This policy consolidates a series of policies which have been developed and implemented by
Inventorium Academy (Academy) to create a safe learning environment and safeguard the
emotional, psychological and physical wellbeing of its students. The Academy recognises that it has a
moral and legal duty to protect its students from foreseeable harm. This includes the provision of
safeguards against mistreatment and timely reporting of child abuse. Preventative measures include
careful selection of staff, staff training and the Staff Code of Conduct Policy to enforce a high level of
professional standards. The Academy is committed to promoting cultural safety for aboriginal
children, children from a culturally, racially and/or linguistically diverse background and providing a
safe environment for children with a disability.
Together this group of policies and procedures assist the Academy to:
• embed an organisational culture of child safety
• meet its moral and legal duties to its students,
• fulfil its statutory responsibilities to protect its students
• fulfil its statutory responsibility to report child abuse.
This policy applies to the Inventorium community including all staff, all contractors, volunteers, and
directors.
3.1 Guiding Principles
3.1.1 The Academy has zero tolerance of child abuse
3.1.2 The interests of the child are paramount
3.1.3 All children have the right to feel safe and be safe at school
3.1.4 All children have equal rights to protection
3.1.5 All staff play a vital role in creating a safe school environment
3.1.6 All staff and other members of the Academy community have a responsibility to
protect children and young people from mistreatment.
3.1.7 All adult members of the Inventorium community have a legal responsibility to report
child abuse.
3.2 Staff Recruitment
All applicants applying for student connected work at the Academy are informed of
the Academy’s child protection policies and procedures, the Staff Code of Conduct
and the Academy’s zero tolerance of child abuse.
The Academy uses a combination of pre-employment screening processes to filter out
inappropriate job applicants: checks are carried out to verify the applicant’s identity,
employment history and qualifications. References are checked, not only for competence but
also for suitability to work with children. All teachers must be registered, and all other
employees, volunteers and contractors must have a positive Working with Children Check
(WWCC) Assessment Notice.
3.3 Induction and Training
New staff undergo induction which emphasises duty of care, child protection, and the statutory
duty to report child abuse. All staff undergo regular training in recognising symptoms of child
abuse, duty to report and reporting procedures.
3.4 Position Descriptions
All staff job descriptions include a statement concerning the staff member’s duties and
responsibilities with respect to child protection.
3.5 e-Safety
The Academy has policies in place to support and encourage cyber-safe behaviours. These
include the Cyber Safety Policy and the Social Media Policy.
3.6 Risk Management
The Academy has strong risk management policies and procedures to:
• Identify risks of child abuse and to mitigate those risks
• Detect suspected child abuse
• Safeguard the child and
• Report suspected child abuse to the appropriate authorities.
3.7 Bullying
The Academy acknowledges that bullying is a serious issue in schools and can result in high
levels of student anxiety with risk of serious harm to the students. Students are instructed to
report comments or actions that upset them or make them feel uncomfortable so the matter
can be dealt with immediately under the anti-bullying procedures.
3.8 Student Support
The Academy has a comprehensive model of student support in place, supported by policies and
procedures for the early detection of students at risk and a framework of support.
3.9 Reporting child abuse
All teachers understand their mandatory reporting obligations. All staff (paid and unpaid) are
aware of their responsibility to protect children and young people and to report child abuse. All
parents and other adult members of the Academy’s community have been informed of their legal
obligation to inform the police if they form a reasonable belief that a sexual offence has been
committed by an adult against a child under 16.
3.10 Student Empowerment
The Academy has policies and procedures and strategies in place to empower its
students through building:
• resilience
• standards of ethical behaviour
• self esteem
• leadership capabilities
• an understanding of the developing Self through personal reflection
• healthy and respectful relationships (including sexuality).
• Child Protection Policy
• Children Safety Policy
• Staff Code of Conduct
• Student Wellbeing Policy
• Mandatory Notification Procedure
South Australia Children's Protection Act 1993 www.legislation.sa.gov.au
Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017 (SA)
Disability Inclusion Act 2018 (SA)
Family Law Act 1975 (Cth)
Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986 (Cth)
Inventorium acknowledges that underneath our feet is a land criss-crossed with the lines of a map that has existed for thousands of years. Our staff live and work on the land of the Kaurna, Ramindjeri, and Ngarrindjeri people in the South, and the Dharug and Eora peoples in the East. We honour and extend respect to the indigenous members of our community, and recognise their connection with Country, and we are grateful to be able to share this country with Australians from all nations.
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