CHILD PROTECTION POLICY

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)