Our Commitment to Child Safety & The Cultural Safety of Aboriginal Children
City Kids Early Learning Centre is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children as our first priority. This is the primary focus of our interactions, planning, relationships and service wide decision making. City Kids has zero tolerance for child abuse or racism of any kind.
We are committed to providing a child safe environment where all children are safe ( and feel safe) and their voices are heard about decisions that affect their lives. At City Kids we work to promote a culture of shared attitudes, values and policies/practices that prioritise the safety and wellbeing of all children.
Every person involved in City Kids ELC has a responsibility to consider the importance of the specific role they play both individually and collectively, to ensure the wellbeing and safety of all children. Our leadership team champions this child safe culture, and sets the tone for our team to follow.
City Kids operates in accordance with the Victorian child safe standards. At City Kids we work hard to:
- Provide a culturally safe environment where children have the right to express and enjoy their culture
- Acknowledge and appreciate the strengths of Aboriginal culture and its importance to the wellbeing and safety of Aboriginal Children
- Embed child safety and wellbeing in leadership, governance and whole service culture
- Empower children in their rights and encourage them to have a voice in decisions affecting them
- Keep our families and community informed and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing
- Uphold and respect equity and diverse needs
- Engage only the most suitable people who are supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing in practice
- Value respectful communication and partnerships with families to put children first
- Commit to on-going professional development and training to keep up to date with child safe practices
- Provide learning environments and interactions with technology which are always as safe as necessary
- Review and improve the way we implement the Victorian child safe standards over time
- Develop centre policies and procedures and communicate how we are a safe organization for children
References:
Department of Education and Training webpage, accessed 30/8/19
The Child Safe Standards webpage, accessed 24/5/22
PROTECT: Early Childhood Guidance webpage, accessed 30/8/19
Commission for Children and Young People. “A guide for creating a Child Safe Organisation, 5th edition”. April 2022
Commonwealth of Australia, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Keeping Our Kids Safe: Cultural Safety and the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations, 2021.