Child Safety and Wellbeing
Campaspe Cohuna LLEN is committed to the safety, wellbeing, participation and empowerment of all children and young people.
We have zero tolerance for child abuse and harm. Every child and young person who engages with CCLLEN has the right to feel safe, be respected, be listened to and be supported to participate in opportunities that strengthen their learning, wellbeing and future pathways.
Child safety is everyone’s responsibility. Our Committee of Management, staff, volunteers, contractors and program partners are expected to act in the best interests of children and young people, uphold child safe practices, and report any concerns about abuse, harm, neglect, inappropriate behaviour or unsafe practice.
Our commitment to child safety
CCLLEN is committed to:
- embedding child safety and wellbeing in our leadership, governance, culture and everyday practice
- listening to children and young people and taking their views seriously
- creating culturally safe, inclusive and respectful environments
- upholding the rights of Aboriginal children and young people, and respecting the diverse identities, experiences and needs of all young people
- recruiting, screening, inducting and supporting staff and volunteers who are suitable to work with children and young people
- managing risks in our programs, events, workplace learning, mentoring, transport, online environments and community partnerships
- making it clear and safe for children, young people, families, schools, partners, staff and volunteers to raise concerns
- responding promptly, fairly and appropriately to child safety concerns, disclosures, complaints or allegations
- regularly reviewing and strengthening our child safe policies, procedures and practices.
What child safety means at CCLLEN
CCLLEN works with schools, employers, community organisations, volunteers and families to support young people across the Campaspe and Cohuna region. Our work may include careers activities, workplace learning, mentoring, learner driver support, youth projects, events, transport support and other education and transition programs.
Because our work connects young people with adults, workplaces, community settings and online communication, we take a proactive approach to child safety. This includes identifying risks before activities take place, making expectations clear, supporting young people to speak up, and responding quickly when something does not feel right.
Child Safe Standards
CCLLEN is committed to complying with the Victorian Child Safe Standards.
The Child Safe Standards require organisations that work with children and young people to have systems, policies, procedures and practices in place to keep them safe from abuse and harm. The Standards also require organisations to promote cultural safety, support children and young people to understand their rights, involve families and communities, uphold equity, provide child-focused complaints processes, and review child safety practices over time.
Cultural safety, inclusion and respect
CCLLEN recognises and respects Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people, their families, cultures, histories and connection to Country.
We are committed to providing an environment where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people feel safe, respected and valued, and where their cultural identity is acknowledged and supported.
We also recognise that children and young people have diverse needs, experiences and identities. This includes, but is not limited to, young people with disability, young people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, young people who are unable to live at home, young people in out-of-home care, young people from refugee or migrant backgrounds, young people who are LGBTIQA+, and young people experiencing disadvantage or vulnerability.
CCLLEN is committed to making our programs and activities safe, inclusive and accessible. CCLLEN does not tolerate discrimination, racism, vilification, harassment, bullying, victimisation or exclusionary behaviour.
Empowering children and young people
We want young people to know that:
- they have a right to be safe
- they have a right to be treated with respect
- they have a right to speak up
- they can say no if something makes them feel uncomfortable or unsafe
- they can ask for help from a trusted adult
- they will be listened to and taken seriously.
Where appropriate, CCLLEN will provide child safety information in ways that are clear, accessible and suitable for the age and needs of the young people involved.
Safe people and safe practice
CCLLEN takes steps to ensure that people working with or around children and young people are suitable and supported.
This may include:
- Working with Children Checks and other relevant screening
- reference checks and recruitment processes that consider child safety
- induction into CCLLEN’s Child Safe Code of Conduct and related policies
- clear expectations about professional boundaries and appropriate behaviour
- training and guidance for staff and volunteers
- supervision and support
- clear reporting pathways for concerns or incidents.
All CCLLEN staff, volunteers, contractors and program partners are expected to behave in a way that protects children and young people from harm.
Program and activity safety
CCLLEN considers child safety in the planning and delivery of all programs and activities.
This includes:
- identifying and managing risks before activities occur
- considering supervision, transport, venues, online communication and workplace settings
- working with schools, employers and partner organisations to clarify responsibilities
- ensuring young people know who they can speak to if they feel unsafe
- responding to incidents, concerns or complaints in a timely and appropriate way
- reviewing activities to improve safety and practice.
Speaking up or raising a concern
CCLLEN encourages children, young people, families, schools, employers, volunteers, staff and community members to raise any concern about child safety.
A concern may relate to:
- a child or young person feeling unsafe
- inappropriate behaviour by an adult or another young person
- bullying, harassment, discrimination or grooming
- physical, sexual, emotional or psychological abuse
- neglect
- unsafe online behaviour or communication
- a breach of CCLLEN’s Child Safe Code of Conduct
- a concern about how CCLLEN or a partner organisation has responded to child safety.
You do not need to have proof to raise a concern. If something does not feel right, we encourage you to speak up.
How to report a child safety concern
If a child or young person is in immediate danger, call Triple Zero on 000.
To raise a child safety concern with CCLLEN, contact:
Jane Reid
Executive Officer
Email:
Phone: (03) 5482 6055
You can also contact CCLLEN by email at
CCLLEN will take all child safety concerns seriously. We will listen, respond respectfully, document concerns appropriately, and take action to protect children and young people from harm.
Reporting to external authorities
Some child safety concerns must also be reported to external authorities.
In an emergency or where a child is in immediate danger, call Victoria Police on 000.
To report concerns that a child may be in need of protection, contact DFFH Child Protection. For children living in Campaspe or Gannawarra, contact North Division during business hours on 1300 598 521.
After hours, contact the After Hours Child Protection Emergency Service on 13 12 78.
For non-urgent police assistance, contact the Police Assistance Line on 131 444 or your local police station.
If an allegation involves a CCLLEN staff member, volunteer, contractor or other person engaged by CCLLEN, we will also consider and meet any obligations under the Victorian Reportable Conduct Scheme, including notification to the Social Services Regulator where required.
What happens when a concern is raised
When a child safety concern is raised, CCLLEN will:
- prioritise the safety and wellbeing of the child or young person
- listen respectfully and take the concern seriously
- respond in a way that is child-focused, fair and confidential
- record relevant information accurately
- report to external authorities where required
- reduce or remove any immediate risk
- support the child or young person and others affected
- review what happened and strengthen practice where needed
- report made to relevant funding provider(s) where applicable.
CCLLEN will not tolerate victimisation of any person who raises a child safety concern in good faith.
Support services
If you need support, the following services may be helpful:
Triple Zero
000
For emergencies or immediate danger.
DFFH Child Protection – North Division
1300 598 521
For reports during business hours where a child lives in Campaspe, Gannawarra or another North Division area.
After Hours Child Protection Emergency Service
13 12 78
For urgent child protection concerns after hours, on weekends and public holidays.
Kids Helpline
1800 55 1800
Free, private and confidential counselling for children and young people.
eheadspace
1800 650 890
Online and phone mental health support for young people aged 12 to 25 and their families.
Lifeline
13 11 14
24-hour crisis support.
13YARN
13 92 76
24-hour culturally safe crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
1800RESPECT
1800 737 732
National domestic, family and sexual violence counselling, information and support.
QLife
1800 184 527
LGBTIQA+ peer support and referral.
eSafety Commissioner
For reporting online abuse, cyberbullying, image-based abuse and illegal or harmful online content.
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