Safeguarding our students
The safeguarding of our students is the top priority of our schools and the Catholic Education Office.
Safeguarding is a term used to describe the protection of and human rights of vulnerable people. This may be due to their age, culture or trauma background, or they may be at risk of abuse, neglect or exploitation.
Catholic Education Canberra and Goulburn is committed to complying with Child Safe Standards. We have been working with our schools to meet these requirements.
Our commitment to every student
Catholic Education Canberra and Goulburn is committed to keeping children safe in all schools. We have adopted the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn Child Safeguarding Commitment, which states:
Our safeguarding approach
Our approach to child safeguarding is outlined in our Child Safety Policy. This policy includes the CECG Commitment Statement, the many aspects of child safety, how we ensure young people are safe, and our compliance with the Child Safe Standards.
Our approach to child safety may be visualised as a ‘web’ or curriculum, with many aspects linking together to contribute to its strength. As a child safe organisation, we strive to understand and follow our legal obligations, use contemporary safeguarding practices and involve all stakeholders – particularly children and families – in safeguarding functions.
Our legal obligations
As a child safe organisation we are required to comply with the Child Safe Standards, the Mandatory Reporting requirements for children in the ACT and NSW, the working with children/vulnerable person schemes and, in the ACT, the Senior Practitioner Scheme.
Parents and carers as partners
We see parents and carers as partners in their children’s educational journey, experience and safeguarding. It is important for us to work together collaboratively to respond to safeguarding concerns, subject to the involvement of other agencies, including child protection and police.
Useful links for families and schools
Office of the Children’s Guardian NSW
Australian Human Rights Commission