Principal

The Victorian Child Safe Standards were designed to protect children and young people by ensuring that schools and other organisations have policies, procedures and practices to prevent and respond to child abuse. Although these Standards are most often associated with abuse and neglect, they have a broader wellbeing scope which aims to create schools that ensure that all students are safe, empowered and respected.

The revised Child Safe Standards, that came into effect in July 2022, explicitly include wellbeing as a critical element of child safety. For example, Child Safe Standard 2 requires that “child safety and wellbeing is embedded in organisational leadership, governance and culture’ and Child Safe Standard 3 discusses the importance of friendship, confidence, engagement, expressing their views and participating in decision making for the promotion of child safety and wellbeing.

Students who feel connected to their peers and teachers, respected for who they are – regardless of their background, race, ability, religion, sexuality – are more likely to seek help when needed, voice their opinion, speak up against injustice, and thrive socially, emotionally and academically.

At Camberwell Girls wellbeing is paramount when developing and implementing strategies to enhance child safety. Wellbeing and the development of student connection, engagement and empowerment, underline our practice. This is delivered and demonstrated by our comprehensive pastoral care program, the House system, the Upskill program, our Learning Diversity, Chaplain and Counselling Services, and our Heads of Department who mindfully select classroom material designed to strengthen students’ knowledge, confidence and resilience. A proactive focus on wellbeing can help students manage difficult circumstances before they develop into child safety risks and concerns.

However, when it comes to child safety, we do not shy away from the challenging and uncomfortable discussions about child abuse and neglect. As a school, we have implemented a policy ensuring that all students receive explicit, age-appropriate education on this topic twice a year. At the Early Learning Centre and Ormiston these sessions are run by the classroom teacher, and at Secondary School by the school counsellors. These sessions are not planned to create fear or anxiety in students, but to arm students with information to recognise inappropriate and unsafe behaviour, to help students set personal boundaries and most importantly to empower them to speak up and disclose any concerns they have to a trusted adult.

Apart from the student education, all Camberwell Girls staff including teachers, administration and maintenance staff, receive training on child safety and wellbeing, to ensure that our organisational culture reflects our commitment to child safety and zero tolerance of abuse.

All students have a right to feel safe, respected and valued while on, and off campus. At Camberwell Girls we are committed to protecting and enhancing the physical, emotional, social and academic wellbeing of our students. We encourage all members of our community to advise of any concerns they have regarding the wellbeing of their own child or any other child to the Principal, Heads of School or the School Counsellors. You can trust that your concerns will be treated with respect, sensitivity and confidentiality.

Paula Kolivas
School Counsellor

Ref: https://ccyp.vic.gov.au/child-safe-standards/the-11-child-safe-standards/