child safe environment.

Staff child safety and wellbeing training will be delivered at least annually and will include guidance on:

  • our organisation’s child safety and wellbeing policies, procedures, codes, and practices

  • recognising indicators of child harm including harm caused by other children and young people

  • responding effectively to issues of child safety and wellbeing and supporting colleagues who disclose harm

  • how to build culturally safe environments for children and young people

  • information sharing and recordkeeping obligations

  • how to identify and mitigate child safety and wellbeing risks in the organisation environment.

Other professional learning and training on child safety and wellbeing, for example, training for our volunteers, will be tailored to specific roles and responsibilities and any identified or emerging needs or issues.

School board training and education

To ensure our organisation board is equipped with the knowledge required to make decisions in the best interests of young person safety and wellbeing, and to identify and mitigate child safety and wellbeing risks in our organisation environment, the board is trained at least annually. Training includes guidance on:

  • individual and collective obligations and responsibilities for implementing the Child Safe Standards and managing the risk of child abuse

  • child safety and wellbeing risks in our organisation environment

  • FAIR MUSIC Inc Organisation child safety and wellbeing policies, procedures, codes and practices

Complaints and reporting processes

FAIR MUSIC Inc Organisation fosters a culture that encourages staff, volunteers, young people, parents, and the organisation community to raise concerns and complaints. This makes it more difficult for breaches of the code of conduct, misconduct or abuse to occur and remain hidden.

If there is an incident, disclosure, allegation or suspicion of child abuse, all staff and volunteers (including organisation board employees) must follow our Child Safety Responding and Reporting Obligations Policy and Procedures. Our policy and procedures address complaints and concerns of child abuse made by or in relation to a child or young person, organisation staff, volunteers, contractors, service providers, visitors or any other person while connected to the organisation.

As soon as any immediate health and safety concerns are addressed, and relevant organisation staff have been informed, we will ensure our organisation follows:

  • the Four Critical Actions for complaints and concerns relating to adult behaviour towards a child

  • the Four Critical Actions: Young Person Sexual Offending for complaints and concerns relating to young person sexual offending


Communications

FAIR MUSIC Inc Organisation is committed to communicating our child safety strategies to the organisation community through:

  • ensuring that key child safety and wellbeing policies are available on our website including the Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy (this document), Child Safety Code of Conduct, and the Child Safety Responding and Reporting Obligations (including Mandatory Reporting) Policy and Procedure

  • displaying PROTECT posters around the organisation

  • updates in our organisation newsletter, community handbook and website

  • ensuring that child safety is a regular agenda item at organisation leadership meetings, staff meetings and organisation board meetings.

Privacy and information sharing

FAIR MUSIC Inc Organisation collects, uses, and discloses information about children and their families in accordance with Victorian privacy laws, and other relevant laws.

Records management

We acknowledge that good records management practices are a critical element of child safety and wellbeing.

Review of child safety practices

At FAIR MUSIC Inc Organisation, we have established processes for the review and ongoing improvement of our child safe policies, procedures, and practices.

We will:

  • review and improve our policy every 2 years or after any significant child safety incident

  • analyse any complaints, concerns, and safety incidents to improve policy and practice

  • act with transparency and share pertinent learnings and review outcomes with organisation staff
    and our organisation community.

RELATED POLICIES

This Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy is to be read in conjunction with other related organisation policies, procedures, and codes. These include our:

  • Child Safety Responding and Reporting Obligations Policy and Procedures

  • Child Safety Code of Conduct

  • Inclusion and Diversity Policy

  • Young Person Wellbeing and Engagement Policy

REVIEW CYCLE

The Director is responsible for reviewing and updating the Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy at least every two years. The review will include input from young people, parents/carers and the community.