SafeguardingChildrenandYoungPeople

CODEOFCONDUCT
SacredHeartPrimarySchool,Mildura

CentraltothemissionofSacredHeartisanunequivocalcommitmenttofosteringthedignity,
selfesteemandintegrityofchildrenandyoungpeopleandprovidingthemwithasafe,supportive
andenrichingenvironmenttodevelopspiritually,physically,intellectually,emotionallyand
socially.

Purpose
This Code of Conduct has a specific focus on safeguarding children and youngpeopleat Sacred
Heart against sexual, physical, psychological and emotional abuse or neglect. It is intended to
complementotherprofessionaland/oroccupationalcodes.

All staff, volunteers, contractors, clergy and board/school council members at Sacred Heart are
expected to actively contribute to a school culture that respects the dignity of its members and
affirms the Gospel values of love, care for others, compassion and justice. Theyarerequired to
observe child safe principles and expectations for appropriate behaviour towards and in the
companyofchildren,asnotedbelow.

Acceptablebehaviours
Allstaff,volunteers,contractors,clergyandschoolcouncilmembersareresponsiblefor
supportingthesafetyofchildrenby:
adheringtotheschoolschildsafepolicyandupholdingtheschoolsstatementof
commitmenttochildsafetyatalltimes
takingallreasonablestepstoprotectchildrenfromabuse
treatingeveryoneintheschoolcommunitywithrespect(modelingpositiveandrespectful
relationshipsandactinginamannerthatsustainsasafe,educationalandpastoral
environment)
listeningandrespondingtotheviewsandconcernsofchildren,particularlyiftheyaretelling
youthattheyoranotherchildhavebeenabusedorthattheyareworriedabouttheir
safety/thesafetyofanotherchild
promotingtheculturalsafety,participationandempowermentofAboriginalandTorresStrait
Islanderchildren(forexample,byneverquestioninganAboriginalandTorresStraitIslander
childsselfidentification)
promotingtheculturalsafety,participationandempowermentofchildrenwithculturally
and/orlinguisticallydiversebackgrounds(forexample,byhavingazerotolerancepolicy
towardsdiscrimination)

promotingthesafety,participationandempowermentofchildrenwithadisability(for
example,duringpersonalcareactivities)
ensuringasfaraspracticablethatadultsarenotalonewithachild
reportinganyallegationsofchildabusetotheschoolsleadership(orchildsafetyofficerifthe
schoolhasappointedsomeonetothisrole)
understandingandcomplyingwithallreportingobligationsastheyrelatetomandatory
reportingandreportingundertheCrimesAct1958(Vic.)
reportinganychildsafetyconcernstotheschoolsleadership(orchildsafetyofficerifthe
schoolhasappointedsomeonetothisrole)
ifanallegationofchildabuseismade,ensuringasquicklyaspossiblethatthechild(ren)are
safe.

Unacceptablebehaviours
Allstaff,volunteers,contractors,clergyandschoolcouncilmembersmustnot:
ignoreordisregardanysuspectedordisclosedchildabuse
developanyspecialrelationshipswithchildrenthatcouldbeseenasfavouritism(for
example,theofferingofgiftsorspecialtreatmentforspecificchildren)
exhibitbehaviourswithchildrenwhichmaybeconstruedasunnecessarilyphysical(for
example,inappropriatesittingonlaps)
putchildrenatriskofabuse(forexample,bylockingdoors)
initiateunnecessaryphysicalcontactwithchildrenordothingsofapersonalnaturethata
childcandoforthemselves,suchastoiletingorchangingclothes
engageinopendiscussionsofamatureoradultnatureinthepresenceofchildren(for
example,personalsocialactivities)
useinappropriatelanguageinthepresenceofchildren
expresspersonalviewsoncultures,raceorsexualityinthepresenceofchildren
discriminateagainstanychild,includingbecauseofage,gender,race,culture,vulnerability,
sexuality,ethnicityordisability
havecontactwithachildortheirfamilyoutsideofschoolwithouttheschoolsleadershipor
childsafetyofficers(iftheschoolhasappointedsomeonetothisrole)knowledgeand/or
consentortheschoolgoverningauthoritysapproval(forexample,unauthorisedafterhours
tutoring,privateinstrumental/otherlessonsorsportcoaching);accidentalcontact,suchas
seeingpeopleinthestreet,isappropriate
haveanyonlinecontactwithachild(includingbysocialmedia,email,instantmessagingetc.)
ortheirfamily(unlessnecessarye.g.byprovidingfamilieswithenewslettersorassisting
studentswiththeirschoolwork)
useanypersonalcommunicationchannels/devicesuchasapersonalemailaccount
exchangepersonalcontactdetailssuchasphonenumber,socialnetworkingsitesoremail
addresses
photographorvideoachildwithouttheconsentoftheparentorguardians
workwithchildrenwhileundertheinfluenceofalcoholorillegaldrugs
consumealcoholordrugsatschooloratschooleventsinthepresenceofchildren.
(AdaptedfromSource:VRQA)

I, ______________________________________, confirm I havebeen providedwithacopyofthe

aboveCodeofConduct.


Signed:___________________________________

Date:__________