Child Safety
At St Lawrence school, there are a number of approaches and strategies we use to ensure that children and young people are safe and supported regardless of their background, abilities, or circumstances:
- Child safety information, support, and complaints processes are culturally safe, accessible, and understandable.
- Interpreters and translated materials are provided where required.
- A Learning Diversity Leader is in place to assist students with additional needs.
- The Religious Education Leader supports the faith and mission team
- NCCD funding is applied for through MACS for students who require additional support for their needs.
- The school allow NDIS Allied Health Service Providers on-site to provide students with additional needs and encourage engagement.
- The school hold regular Program Support Groups (PSG) so plan adjustments can be made to include specific support plans or medical management plans.
- The school support students in developing the following plans, where required for students with additional needs:
- Behavioural Support Plans
- Student Safety Plans
- Personalised Learning Plans
- Return to School Plans
- Student Engagment team meetings occur weekly to dicuss wellbeing and diversity concerns.
- Use inclusive language and imagery in communication materials.
- Ensure school rituals, activities, and practices (e.g., liturgies, performances, camps, sports) are welcoming and adaptable to all students.
At St Lawrence school, there are a number of approaches and strategies we use to ensure that people working with children are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice:
- All interviews and reference checks include standard child safety-related questions.
- Position descriptions are developed for all staff members that clearly define their responsibilities, including those relating to child safety, Code of Conduct, and reporting obligations.
- The onboarding of staff and relevant contractors includes compulsory child safety, screenings (e.g. reference checks), training, induction, and signing the Code of Conduct.
- Staff are provided with the Staff Handbook at the commencement of each year.
- Procurement processes that ensure WWCC or VIT are in place.
- The induction process ensures staff know their child safety responsibilities.
- Regular performance, development, and review processes, including ongoing feedback, are implemented, allowing for open discussions about concerns.
- All contractors must sign in at reception.
- Where contractors are required to enter the site to perform a 'one-off' activity for a short period, and it is not reasonably practical to formally induct them (e.g., Sanitary Bin Maintenance/Courier Deliveries), a staff member supervises the activity at all times.