Commitment to Child Safety

Penola Catholic College upholds the care, safety and wellbeing of all students as a key priority. Our students are central to the mission of the College. Caring for the students is the collective responsibility of the whole school community and this commitment is drawn from, and inherent in the teaching and mission of Jesus Christ, where love, justice and the sanctity of each person, exists at the heart of the gospel.

Penola Catholic College is committed to providing a child safe and child friendly environment, where children and young people are safe and feel safe, and are able to actively participate in decisions that affect their lives.

At Penola Catholic College we have a zero tolerance for child abuse and are committed to acting in children’s best interests and keeping them safe from harm. The College regards its child protection responsibilities with the utmost importance and as such, is committed to providing the necessary resources to ensure compliance with all relevant child protection laws and regulations and maintain a child safe culture.

Child Safe Values and Principles

The College’s commitment to child safety is based on the following overarching principles that guide the development and regular review of our work systems, practices, policies and procedures to protect children from abuse.

1. All children have the right to be safe
2. The welfare and best interests of the child are paramount
3. The views of the child and a child’s privacy must be respected
4. Clear expectations for appropriate behaviour with children are established in our Child Safety Code of Conduct and Staff Professional Boundaries policy
5. The safety of children is dependent upon the existence of a child safe culture
6. Child safety awareness is promoted and openly discussed within our College community
7. Procedures are in place to screen all staff, Direct Contact Volunteers, Third Party Contractors and External Education Providers who have direct contact with the students
8. Child safety and protection is everyone’s responsibility
9. Child protection training is mandatory for all School Advisory Council members, staff and Direct Contact Volunteers
10. Procedures for responding to alleged or suspected incidents of child abuse are simple and accessible to all members of the College community
11. Children from culturally or linguistically diverse backgrounds have the right to special care and support including those who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
12. Children who have any kind of disability have the right to special care and support

Child Safety Team

Penola Catholic College has appointed the following people as members of the Child Safety Team. Each Child Safety Team member is available to answer any question that you may have relating to our Child Safety policies, including the Child Safety Code of Conduct and Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy.

The College’s Child Safety Team are your first contact for reporting any concerns that you may have relating to Child Safety.

Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy

Child Safety Code of Conduct

Child Safety Policy - Student Version