Purpose

This policy has been developed to ensure all parties are aware of their:

• Roles and responsibilities in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children. 

• Responsibility for establishing controls and procedures to prevent child abuse.

• Obligations towards identifying and/or detecting possible occasions of child abuse.

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Scope

The policies and procedures in this document apply to the Board, employees, volunteers, contractors, partners, affiliates, program participants, their parents, community members and anyone else who engages with Binar.

 

Policy Statement

Binar is committed to promoting and protecting at all times the safety and wellbeing of children with whom we come into contact.

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Binar values and respects the family unit although priority will always be given to the safety and wellbeing of children with whom we come into contact.

 

All children, regardless of their gender, race, religious beliefs, age, disability, sexual orientation, or family or social background, have equal rights to protection from abuse.

 

Everyone working at or with Binar is responsible for the care and protection of the children with whom we come into contact, and for reporting information about disclosed or suspected abuse.

 

Anyone making a report in good faith for the purpose of investigating child abuse will not be subject to any civil, criminal or disciplinary action.

 
All people involved in situations where abuse is suspected or disclosed will be treated with sensitivity, dignity and respect.

All employees, volunteers or contractors who have access to information regarding suspected or disclosed abuse must observe strict confidentiality in relation to the matter and ensure that this information is kept secure.

Binar has a zero-tolerance approach to Child Abuse and reserves the right to:

• Take disciplinary action against those it believes are responsible for Child Abuse, which may include dismissal.

• Take civil legal action.

• Report the matter to law enforcement.

 

Definitions

Child means a person below the age of 18 years unless, under the law applicable to the child, majority is attained earlier.

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Child Abuse means all forms of physical abuse, emotional or psychological ill-treatment, sexual abuse and exploitation, neglect or negligent treatment, or commercial (e.g., for financial gain) or other exploitation of a child, including any actions that results in actual or potential harm to a child.

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Protection means any responsibility, measure or activity undertaken to safeguard children from harm.
 

Reasonable Grounds for Belief is a belief based on reasonable grounds that abuse has occurred when all known considerations or facts relevant to the formation of a belief are taken into account and these are objectively assessed. Circumstances or considerations may include the source of the allegation and how it was communicated, the nature of and details of the allegation, and whether there are any other related matters known regarding the alleged perpetrator. 
A reasonable belief is formed if a reasonable person believes that:

• The child is in need of protection

• The child has suffered or is likely to suffer ‘significant harm as a result of abuse’

A ‘reasonable belief’ or a ‘belief on reasonable grounds’ is not the same as having proof, but is more than mere rumour or speculation.
A ‘reasonable belief’ is formed if a reasonable person in the same position would have formed the belief on the same grounds. For example, a ‘reasonable belief’ might be formed if: 

• A child states that they have been abused

• A child states that they know someone who has been abused (sometimes the child may be talking about themselves);

• Someone who knows a child states that the child has been abused;

• Observations of the child’s behaviour led to a belief that the child has been abused or is likely to be abused; and/or

• Signs of abuse lead to a belief that the child has been abused.

 

Safeguarding means protecting the welfare and human rights of children that interact with, or are affected by Binar, particularly those that might be at risk of abuse. This refers to any responsibility of measure undertaken to protect a child from harm.
 

Sexual Abuse is any act which exposes a child to, or involves a child in, sexual processes beyond his or her understanding or contrary to accepted community standards. Sexually abusive behaviours can include the fondling of genitals, masturbation, oral sex, vaginal or anal penetration by a penis, finger or any other object, fondling of breasts, voyeurism, exhibitionism and exposing the child to or involving the child in pornography. It includes child grooming, which refers to actions deliberately undertaken with the aim of befriending and establishing an emotional connection with a child to lower the child’s inhibitions in preparation for sexual activity with the child.

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Roles and Responsibilities

While the responsibility to safeguard children is shared by all who work at or with Binar, some individuals have specific obligations with which they must comply.

Board member

• Review and approval of this policy. 

• Establishing appropriate and effective policies and procedures for safeguarding children that interact with, or are affected by Binar. 

• Ensuring that Binar observes all relevant laws relating to safeguarding children.

• Monitoring compliance with this policy.

• Reviewing this policy annually to ensure it is operating effectively and updating it when necessary.

 

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

• Ensuring that appropriate and effective internal control systems and procedures are in place to prevent and detect abuse. 

• Educating employees about the prevention and detection of abuse.

• Ensuring that all employees, volunteers, contractors and visitors are aware of:

  • Relevant laws

  • Relevant Binar policies, procedures and codes of conduct.

  • Their obligation to report suspected child abuse.

• Providing support for employees, volunteers, contractors and visitors in undertaking their protection responsibilities.

• Protecting the identity of an employee, volunteer or contractor reporting any suspicion(s) that a child’s safety may be at risk.

• Reporting any reasonable belief that a child’s safety is at risk to the relevant authorities (i.e., a School Principal, WA Police, Department of Communities: Child Protection and Family Support) and fulfil their obligations of duty of care.

• Dealing with and investigating reports of abuse transparently and accountably.

• Securely storing copies of incident reports and investigations.

 

Program Coordinators

• Promoting a safeguarding culture at all times.

• Being familiar with the types of abuse that might occur within Binar operational control and be alert for any indications of such conduct. 

• Assessing the risk of abuse within Binar operational control and taking actions to eradicate or minimise any risk.

• Educating volunteers about the prevention and detection of abuse.

• Facilitating reporting of any inappropriate behaviour or suspected abusive activities.

• Protecting the identity of an employee, volunteer or contractor reporting any suspicion(s) that a child’s safety may be at risk.

• Reporting any suspicion(s) that a child’s safety may be at risk to the CEO.
   

Employees, Volunteers, Contractors, Visitors

• Provide an environment that is supportive of the safety of all children.

• Be familiar with the relevant laws, codes of conduct and Binar policy and procedures in relation to safeguarding and comply with all requirements.

• Document and report any suspicion(s) that a child’s safety may be at risk to the Program Coordinator (or, if that person is involved in the suspicion, then directly to the CEO).

• Should not inform parents that a report has been made, interview the child, collect evidence or investigate the concern.

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PROCEDURES

Recruitment

As specified in the Recruitment Policy, Binar will:

• Develop a comprehensive recruitment and screening process for all new Board members, employees or volunteers, which aims to:

• Promote and protect the safety of all children with whom we work.

• Identify the safest and most suitable people who share Binar’s values and commitment to protect children.

• Prevent a person from working at Binar if they pose a risk to children and vulnerable people.

• Require all applicants to pass through the recruitment and screening processes.

• Undertake thorough reference checks before making an offer of a position with Binar.

 

Induction

In accordance with our induction policies, require all Board members employees and volunteers before they commence working at Binar to:

• Provide copies of a valid National Police Clearance certificate and Working with Children Card.

• Provide two references to verify suitability for working with children and vulnerable people.

• Review and acknowledge their understanding of this Safeguarding Children Policy.

• Sign the Child Safe Code of Conduct Agreement.

 

Risk Management

Binar will ensure that safeguarding children is a part of its overall risk management approach. This will include:

• Keeping the Risk Register and risk management plans related to safeguarding children current.

• Ensure all employees, volunteers, contractors and visitors understand this Safeguarding Policy and adhere to the Child Safe Code of Conduct Agreement.

• Conducting due diligence checks of employees, volunteers, contractors and visitors.

• Conducting awareness raising training for employees, volunteers, contractors and visitors.

• Encouraging reporting through the use of the Safeguarding Incident Response Form.

• Monitoring and reviewing the effectiveness and proportionality of its safeguarding approach.

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Reporting Incidents

• Any employee, volunteer or contractor who has grounds to suspect Child Abuse must report this to the Program Coordinator as soon as practicable and within 24 hours, using a Safeguarding Incident Reporting Form.

• In situations where a Program Coordinator is suspected of involvement in the abusive activity, or if the person having the suspicion does not believe that the matter is being appropriately addressed or dealt with by the Program Coordinator, the matter should be reported directly to the CEO.

• The Program Coordinator must report all suspected abusive behaviour to the CEO.

• The CEO must report all suspected abusive behaviour to the relevant authorities (Department of Communities: Child Protection and Family Support and/or WA Police) immediately.

  • Child Protection and Family Support: Mandatory Reporting Information System

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