The NSW Child Safe Standards
The NSW Child Safe Standards have been accepted by the NSW Government and were recommended by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse as a framework for making organisations safer for children.
The Child Safe Standards identify what works to make organisations safer for children. They emphasise the importance of adopting multiple strategies to address child safety.
OCG Child Safe Standards Poster - WWCC 277.8 KB Download
Council will continue working to strengthen our child safe practices to ensure child safety is embedded in our organisational governance processes, practices and culture.
Our Child Safe Policy
The Child Safe Policy and associated procedures outline how Council meets its commitment and obligations to prevent abuse and ensure the safety, welfare and well-being of the children and young people for whom Council provides a service, and with whom the organisation has contact.
Child Safe Policy POL 083 213.6 KB Download
Our Child Safe Code of Conduct
The NSW Child Safe Standards require organisations that provide services for children to have a Code of Conduct that establishes clear expectations for appropriate behaviour with children and young people.
All Council employees are required to adhere to the Child Safe Code of Conduct which outlines appropriate standards of behaviour by employees towards children and young people. It aims to protect children and young people and reduce opportunities for abuse or harm to occur. It also helps staff by providing them with guidance on how to best support children and young people and how to avoid or better manage difficult situations.
WWCC Child Safe Code of Conduct 402.2 KB Download
Our Child Safe Reporting Process
Who can report child safety concerns?
- Parent or carer
- Child
- Community member
- Council employees including volunteers and Councillors
What you can report?
Any child safety concerns, including:
- Disclosure of abuse or harm
- Allegation, suspicion or observation
- Breach of the Child Safe Code of Conduct
- General safety or environmental concerns
CALL 000 (TRIPLE ZERO) IF A CHILD IS IN IMMEDIATE DANGER
How to report any child safety concerns
Parents, carers, children and community members can make a verbal report face-to-face, by letter, email, telephone call or meeting.
CALL 000 (TRIPLE ZERO) IF A CHILD IS IN IMMEDIATE DANGER
Who to report your concerns to?
Any Wagga Wagga City Council employee.
Call: 1300 292 442 or (02) 6926 9100
Email: council@wagga.nsw.gov.au
Fax: (02) 6926 9199
Post:
243 Baylis Street, Wagga Wagga NSW 2650, Australia
PO Box 20, Wagga Wagga NSW 2650, Australia
What happens next?
Incident involves a child
Concerns about or disclosures from anyone about a child must be reported immediately by Council employees to their direct supervisor.
All instances of suspected or known child abuse must be reported to the NSW Police Force.
Where a report concerns a risk of significant harm, a report will be made to the Child Protection Helpline on 132 111.
Support will be offered to the child, parent/carer, or the person who made the report and any involved/affected Council employees.
Incident also involves inappropriate behaviour or poses a serious risk by a Council employee
Any concerns about or disclosures relating to inappropriate behaviour, or serious risk of abuse must be reported immediately by Council employees to their direct supervisor, or to the supervisor’s manager if the concerns relate to the employee’s direct supervisor.
Where the incident involves a serious risk of abuse of a child by a Council employee, protective measures will be put in place by the relevant manager, in consultation with Council’s General Manager and People & Culture Division.
The People & Culture Division will initiate internal processes to clarify the nature of the complaint and disciplinary processes will be commenced, if required.
The People & Culture Division in consultation with relevant managers will decide, under legal requirements and duty of care provisions, if the matter should or must be reported to the NSW Police Force and/or the Child Protection Helpline and will make a report as soon as possible, if required.
The People & Culture Division will assess if the behaviour is reportable conduct, and where appropriate will notify the Office of the Children’s Guardian within 7 days.
The People & Culture Division or an independent third party investigator conducts a full investigation.