I am committed to providing a safe environment to all children and young people. My policy complies with the Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017, the Child Safety (Prohibited Persons) Act 2016 and aligns with the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations.

I value and respect children and young people and welcome them regardless of their abilities, sex, gender, or social economic or cultural background. Bullying and harassment won’t be tolerated.

This policy applies to all business and activities undertaken by me trading as Tailored Family Wellbeing.

This child safe policy and related documents are available to children, young people and their families on my website or on request.

I encourage and respect the views of children and young people and involve them in decision making as appropriate. I provide clear age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate explanations to children and young people including their right to safety, their right to be listened to and that they can provide feedback or make a complaint if they have a concern or ask their parent/guardian to do this on their behalf. I will listen to and act upon complaints or concerns that a child or young person raises with me.

Caring for children and young people brings additional responsibilities for myself. I am responsible for promoting and protecting the safety and wellbeing of children and young people.

I will:

· stick to my child safe policy at all times and take all reasonable steps to ensure the safety and protection of children and young people

· treat everyone including those of different race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, social class, physical ability or attributes and religious beliefs with respect and honesty and ensure equity is upheld

· be a positive role model to children and young people in all conduct with them

· set clear boundaries to maintain appropriate behaviour with children and young people – boundaries help everyone to understand their roles

· listen and respond appropriately to the views and concerns of children and young people

· be alert to bullying behaviours and respond promptly and appropriately

· ensure another adult is always present or in sight when conducting one to one consulting, coaching, instruction or other activity

· be alert to children and young people who have been harmed, or may be at risk of harm and report this quickly to the Child Abuse Report Line (13 14 78)

· respond quickly, fairly and transparently to any complaints made by a child, young person or their parent/guardian

· encourage children and young people to ‘have a say’ on issues that are important to them.

I must not:

· engage in rough physical games

· develop any ‘special’ relationships with children and young people that could be seen as favouritism such as the offering of gifts or special treatment

· do things of a personal nature that a child or young person can do for themselves, such as toileting or changing clothes

· discriminate against any child or young person because of age, gender, cultural background, religion, vulnerability or sexuality.

Breaches or suspected breaches of the Code of Conduct can be reported as soon as practicable to me either in person, by telephone on 0452 134 019, or via email at admin@tailoredfamilywellbeing.com.au

Breaches or suspected breaches of the Code of Conduct will be taken seriously and dealt with quickly, fairly and transparently.

I am a sole trader with no paid or unpaid workers. In accordance with the Child Safety (Prohibited Persons) Act 2016, I hold a current, ‘not prohibited’ Working with Children Check (WWCC) issued by the Screening Unit of the Department of Human Services which permits me to work with children and young people in South Australia and I will renew this every 5 years.

To maintain my knowledge regarding child safe environments I:

· have read and understand the Mandatory reporting information booklet available at https://dhs.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/103179/CSE-Mandatory-notification-information-booklet.PDF

· complete ‘Responding to Risk of Harm, Abuse and Neglect’ training every 3 years; if delivering services within education settings.

I aim to ensure that children and young people are safe from harm and risk of harm. Section 17 of the Safety Act defines ‘harm’ to mean physical or psychological harm (whether caused by an act or omission), including harm caused by sexual, physical, mental or emotional abuse or neglect. 

I am a mandated reporter under Section 30 of the Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017. I understand my legal obligation to report direct to the Child Abuse Report Line (CARL) on 13 14 78 as soon as practicable if I have a suspicion that a child or young person has been harmed or may be at risk of harm. If the child or young person is at immediate risk, I will report to South Australia Police (SAPOL) on 000.

Information about making appropriate reports of harm or risk of harm is available from the South Australian Department for Child Protection website: https://www.childprotection.sa.gov.au/reporting-child-abuse.

I will be guided by the Department for Child Protection and/or SAPOL after making a report.

Following a report to CARL or SAPOL I will support the child or young person by:

· referring the child, young person or their family to other appropriate services if required, or

· continuing to provide a service to the child, young person and their family and monitor their circumstances.

I will document all information received regarding the report and store this securely in a separate file.

Providing opportunities for complaints and feedback ensures that children, young people and their parents/guardians feel valued and respected and enables me to improve the quality of my service. Children, young people and their families are informed that they can provide feedback or make a complaint as part of their welcome pack when they join the organisation.

Compliments, complaints or feedback should be directed to me in person, by telephone on 0452 134 019 or via email at admin@tailoredfamilywellbeing.com.au

I will manage all complaints and feedback promptly, sensitively and fairly and will:

· listen to the complaint/feedback

· respond to the complainant with an outcome in a timely manner

· clearly document and securely store decisions and actions taken in response to complaints and feedback

· make sure that procedural fairness is followed at all times.

Where my response about a complaint is not considered sufficient or appropriate, further advice/support can be obtaining through the following agencies:

· Complaint to Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW):

o Email: ethicscomplaint@aasw.asn.au

o Telephone: 03 9320 1044

· Complaints regarding NDIS services:

o Email: feedback@ndis.gov.au

o Telephone: 1800 800 110 (Option 4). 

· Health and Community Services Complaints Commissioner Tel: 8226 8666

· Australian Human Rights Commission Online: www.humanrights.gov.au Tel: 1300 656 419

· South Australian Equal Opportunities Commission (for complaints relating to discrimination) Online: www.eoc.sa.gov.au Tel: 08 8207 1977.

Physical contact

· physical contact must be appropriate to the delivery of services being   provided

· if physical contact is required, this is undertaken in a safe way by   explaining why contact is required and what will happen, and asking the   child/young person for their permission (or their family if this is more   appropriate) before proceeding

· unnecessary physical contact is not allowed

Online   communications

· appropriate supervision is provided for all online activities

· I will not communicate with children or young people via social media

Transport of   children and young people

·  Not applicable – not permitted.

Supervision

· one to one consultation with a child or young person will be in line   of sight of another adult

Taking images   of children and young people

· Not applicable – not permitted.

Physical   environment

· maintain a risk register that is reviewed annually to ensure   effectiveness

· conduct risk assessments at intake and for home visits 

· ensure all equipment is in good working order

Privacy and   confidentiality

· documents containing confidential information will be stored securely   with restricted access

· digital files containing confidential information shall be protected   electronically 

· I will not disclose information regarding any child or young person   without written or verbal consent of the child, young person and their   parent/guardian unless legally required to

- Risk Policy

- Complaints Policy

- Privacy Policy

I will, at a minimum, review this policy and the related procedures once every 5 years as required by the Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017. I will also review this policy when:

· new or added risks are identified for children or young people, which may require a change in the policy or procedures

· a critical incident occurs where a child or young person has experienced harm through involvement in the organisation

· concerns are raised by anyone involved in my organisation about child safety or welfare in the organisation

· awareness or compliance to the child safe policy and/or procedures is low

· legislative changes/requirements.

I will lodge a new child safe environments compliance statement with the Department of Human Services each time I review and update this policy.

Policy date:  16/10/2025

Review date: 16/10/2030