What is a Child Safe Code of Conduct?

A Child Safe Code of Conduct is a document outlining expected behaviours from all members of an organisation, and behaviours that are unacceptable, when interacting with children and young people.

An organisation’s Child Safe Code of Conduct should:

• Identify to leaders, staff and volunteers the expected behavioural standards for engaging with children and young people in the organisation. It should set a high standard of conduct for the protection and wellbeing of children and young people.

• Cover conduct in both the physical and online environments.

• Be easy for people to access and understand.

• Be covered in induction training for all staff and volunteers.

• Link to relevant legislation, the organisation’s Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy and related policies and procedures, including those for receiving and responding to complaints and concerns and for reporting to external authorities.

• Link to relevant human resources and procurement processes in the organisation, for example recruitment processes, individual contracts or terms of employment, and contracting of services from third parties.

The Speechie Crew’s Child Safe Code of Conduct

All paid and unpaid staff, including volunteers, interns or trainees of The Speechie Crew are responsible for the safety and wellbeing of children and young people who engage with The Speechie Crew. All paid and unpaid staff are expected to act in accordance with this Code of Conduct in their physical and online interactions with children and young people under the age of 18 years.

All paid and unpaid staff of The Speechie Crew accept and agree to the following:

I will:

• Act in accordance with The Speechie Crew’s child safety and wellbeing policies and procedures at all times.

• Behave respectfully, courteously and ethically towards children and their families and towards other staff.

• Listen and respond to the views and concerns of children, particularly if they communicate (verbally or non-verbally) that they do not feel safe or well.

• Promote the human rights, safety and wellbeing of all children in The Speechie Crew.

• Demonstrate appropriate personal and professional boundaries.

• Consider and respect the diverse backgrounds and needs of children.

• Create an environment that promotes and enables children’s participation and is welcoming, culturally safe and inclusive for all children and their families.

• Involve children in making decisions about activities, policies and processes that concern them wherever possible.

• Contribute, where appropriate, to The Speechie Crew’s policies, discussions, learning and reviews about child safety and wellbeing.

• Identify and mitigate risks to children’s safety and wellbeing as required by The Speechie Crew’s risk assessment and management policy or process.

• Respond to any concerns or complaints of child harm or abuse promptly and in line with The Speechie Crew’s policy and procedure for receiving and responding to complaints.

• Report all suspected or disclosed child harm or abuse as required by Victorian Department of Families, Fairness and Housing Child Protection and by The Speechie Crew’s policy and procedure on internal and external reporting.

• Comply with The Speechie Crew’s protocols on communicating with children.

• Comply with the Australian Privacy Act 1988 and The Speechie Crew’s policies and procedures on record keeping and information sharing.

I will not:

• Engage in any unlawful activity with or in relation to a child.

• Engage in any activity that is likely to physically, sexually or emotionally harm a child.

• Unlawfully discriminate against any child or their family members.

• Be alone with a child unnecessarily.

• Arrange personal contact, including online contact, with children I am working with for a purpose unrelated to The Speechie Crew’s activities.

• Disclose personal or sensitive information about a child, including images of a child, unless the child and their parent or legal guardian consent or unless I am required to do so by The Speechie Crew’s policy and procedure on reporting.

• Use inappropriate language in the presence of children, or show or provide children with access to inappropriate images or material.

• Work with children while under the influence of alcohol or prohibited drugs.

• Ignore or disregard any suspected or disclosed child harm or abuse.

If I think this Code of Conduct has been breached by another person in The Speechie Crew I will:

• Act to prioritise the best interests of children.

• Take actions promptly to ensure that children are safe.

• Promptly report any concerns to my manager, The Speechie Crew’s manager.

• Follow The Speechie Crew’s policies and procedures for receiving and responding to complaints and concerns.

• Comply with legislative requirements on reporting if relevant, and with The Speechie Crew’s policy and procedure on internal and external reporting.