Child Safety

Tamar Valley Steiner School is committed to safety and well-being of all children and young people. This will be the primary focus of our care and decision-making, with particular attention paid to the cultural safety of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds, as well as the safety of children with a disability and vulnerable children

Tamar Valley Steiner School has zero tolerance for child abuse and is committed to providing a child safe environment where children and young people are safe and feel safe, and their voices are heard about decisions that affect their lives.

Every person involved in Tamar Valley Steiner School has a responsibility to understand the important and specific role they play individually and collectively to ensure that the wellbeing and safety of all children and young people is at the forefront of all they do and every decision they make.

It is the responsibility of all at Tamar Valley Steiner School, from the Board, Principal, staff and volunteers, to understand the important responsibility they have to: Protect students and children from all forms of abuse, bullying and exploitation by our people; Be alert to incidents of child abuse and neglect occurring outside the scope of our operations and services that may have an impact on the students and children to whom we provide a service; and Create and maintain a child safe culture that is understood, endorsed and put into action by all the individuals who work for, volunteer or access our programs and services.

We expect all within our organisation, regardless of their role or level of responsibility, to act to safeguard children from such harm by: Adopting the practices and behaviour we have set as our standard when carrying out their roles; and Reporting any abuse or neglect of which they become aware to our management and/or to external authorities responsible for child protection or to police, regardless of whether that abuse is being perpetrated by personnel within our organisation, or by those outside our organisation including those from the child’s family, extended family, their family’s extended network or strangers.

In its planning, decision-making and operations, Tamar Valley Steiner School will:

  • Take a preventative, proactive and participatory approach to child safety 
  • Value and empower children to participate in decisions which affect their lives 
  • Foster a culture of openness that supports all persons to safely disclose risks of harm to children 
  • Respect diversity in cultures and child rearing practices while keeping child safety paramount 
  • Provide written guidance on appropriate conduct and behaviour towards children 
  • Engage only the most suitable people to work with children and have high quality staff and volunteer supervision and professional development 
  • Ensure children know who to talk with if they are worried or are feeling unsafe, and that they are comfortable and encouraged to raise such issues 
  • Report suspected abuse, neglect or mistreatment promptly to the appropriate authorities 
  • Share information appropriately and lawfully with other organisations where the safety and wellbeing of children is at risk 
  • Value the input of families and carers and correspond with them regularly. 

Child Safe Policies

Our child safe policies are available on our website

Further information

Our School Board members individually and collectively commit to the National Principles for Child safety. View current board members

In upholding the above, the following legislation and guidelines will be followed: