Child Safety Standards
If you, or anyone you know has concerns about sexual abuse by a person who was working or volunteering at any Victorian government school, visit the Department’s Report Abuse if you're a current or former student website . This website outlines support and guidance options available to current or former students, regardless of the time that may have lapsed since the abuse.
Child safety and wellbeing at Southern Cross Primary School
Information for families and the school community
Southern Cross Primary School is committed to providing an environment where students are safe and feel safe. We have a zero tolerance for child abuse and are committed to protecting children from harm.
Our comprehensive child safety framework outlines our school’s strategies to support student safety and wellbeing. The framework includes the following policies, codes and procedures:
- Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy
- Child Safety Code of Conduct
- Child safety Responding and Reporting Obligations Policy and Procedure
- Complaints Policy
- Student Wellbeing and Engagement Policy
- Bullying Prevention Policy
- Volunteers Policy
- Visitors Policy
- Digital Learning Policy
- Yard Duty and Supervision Policy
Our students and their families are important partners in keeping our students safe. We value feedback and ideas on how we can continuously strengthen our child safety framework.
All of these policies are available below, or on the Policies and Procedures Page. If you have any suggestions or comments please contact the Assistant Principal on 9700 4488 or at southern.cross.ps@education.vic.gov.au
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Child Safety Standard 1: Culturally Safe Environments
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Culturally Safe Environments Cultural safety is the positive recognition and celebration of cultures. It is more than just the absence of racism or discrimination and more than cultural awareness and cultural sensitivity. It empowers people and enables them to contribute and feel safe to be themselves. In a child safe, culturally safe organisation, children, young people, family and community members feel that their culture and identity are respected. At Southern Cross Primary School, we use the ATSI Guide to Child Safety to support our organisation to promote and foster a culturally safe environment. SCPS is committed to contributing to the Marrung Aboriginal Education Plan and actively participates in and contributes to the termly network meetings. SCPS is located on the lands of the Bunurong people of the Kulin Nation. We teach, learn and play on this land, and pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.
Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy Aboriginal Learning, Wellbeing and Safety Action Plan Inclusion and Diversity Policy Student Wellbeing and Engagement
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Child Safety Standard 2: Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in leadership, governance and culture |
Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in leadership, governance and culture Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy Child Safe Risk Assessment (not available on website) |
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Child Safety Standard 3: Child and student empowerment |
Child and student empowerment Southern Cross Primary School implements the Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships Curriculum as well as School Wide Positive Behaviour.
School Wide Positive Behaviour
Students participate in weekly wellbeing lessons where they are explicitly taught about their rights, actively engage in decision making, explore the school values and learn about protecting their bodies and where to go to for support.
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Child Safety Standard 4: Family Engagement |
Family Engagement Southern Cross Primary School invites families to participate in policy development and review. We regularly seek feedback from the community using surveys and include Child Safety information in packs for newly enrolled families.
Families are informed about school operations and governance of child safety and wellbeing through the Principal Update and School Council Feedback.
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Child Safety Standard 5: Diversity and Equity |
Diversity and Equity Inclusion and Diversity Policy
To target the needs of the English as a Second Language Community, Child Safety is included in the CHaTS parent support group and parent information evenings.
For translated documents related to Child Safety click here or on a link below for the main languages at SCPS. Translations are available in Arabic, Chinese, Dari, Hindi, Pashto, Punjabi, Tamil and Urdu, as well as other languages.
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Child Safety Standard 6: Suitable Staff and Volunteers |
Suitable Staff and Volunteers Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy Suitability for Employment Checks
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Child Safety Standard 7: Complaints Process |
Complaints Process Responding to Allegations of Abuse
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Child Safety Standard 8: Child Safety Knowledge Skills and Awareness |
Child Safety Knowledge Skills and Awareness Staff participate in an annual Child Safety induction to ensure they understand the policies and are aware of their responsibilities and adhere to the code of conduct.
School Council participate in annual Child Safety Standards professional learning, facilitated by the Assistant Principal.
New employees and volunteers receive an Induction Package which includes the Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy, Child Safety Code of Conduct, Responding to Allegations of Abuse procedures and the Complaints Policy.
All staff participate in annual Mandatory Reporting Professional Learning.
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Child Safety Standard 9: Child Safety in the Physical and Online Environment |
Child Safety in the Physical and Online Environment Acceptable Use Documents (updated 2025 school year) Supervision of Students Policy (Not available on website) Child Safe Risk Assessment (Not available on website)
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Child Safety Standard 10: Review of Child Safety Practices |
Review of Child Safety Practices The Child Safety Standards and related policies and procedures are reviewed and updated in accordance with the review cycle of 2 years and after a child safety incident occurs. These updates are communicated to the staff and community through the Principal Update.
The School Improvement Team and Wellbeing Team review data in relation to the Standards and identify changes required to ensure the school is compliant with the standards and students are safe from harm.
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Child Safety Standard 11: Implementation of the Child Safe Standards |
Implementation of the Child Safe Standards To following actions are in place to ensure the implementation of the Child Safety Standards at Southern Cross Primary School:
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