Child Safety Policy

Download the Ivanhoe Girls' Child Safety Policy [PDF 179KB]

Updated February 2020

All members of the Ivanhoe Girls’ Grammar School community, including students, staff, board members, contractors and volunteers, are responsible for supporting the safety, participation, wellbeing and empowerment of children and are required to uphold the School’s commitment to child safety at all times and zero tolerance of child abuse (see definition below) both at School and outside of school hours, including:

• Treating everyone with respect and courtesy;
• Taking all reasonable steps to protect children from abuse, including listening and responding to the concerns of children, either for themselves and/or others;
• Promoting the cultural safety, participation and empowerment of all children, especially those of aboriginal background, ethnically / culturally / linguistically / gender diverse backgrounds or those with a disability;
• Educating all members of the School community to understand, identify, discuss and report child safety matters;
• Promoting child safety within the School, on all School activities and in all School digital environments;
• Reporting any child safety concerns to the Principal, Head of Senior School, Head of Junior School or Director of Corporate Services and ensure any allegation of abuse is reported to the Police and Department of Human Services. A confidential email address for the reporting of any child safety concerns is also available (childsafetyconcernreport@ivanhoegirls.vic.edu.au). Reports may also be discussed with the School’s nominated Child Safety Officers (as listed in the Appendix). All mandated staff are also required to fulfil their mandatory reporting responsibilities.

In addition, reportable allegations of child abuse made against an Ivanhoe Girls' Grammar School employee or volunteer will be reported to the Commission for Children and Young People (CCYP) by the Principal. Members of the public are also able to contact the CCYP via their website (https://ccyp.vic.gov.au/reportable‐conduct‐scheme) if a reportable allegation of child abuse involves the Principal.  

Ivanhoe Girls’ is committed to supporting the wellbeing of all its students and staff and will provide confidential support to those who disclose and/or report child abuse or are otherwise linked to suspected child abuse. The care and wellbeing of any victim of child abuse is of paramount importance to the School with both support  and counselling available.

Any allegation of child safety concerns will be taken very seriously and will be dealt with according to the School’s policies and procedures and Ministerial Order 870.

Child abuse includes:

1. any act committed against a child involving –
   1. a sexual offence; or
   2. an offence under section 49B(2) of the Crimes Act 1958 (grooming); and
2. the infliction, on a child, of –
   1. physical violence; or
   2. serious emotional or psychological harm; and serious neglect of a child.

Appendix : Child Safety Policy – Child Safety Officers

Ivanhoe Girls’ Grammar School has appointed the following Child Safety Officers to assist all members of the School Community, including students, staff, Board Members, contractors and volunteers with any child safety concerns.

Ivanhoe Girls’ Child Safety Officers are:

    Director of the ELC    
    Head of Junior School    
    Deputy Head of Junior School   
    Year 7 Coordinator    
    Year 8 Coordinator   
    Year 9 Coordinator    
    Year 10 Coordinator    
    Year 11 Coordinator    
    Year 12 Coordinator    
    School Counsellors (Registered psychologists)

All may be contacted through the School’s telephone 9490 6222 or email enquiries@ivanhoegirls.vic.edu.au.