West Hawthorn Pre-school has zero tolerance of child abuse
West Hawthorn Pre-school is committed to the safety of all children. We want children to be safe, happy and empowered. We support and respect all children, as well as our staff and volunteers. WHPS has zero tolerance of child abuse. All allegations and safety concerns will be treated very seriously and consistently with our robust policies and procedures. We have legal and moral obligations to contact authorities when we are worried about a child’s safety, which we follow rigorously.
We are committed to preventing child abuse and identifying risks early, and removing and reducing these risks. WHPS has thorough human resources and recruitment practices for all staff and volunteers. We are committed to regularly training and educating our staff and volunteers on child abuse risks. All staff, parents, volunteers and contractors involved in child-connected work at our pre-school require a valid and current Working with Children Check. Volunteers are also required to adhere to a strict Code of Conduct Practice.
We are committed to the cultural safety of Aboriginal children, the cultural safety of children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds, and to providing a safe environment for children with a disability.
Background
As part of the Victorian Government’s response to the Betrayal of Trust Inquiry in 2012, a set of compulsory child safe standards were developed to help protect children from all forms of abuse. These compulsory minimum Victorian Child Safe Standards aim to drive cultural change in organisations in order to strengthen their approaches to preventing and responding to abuse.
We are all responsibile
If you suspect abuse of any child or young person, you have a responsibility to report it, even if you are unsure. If you believe a child is at immediate risk of abuse, phone 000.
Further information and resources
West Hawthorn Pre-school Policies
www.education.vic.gov.au/protect
For parents
1800 991 099 (Child Wise Helpline)
131 278 (Child Protection Crisis Line)
1300 138 180 (Child Safe)