Child Safe Policy

Common Acre supports the rights of children and young people to feel safe, be listened to and participate in activities free from harm.

Purpose

The purpose of this Child Safe Policy is to: 

  • Demonstrate Common Acre’s commitment to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. 

  • Inform staff, volunteers, contractors and Board members of their obligations to act ethically towards children, and their roles and responsibilities in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children. 

  • Provide guidance on the processes and procedures that aim to keep children safe across all areas of our organisations work. 

Scope

This policy applies to all staff, contractors, consultants, volunteers and Board members of Common Acre during all activities which involve, result in or relate to contact with children. 

Responsibilities

The Board is responsible for approving and reviewing this policy and supporting a culture of child safety. 

Staff, contractors, consultants and volunteers must: 

  • Follow this policy 

  • Maintain appropriate boundaries with children and young people

  • Report concerns, disclosures or incidents involving child safety

  • Complete relevant checks and training where required

Everyone involved with Common Acre shares responsibility for helping children and young people feel safe, included and heard.

Visitors, contractors and partner organisations must comply with child safe expectations when participating in activities involving children and young people.

Definitions

Child: Any person under the age of 18 years old is a child.

Harm: Any detrimental effect on a child’s physical, psychological or emotional wellbeing. Harm may be caused by financial, physical or emotional abuse, neglect and/or sexual abuse or exploitation. Harm may be intentional or an unintentional consequence of our action or inaction.

Personnel: Common Acre staff, volunteers, contractors, consultants, Board members

Policy

Working with children and young people

1.1 Common Acre personnel must treat all children and young people with respect, act in a manner consistent with their role at Common Acre and be a positive role model to children. 

1.2 Common Acre’s Code of Conduct intends to protect children, personnel and the organisation by providing clear behavioural guidelines and expectations. Common Acre personnel are required to read, sign and adhere to this Code of Conduct. 

1.3 Common Acre personnel must maintain appropriate boundaries with children and young people they meet through Common Acre activities. Contact outside of Common Acre activities, including online contact, social media contact, private messaging, phone contact or meeting privately, should not occur unless necessary for the activity, known to the Farm Manager, and known to parents or carers where appropriate.

Risk management

1.4 Common Acre recognises the potential risks to children in the delivery of our work and programs. Common Acre proactively manages this risk by:

  • Completing an annual Risk Assessment relating to children and young people participating in Common Acre’s work and programs. 

  • Developing an annual Risk Management Plan, and monitoring progress against the plan throughout the year. 

Photographs and videos of children

1.5 Photographs and videos of children will only be taken and used in reporting or promotional material with the permission of the child / young person and their parent or guardian. 

Recruitment and induction

1.6 Common Acre personnel who work on the farm must hold a current South Australian Government Working with Children Check (WWCC).

1.7 When recruiting for paid positions, applicants must provide the contact details of two referees. Reference checks will be completed before a contract is issued.

1.8 All personnel will be provided with a copy of this policy and provided with training as appropriate to their role. 

Involving children and young people

1.9 Common Acre is committed to child and youth participation. We will provide opportunities for their views to be heard during all aspects of any program, project or activity that targets children and young people.

Responding to and reporting child safeguarding concerns

1.10 Common Acre will treat all concerns raised seriously, and ensure that all parties will be treated fairly following principles of natural justice.    

1.11 All reports made in good faith will be viewed as being made in the best interests of the child or young person, regardless of the outcomes of any investigation.

Anyone, anytime can report a child safeguarding concern, raise an issue or get in touch with us by email: hello@commonacre.com.au

Who should report?

All Common Acre personnel must report.

What should be reported?

Any disclosure, concern or allegation from a child, community member, visitor or any other stakeholder regarding the safety or harm of a child. 

Any observation or concerning behaviour exhibited by Common Acre personnel that intentionally or unintentionally breaches our Code of Conduct or this Policy.

When to report

Immediately.

Who should you report to?

The Farm Manager OR The Chair of the Board.

If the disclosure relates to the Farm Manager or Chair of the Board, or they are unavailable, you may make a report to any Board member, any Common Acre staff member. 

Contact details

Farm Manager: hello@commonacre.com.au

Chair of the Board: commonacreinc@gmail.com

How should I report?

Verbally or in writing. A written report may be needed 

What will happen next?

The Chair and the Farm Manager will discuss and decide upon the next step. This will involve one or more of the following:

  • Interview the person/s who made the report and/or other witnesses to gather more information. 

  • Report to South Australia Police and/or child protection authorities when it is suspected that a crime has been committed or a mandatory reporting incident has occurred.

  • Report to the Australian Federal Police when it is suspected or becomes clear that a crime has been committed regarding child sex tourism, child sex trafficking and/or child pornography

  • Report to funders, donors and other parties as required by contracts or other agreements. 

  • Handling the concern internally if it is not a criminal or mandatory reporting matter.

  • No further action taken,

  • Providing support to all stakeholders (including reporter) as necessary and appropriate.

Confidentiality (as opposed to secrecy)

Confidentiality is a key principle of reporting and managing child safety concerns. All information regarding a child safety concern must only be shared with essential personnel. 

The names of people involved, and the details of the report will remain confidential. 

Information will only be released on a “need to know” basis or when required by Australian law or when a report to police or child protection authorities is made.

Disciplinary action

Disciplinary action will be taken against personnel found to:

  • Have failed to report a child safety concern

  • Have intentionally made a false allegation

  • Have made a serious breach of the Code of Conduct or this Policy (minor breaches may result in action such as refresher training or increased supervision)

Disciplinary action may include the following sanctions: 

  • Disciplinary action / dismissal

  • Reporting to authorities

Remember: It is not the role of Common Acre personnel to prove that a child safety incident has occurred, but to report any knowledge or concern that they may have of a child safety incident occurring.

Review

This policy will be reviewed regularly to ensure it remains current and effective.