CAMP QUALITY AND THE 10 NATIONAL PRINCIPLES FOR CHILD SAFETY ORGANISATIONS

Our response to the 10 National Principles

1. Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in organisational leadership, governance and culture.

At Camp Quality we believe all children have a right to safety, emotionally and physically, and we are committed to keeping young people out of harm’s way and respecting their rights. As such, Safety Culture and Child Protection are an integral part of our Code of Conduct and Safeguarding Children & Young People Policy. It is the responsibility of all at Camp Quality, from the Executive to employees, volunteers and contractors, to create and maintain a child-safe culture that is understood, endorsed and put into action by all.

 

2. Children and young people are informed about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.

All children and young people in our care are informed of their rights and are encouraged to have their say and participate in all relevant organisational activities and decisions – particularly in relation to matters affecting them. Children and young people are given information about the behaviour our organisation expects from them, the behaviour they can expect from our personnel, their right to safe participation in activities, and access to information about any child safety or abuse-prevention programs.

 

3. Families and communities are informed in promoting child safety and wellbeing.

Camp Quality parents/guardians and family members over 18 years are expected to understand and act in line with Camp Quality’s Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy and the Family Code of Conduct. All agree to be actively involved in the promotion of a safe, inclusive and supportive environment. Our families and community are encouraged to provide their feedback and understand the process for responding to concerns regarding the safety and wellbeing of children in Camp Quality’s care.

 

4. Equity is upheld and diverse needs respected in policy and practice. 

Camp Quality’s inclusion statement recognises that everyone deserves to be treated equally, respectfully and with dignity. Therefore, we are committed to building an inclusive community that supports all children, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, ability, financial status, religion, culture or life experience. Our organisation does not tolerate discriminatory behaviours, and prejudiced attitudes will be challenged.

 

5. People working with children and young people to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice.

Safeguarding children and young people is a shared responsibility within our organisation. All our employees, volunteers, contractors and ‘involved persons’ who represent Camp Quality, or attend our events, agree to protect children and young people from all forms of abuse and neglect. We have developed a framework of policies, procedures and practices to support our personnel in meeting their responsibilities to protect children and young people who take part in our services and programs. Securing child wellbeing is what defines Camp Quality and the people who work with us.

 

6. Processes to respond to complaints and concerns are child focused.

We consider any form of child abuse, including emotional, physical and sexual abuse, family violence, grooming or neglect, as intolerable under any circumstances. We have 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 promptly and appropriately dealt with. All Camp Quality staff and volunteers are required to report suspected child abuse to their direct supervisor/manager and the child protection authorities or the police. Camp Quality will cooperate with the child protection authorities and police and other agencies as required by law.

All Camp Quality staff and volunteers have knowledge of our complaints-handling processes to access information and provide support should any child, young person or family in our service require it. Children and families are encouraged to provide feedback on child safety and wellbeing and any concerns or complaints are reviewed, and outcomes incorporated into the organisation’s policies and procedures.

 

7. Staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education and training.

Our staff and volunteers undergo regular education and training to implement Camp Quality’s Safeguarding of Children policies. The ongoing training ensures our staff and volunteers have a contemporary understanding of child development, safety and wellbeing. We also monitor our employees, volunteers and external providers to ensure appropriate practice, behaviour and policies are followed.

 

8. Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for children and young people to be harmed.

We have implemented thorough child-protection strategies for both physical and online environments to reduce the likelihood of harm to children and young people and to ensure their safety and wellbeing. All staff, volunteers and contractors have undergone a Working with Children Check and professional boundaries are outlined and adhered to. Our staff are required to avoid one-to-one unsupervised situations (including unsupervised online activities) and (wherever possible) are to conduct all activities and/or discussions with children and young people in view of other personnel.

 

9. Implementing of the national child safe principles is regularly reviewed and improved.

Camp Quality is committed to maintaining and improving our policies, procedures and practices to safeguard children and young people. Our Safeguarding Children & Young Person Policy is reviewed by our dedicated Child Protection Officer and Risk and Safety Committee every year, after consultation. Some instances may trigger an early review; this includes (but is not limited to) legislative changes, organisational changes, incident outcomes or any other matters deemed appropriate by the Camp Quality Board and/or Chief Executive Officer.

 

10. Policies and procedures document how the organisation is safe for children and young people. 

Our child safety policies and procedures are comprehensive. Camp Quality has clearly defined its legal and moral responsibilities to protect children and young people from harm and any incidents that go against our child-protection policies, no matter how minor, are documented and promptly and appropriately dealt with. We expect all within our organisation, regardless of their role or level of responsibility, to act to safeguard children and young people from harm by adopting appropriate safeguarding practices and behaviour set within our policy and procedural guidelines. Our policy statement outlines how all children and young people have the right to develop and reach their potential in a caring, nurturing and safe environment.

 

Further Information

If you have concerns regarding the safety of a child or young person or would like to discuss any of the information further, please contact our Child Protection Officer on 1800 CQ SAFE (1800 277 233) or contact the Australian Childhood Foundation.