CHILD SAFETY & PROTECTION POLICY v1.0

(last updated 07.03.2021)

 

A child is “a person who is under 18 years of age, and in the absence of positive evidence as to age, means a person who is apparently under 18 years of age.” Children and Community Services Act 2004 (WA).

Combined Districts Concert Band has zero tolerance for child abuse. Child abuse can be physical, sexual, emotional, verbal, mental/psychological and/or neglectful (see further information below).

The safety and protection of children is a shared responsibility between Combined Districts Concert Band and all members, non-member volunteers, affiliates, and any other associated stakeholders.

If any person believes that the safety, health or welfare of a child is at immediate risk of abuse, the Police should be called on 000.

All members, non-member volunteers, affiliates and any other associated stakeholders must adhere to the following child safety principles and expectations at all times:

  • Take all reasonable steps to protect children from abuse;
  • Listen and respond to the views and concerns of children, particularly if they are telling you that they or another child has been abused and/or are worried about their safety or the safety of another;
  • Promote the cultural safety, participation and empowerment of Aboriginal children (e.g. by never questioning an Aboriginal child’s self-identification), children with culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds, and children with a disability (e.g. no tolerance of discrimination);
  • Ensure as far as practicable that adults are not left alone with a child;
  • Report any allegations of child abuse to the Executive Committee of the Association, and to the appropriate child protection service and/or the Police;
  • Report any child safety concerns to the Executive Committee of the Association;
  • Encourage children to ‘have a say’, especially on issues which are important to them; and
  • Support an environment protecting all childrens’ emotional and physical safety.

 

All members, non-member volunteers, affiliates and other associated stakeholders of the Association must never:

  • Develop any ‘special’ relationships with children which could be seen as favouritism e.g. offering gifts or special treatment for specific children;
  • Exhibit behaviours with children which may be construed as unnecessarily physical e.g. inappropriate sitting on laps;
  • Put children at risk of abuse e.g. by unnecessarily locking doors;
  • Do things of a personal nature which a child can do for themselves e.g. toileting or changing clothes;
  • Engage in open discussions of a mature or adult nature in the presence of children e.g. discussing personal social activities;
  • Express discriminatory personal views on culture, race, ethnicity, religion, disability or sexuality in the presence of children;
  • Discriminate against any child, including for reasons pertaining to their culture, race, ethnicity, religion, disability or sexuality;
  • Have contact with a child outside of the normal operational requirements or business of the Association;
  • Have online contact with a child outside of the normal operational requirements or business of the Association; and
  • Ignore or disregard any suspected or disclosed child abuse.

 

 

Reporting

 

Any adult (person 18 years of age or older) who forms a reasonable belief that a sexual offense has been committed in Western Australia by an adult against a child, as defined on page one, has an obligation to report that information to the Western Australia Police as soon as possible.

A ‘reasonable belief’ does not require proof – it is formed if a reasonable person in the same position would have formed the belief on the same grounds. Failure to disclose the information to Police is a criminal offense.

Individuals associated with Combined Districts Concert Band must make a report to the Executive Committee if they have significant concern for the safety and well-being of a child in accordance with the Children and Community Services Act 2004 (WA).

 

 

Investigating

 

If an official external investigation is conducted (e.g. by Child Protection Services or related agency, or the Police) all Association members, non-member volunteers, affiliates and stakeholders must cooperate fully with the investigation.

Allegations of child abuse are very serious and should be investigated by the appropriate authorities in a fair, skilled, confidential, and lawful manner. For this reason, abuse reported to the Executive Committee will not be subject to a full internal investigation, as it is beyond their professional scope of judgement. The Committee, however, must immediately report allegations of abuse reported to them to the relevant protection agency and/or the Police for investigation.

 

 

Breaching this Child Safety and Protection Policy

 

Any breach of the Policies of the Combined Districts Concert Band may result in disciplinary action. Discipline may include, and is not limited to, temporary and permanent bans from Association activities, termination of membership, and referral to external child protection services and/or WA Police.

 

 

Working With Children Check (WWC Check)

 

https://workingwithchildren.wa.gov.au/

 

The Music Director, and any Assistant Music Director, Conductor or Guest Conductor must show the Committee a valid WWC Check before leading any ensemble of the Association where 50% or more of the ensemble members, including guest musicians, are under 18 years of age.

For overnight camps, at least one chaperone aged 18 years or over must be present at all times if there is any member aged under 18 years old in attendance. If there is at least one male and one female child attending an overnight camp, then there must be at least one male and one female chaperone present.

All chaperones, whether a parent of a child in the Association or not, are required to show a valid Working With Children Check to the Committee before attending overnight camp.

i.e. Parents are not exempt from needing a WWC Check if volunteering for overnight camp, according to WWC Check legislation.

The President or Secretary of the Association will be the ‘Authorised Representatives’ given permission to sign WWC Check forms, confirm online renewals on the Association’s behalf, and receive WWC Check correspondence.

 

Reporting Details

 

Department of Communities Child Protection and Family Support

Contact the Central Intake Team on 1800 273 889 (for 24 hour crisis care phone 1800 199 008)

email cpduty@cpfs.wa.gov.au to report suspected abuse

Department for Child Protection www.childprotection.wa.gov.au

WA Police 131 444

Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800

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