Safeguarding
Safeguarding our Community
At Scotch College we consider the health, safety and wellbeing of all children and young people to be our highest priority. The School’s commitment to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children and young people is clearly manifest in our Safeguarding Children Commitment Statement and Child Safety Code of Conduct.
In May, 2015, the Principal wrote to Old Boys noting the School’s desire for former students who had suffered trauma, including sexual abuse, to contact the School Psychologist. This remains the wish of the School. The School Psychologist, Nick Clark, can be contacted via nick.clark@scotch.vic.edu.au and on 9810 4287.
Our Safeguarding Children Commitment Statement underpins a set of policies and procedures in relation to the protection of children and young people, which collectively provide a framework that informs:
- the screening and recruitment of our personnel
- the behaviour of our personnel towards children and young people,
- the induction and training of our personnel about safeguarding children and young people,
- effective communication with children and young people and their parents,
- our responses to the abuse and neglect of children if it occurs, and
- the maintenance of a safeguarding culture in the organisation.
Our teaching staff are required to:
- have current registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching which includes a national criminal history check,
- sign an agreement to abide by the Safeguarding Code of Conduct
- complete the Safeguarding Children online Course administered by the Australian Childhood Foundation,
- behave professionally and with care towards children and young people,
- understand the important responsibility they have to protect children and young people from all forms of abuse, bullying and exploitation either by our personnel or that occurs outside the scope of our operations and services
- create and maintain a child safe culture.
Our non-teaching staff and volunteers are required to
- sign an agreement to abide by the safeguarding Code of Conduct
- complete the Safeguarding Children online Course administered by the Australian Childhood Foundation
- maintain a current Working With Children check.
- maintain the highest standards of professional conduct towards children and young people.
The Child Protection Commitment Statement and Child Safety Code of Conduct are publicly available and are accessible via the links below.
Scotch College considers any form of child abuse including emotional, physical and sexual abuse, family violence, grooming or neglect as intolerable under any circumstances.
The School has a legal, moral and mission driven responsibility to protect children and young people from harm and to ensure that any incident of suspected child abuse is addressed appropriately and as promptly as possible. Our personnel are required to report suspected child abuse and activity that is contrary to the Safeguarding Code of Conduct.
If a Scotch College staff member forms the view that a child’s safety is at serious risk a report to child protection authorities or the police will proceed. Scotch College will co-operate with the child protection authorities and police and other agencies as required by law.
Scotch College embraces diversity and is committed to meeting the needs of every boy in an environment where safety and respect for difference is paramount.
Kristy Irwin
98104259
How we support boys in our care:
How Scotch is committed to the establishment of an environment of safety:
Information for parents
Information for boys:
Information for staff, including reporting procedures and how Scotch will respond to allegations or disclosures of child abuse:
