Protective behaviours and how to talk to your child about it.
To read about this important information, click on the following link: Protective behaviours
Child Protection at St Mary’s College is based on the following PRINCIPLES:
a) The welfare and best interest of the child (student) is paramount.
b) Every child has a right to protection from harm.
c) Any person who presents an unacceptable risk to others will be removed from any contact with students.
d) St Mary’s College will co-operate and work in partnership with other state agencies that are involved in child protection.
e) All employees (including volunteers) must ensure that their behaviour towards, and relationships with students complies with the College’s faith values and Mission Statement and reflects the highest professional standards.
f) All employees and volunteers must comply with School Policy and Legislative Screening Requirements.
g) Failure by an employee to act in accordance with the requirements of this policy will constitute a breach of the College’s Contract of Employment.
h) St Mary’s College will respond diligently and promptly to a report of suspected or actual harm to a student.
i) St Mary’s College will support a student who is a victim of harm, inappropriate behaviour or sexual abuse by an employee or volunteer.
j) St Mary’s College will seek to ensure that a person who honestly reports a matter in good faith to an authority in accordance with this policy shall not be disadvantaged for doing so.
k) St Mary’s College will act fairly and reasonably towards an employee who is the subject of an allegation of inappropriate behaviour, harm or sexual abuse.
l) St Mary’s College will support an employee who is the subject of an unsubstantiated or vexatious allegation of behaving inappropriately or of sexual abuse causing harm to a student.
m) St Mary’s College respects the value of the family, but not to the extent that the wellbeing of the student is adversely affected.
Behavioural Standards that follow from these Principles are:
• Treating everyone with dignity and respect
• Respecting the physical and personal space of others, especially with regard to physical contact
• Respecting the reputation and integrity of others and treating personal information with sensitivity and appropriate confidentiality.
• Taking action where it is seen that inappropriate behaviour impinges on the rights or dignity of others.
• Ensuring that all people are treated fairly
• Applying the principles of justice and fairness in dealing with behaviour management issues
• Honouring the differences among people (e.g. in ethnicity, religion, age, ability, gender, sexual orientation and economic circumstances)
• Seeking to resolve conflicts peacefully rather than by the unjust use of power
• Exercising caution in the use of status or power and not using them for self-advantage
• Encouraging the growth of personal freedom and responsibility, in particular avoiding the possible exploitation of others (e.g. by encouraging dependency or subservience, or allowing the development of “personality cults”)
• Being aware of the possible inequalities and risks that might accompany a personal relationship where a pastoral/professional relationship is involved.
• Accepting responsibility for the establishment and maintenance of appropriate professional and pastoral boundaries
• Being familiar with the causes and signs of child abuse or neglect, the steps to be taken for the protection of students, and the procedures to follow if abuse or neglect is suspected or observed.
• Reflecting on the quality of the pastoral and professional relationships established by the individual and by others.
Essential Behaviours
To safeguard integrity and to preserve clarity of sexual and professional boundaries it is essential that members of staff:
• Avoid any behaviour that could be reasonably interpreted as harassment
• Ensure whenever reasonably possible that another adult is present or close by when working in a one-to-one situation with a student, and avoid providing pastoral care or individual tuition in situations where students are or feel isolated
• Avoid whenever reasonably possible being alone with a student or students in sleeping, dressing, or bathing areas
• Take particular care to respect personal space when supervising the sleeping quarters of students
• Do not supply or serve alcohol or any controlled substance to a student without the express permission of a parent or guardian
• Never administer corporal punishment to students
• Ensure that their actions or language cannot be reasonably interpreted as sexualising a pastoral relationship
• Seek professional advice and review of pastoral relationships when they sense the relationship is dysfunctional or unproductive
• Never ridicule, demean or intimidate a student or threaten their sense of personal safety.
What is Harm?
Harm to a student is any detrimental effect of a significant nature on the student’s physical, psychological or emotional wellbeing by any cause. It includes:
• Physical, psychological or emotional abuse or neglect;
• Or sexual abuse or exploitation.
Abuse of Power – refers to an abuse of the special relationships that exist between e.g. student/teacher/child/adult etc, where one is supposed to have the well-being of the others in special regard.
What to do if you suspect Harm?
If a staff member suspects harm to a student he/she is obligated by law to report this.
At St Mary’s this must be done by:
1. Completion of Student Protection – Form 1
2. Contacting one of the Student Protection Contact Officers – Mr Peter Jeffrey or
Mr Greg Manthey. (Completion of Form 2)
3. This information will then be passed on to the Principal.
Each stage of this process is strictly confidential.