Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy
1. Organisation Overview
1.1 Camp Quality’s services and programs are created specifically to support children aged up to 15 years, who are dealing with their own cancer diagnosis, or the diagnosis of a family member.
1.2 Camp Quality provides kids and their families with fun experiences, trusted information, coping tools and a supportive community: in hospital, online, at school and away from it all on camps and at our getaways.
2. Policy Statement
2.1 Camp Quality is committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people who access our programs, services and events.
2.2 Camp Quality recognises all children and young people have the right to develop and reach their potential in caring, nurturing and safe environments.
2.3 Camp Quality considers any form of child / young person abuse (including emotional or physical, sexual abuse, neglect or exposure to family violence) as intolerable, under any circumstances. If proven, such actions constitute gross and wilful misconduct (a serious breach of Camp Quality’s policies and procedures) which will result in termination of employment and / or prosecution.
2.4 Camp Quality has a legal and moral responsibility to protect children and young people from harm and ensure any incidents of suspected child abuse are promptly and appropriately reported and dealt with through relevant channels / authorities.
2.5 All children and young people within Camp Quality are informed of our policy and provided with the support and mechanisms to feel empowered to speak up if they feel unsafe, or hear something, or see something that does not feel right. Camp Quality upholds a child’s right to be heard, protected and supported.
2.6. Camp Quality promotes equity and respects diversity by:
2.6.1. actively anticipating children’s diverse circumstances and responding effectively to those with additional vulnerabilities;
2.6.2. giving all children access to information, support, and complaints processes; and
2.6.3. paying particular attention to the needs of:
1.1 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children;
2.1 children with a disability;
3.1 children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds;
4.1 lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ) children; and
5.1 children unable to live at home.
2.7 Camp Quality upholds a family’s right to have their concern resolved and done so in a culturally respectful and safe way.
3. Our commitment
3.1 Camp Quality is committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people who access our programs, services and events.
3.2 Camp Quality has zero-tolerance towards abuse and neglect of children and young people. We are committed to the rights of all children and young people to feel safe and be safe when participating in our organisation’s activities, services and programs.
3.3. Safeguarding children and young people is a shared responsibility within our organisation. It is the responsibility of all at Camp Quality, including the Board, Executive, employees, volunteers and contractors to:
3.3.1. protect children and young people from all forms of abuse and neglect by our people;
3.3.3. create and maintain a child safe culture that is understood, endorsed and put into action by all the individuals who work for, volunteer, support or access our programs and services.
3.3.2. be alert to incidents of child abuse and neglect occurring outside the scope of our operations and services that may have an impact on the children and young people to whom we provide a service; and
3.4. We expect all within our organisation, regardless of their role or level of responsibility, to act to safeguard children and young people from such harm by:
3.4.1. adopting appropriate safeguarding practice and behaviour set within our policy and procedural guidelines, when carrying out their roles, and
3.4.2. reporting any abuse and neglect of which they become aware to our management and to external authorities responsible for child protection or to police, regardless of whether that abuse is being perpetrated by personnel within our organisation, or by those outside our organisation including those from the child’s family, extended family, their family’s extended network or strangers.
3.5 We monitor our employees, volunteers, and external providers to ensure appropriate practice and behaviour, and policies are followed.
3.6 We require our Board members, Executive, employees, volunteers and, where relevant, any third-party contractors having access to children and young people, to disclose convictions or charges affecting their suitability to work with children and young people.
3.7 Where appropriate, we review police records and Working with Children Checks (WWC Checks) periodically.
4. Responsibilities and Delegations
4.1 Our organisation has a safeguarding children and young people governance structure with robust systems in place which support personnel and service users to report safeguarding concerns and facilitate effective risk-based and informed decisions that ensure accountability to children and young people.
4.2 Our governance structure, including our Risk and Safety Committee (comprising a Child Protection Officer and Safeguarding Officers) defines the roles and responsibilities associated with providing oversight, management and implementation of Camp Quality’s commitment to safeguarding children and young people.
4.3 Camp Quality has an online, smart device friendly incident register for capturing the details of safeguarding children and young persons incidents so, together with the Camp Quality Safety and Child Protection hotline (CQ SAFE), incidents can be captured and acted upon without delay.
4.4 Board of Directors
4.4.1 Responsible for ensuring appropriate policies and practices are in place to minimise the risk of child abuse and appropriately responding to suspected allegations.
4.4.2 Required to understand and act in line with Camp Quality’s Safeguarding Children and Young People-related policies and the Employee and Volunteer Code of Conduct and Ethical Behaviour, including reporting any suspected child abuse (whether the suspected perpetrator is within or outside of Camp Quality) to the Child Protection Officer.
4.4.3 Required to promote best practice in Safeguarding Children and Young People and promptly respond to any advice received from any State/Territory child protection authority or the Australian Childhood Foundation (ACF).
4.4.4 In conjunction with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), are responsible for ensuring Safeguarding Children and Young People-related policies and practices are reviewed annually.
4.5Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
4.5.1. Accountable to the Board of Directors for ensuring that appropriate policies and practices are implemented, monitored, reported on and evaluated in a timely and diligent manner.
4.5.2. Review of safeguarding children-related policies and practices annually.
4.5.3. Required to understand and act in line with Camp Quality’s Safeguarding Children and Young People-related policies and the Employee and Volunteer Code of Conduct and Ethical Behaviour, including reporting any suspected child abuse to the relevant State/Territory child protection authority (whether the suspected perpetrator is within or outside of Camp Quality).
4.5.4. Required to promote safeguarding of children and promptly respond to any changes to legislation or advice received from any State/Territory child protection authority or the ACF and bring changes promptly to the attention of the Board.
4.5.5. Fully cooperate with all relevant State/Territory child protection authorities or other recognised bodies in their investigations of suspected child abuse.
4.5.6. Ensure that access to training and development and emotional support (access to an independent counsellor) is provided to employees and volunteers.
4.5.7. Manage inquiries, including the media, relating to suspected child abuse.
4.6 Child Protection Officer (CPO)
4.6.1. The Risk, Safety and Compliance Manager is Camp Quality’s Child Protection Officer:
4.6.2. Understands and acts in line with Camp Quality’s Safeguarding Children and Young People-related policies and Employee and Volunteer Code of Conduct and Ethical Behaviour, including reporting any suspected child abuse to the relevant State/Territory child protection authority, police department and/or the ACF).
4.6.3. Fully cooperates with all relevant State/Territory child protection authorities or other recognised bodies in their investigations of suspected child abuse.
4.6.4. Ensures that the Camp Quality Safety and Child Protection Hotline (CQ SAFE) is always answered (1800 CQ SAFE – 1800 277 233 or [email protected]).
4.6.5. In addition to the above responsibilities, the CPO leads Camp Quality’s Risk and Safety Committee and Work Health and Safety Committee and:
• promotes the safeguarding of children and promptly responds to any legislative changes or advice received from any State/Territory child protection authority or the ACF, and ensures that changes are promptly brought to the attention of the CEO;
• ensures appropriate policies and practices are reviewed regularly and access to appropriate training and development is provided for all involved parties;
• is the key contact for employees, volunteers, parents, and children on any safeguarding children matter;
• is the key collaborator in the development and updating of training policies and procedures that are considered part of child safety;
• directly liaises with State/Territory child protection authorities and other recognised bodies and assists in their investigations of suspected child abuse as required;
• is the key contact for the ACF to ensure compliance auditing requirements are met;
• investigates any suspected child abuse that involves a Camp Quality child or young person, employee, volunteer or involved parties; and
• in conjunction with the General Manager – People and Culture, ensures employees and volunteers are recruited in line with the relevant recruitment policies and that all employees and volunteers have the required Working with Children Check or Police Checks that are required, and are current and clear of any child related matters.
4.7 Employees and Volunteers
4.7.1. Are required to identify, report and respond to any concern about, or incidents of, child abuse or neglect towards children and young people to whom Camp Quality provides services and programs; including reporting any suspected child abuse to the relevant authorities and CPO, as outlined in the Safeguarding Reporting Flowchart (in the Responding to Suspected Child Abuse Policy and Procedure).
4.7.2. Must promote and act in line with Camp Quality’s Safeguarding Children and Young People related policies and the Employee and Volunteer Code of Conduct and Ethical Behaviour and practices and report any concerns with the policies or practices to the CPO.
4.7.3. Are required to complete the relevant training as provided by Camp Quality and, where identified, additional training required by State / Territory legislation.
4.7.4. Managers are responsible for recruiting employees in line with Safeguarding Children and Young People related policies and the Employee Recruitment Policy.
4.7.5. Employees are responsible for recruiting volunteers in line with the Safeguarding Children and Young People related policies, the Volunteer Recruitment Policy and Safeguarding Matrix.
4.8 Parents/Guardians and family members over 18 years
4.8.1. Are expected to understand and act in line with Camp Quality’s Safeguarding Children and Young People related policies, and the Family Code of Conduct, including reporting any suspected child abuse to the Camp Quality Safety and Child Protection Hotline (CQ SAFE) or the CPO or Safeguarding Officers (whether the suspected perpetrator is within or outside Camp Quality).
4.8.2. Are expected to promote Safeguarding Children and Young People policies and practices and report any concerns with the policies or behaviours to a Camp Quality employee or volunteer.
5. Policy Practice and Procedure
5.1. Access to Policy
5.1.1. The Board, employees, volunteers, and parents/guardians will be provided relevant information on commencement with Camp Quality.
5.1.2. The Board, employees and volunteers will also be provided additional Safeguarding Children and Young People related policies and Safeguarding Children and Young People training.
5.1.3. All involved parties can request this policy, along with other Safeguarding Children and Young People related policies at any time through the CPO or another Camp Quality employee.
5.1.4. All involved parties have access to the Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy and Employee and Volunteer Code of Conduct and Ethical Behaviour on the Camp Quality website and Family and Volunteer Portals.
5.2. Training and Awareness
5.2.1. Employees and volunteers receive Safeguarding Children and Young People training on appointment to their role, as detailed in the Safeguarding Matrix.
5.2.2. Employees and volunteers are required to complete the online Safeguarding Children and Young People and online cyber safety training as part of their onboarding program, every three years after that (ACF training) and at other intervals as required in relation to policy / procedure updates.
5.2.3. Employees or volunteers who complete the ACF training with another organisation must provide a current ACF certificate as evidence of completion of that training.
5.2.4. Volunteers who do not hold a current ACF training certificate will not be made active until the ACF training (and any other requirements) are completed.
5.2.5. Employees and volunteers who allow their ACF training to expire will:
• be requested to complete the training as a priority; and
• not interact with children or young people (in person, supervised or unsupervised, virtually or by any means of communication).
5.2.6. Volunteers, employees and other relevant persons are required to attend a Safeguarding Children and Young People briefing before every recreation program.
5.2.7. Records relating to employee and volunteer attendance and compliance are uploaded to Camp Quality’s various information systems.
5.2.8. Training content, delivery and compliance is the responsibility of the People and Culture team in collaboration with Services and Programs and the Risk, Safety and Compliance Manager.
5.3 Monitoring and Review
5.3.1. Camp Quality is committed to maintaining and improving its policies, procedures, and practices to safeguard children and young people from neglect and abuse. We have assigned responsibility for maintaining and improving our policies and procedures to the CPO.
5.3.2. This document will be reviewed by the CPO and Risk and Safety Committee every year, after consultation with the Australian Childhood Foundation. Some circumstances may trigger an early review. These circumstances include, but are not limited to, legislative changes, organisational changes, incident outcomes and other matters deemed appropriate by the Camp Quality Board and/or Chief Executive Officer.
5.3.3. Any updates or changes to this Policy will be communicated to all personnel and stakeholders.
5.3.4. External audit, and verification based on a sample, conducted by the ACF shall occur at three-yearly intervals.
6. Definitions
- Child: A child means a person who is under the age of 12, 16 or 18 years as defined by relevant State or Territory legislation (see Annexure 1).
- Young person: A person who is aged above 12 or 16 years but who is under the age of 18 years as defined by relevant State or Territory legislation (see Annexure 1).
- Involved person: Involved persons refers to individuals who are not volunteers and employees delivering or attending Camp Quality programs and service.
- Parent / Guardian and family members over 18 years: A family member or legal guardian directly supporting a Camp Quality registered child or young person impacted by cancer.
- Mandatory Reporter: Individuals from assigned professions who are mandated / legislatively required to report certain types of child abuse or suspected child abuse directly to the government authorities; examples of these professions include teachers, police and nurses.
- Child abuse: Child abuse and neglect refers to any non-accidental behaviour by parents, caregivers, other adults or older adolescents that is outside the norms of conduct and entails a substantial risk of causing physical or emotional harm to a child or young person. Child abuse can be categorised as physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, neglect or exposure to family violence (Child Family Community Australia). (See Annexure 2 for a breakdown of types of child abuse.
Updated June 2025
Annexure 1
State/Territory Reporting Contact Details
ACT
- Child and Youth Protection Services
- General Public: 1300 556 729 (24 hours)
- Mandatory Reporters: 1300 556 728 (24 hours)
NSW
- Department of Family & Community Services
- Child Protection Hotline: 132 111 (24 hours)
NT
- Territory Families
- Child Abuse Hotline: 1800 700 250 (24 hours)
QLD
- Dept of Child Safety, Youth and Women
- Brisbane: 1300 682 254
- Central Queensland: 1300 703 762
- Far North Queensland: 1300 684 062
- Ipswich: 1800 316 855
- North Queensland: 1300 706 147
- South East: 1300 679 849
- South West (Darling Downs): 1300 683 390
- After Hours: 1800 177 135
SA
- Department of Child Protection
- Child Abuse Report Line: 13 14 78 (24 hours)
Tasmania
- Department of Communities
- Child Safety Service: 1800 000 123 (24 hours)
Victoria
- Department of Health and Human Services
- North Division Intake: 1300 664 977
- South Division Intake: 1300 655 795
- East Division Intake: 1300 360 391
- West Division Intake – Regional: 1800 075 599
- West Division Intake – Metro: 1300 664 977
- After Hours: 13 12 78
WA
- Department of Communities, Child Protection and Family Support
- Central Intake Team: 1800 273 889
- After Hours: 18800 199 008
Annexure 3
Camp Quality – Legal Reporting Obligations Summary
Reporting Legislation and Summary
Mandatory Reporting
- VIC – Children, Youth & Families Act 2005 (Vic) ss 182(1), 184 & 162(c)-(d); Crimes Act 1958 (Vic)s 327
- TAS – Children, Young Persons and their Families Act 1997 (Tas) ss 3, 4 &14
- QLD – Child Protection Act 1999 (Qld) pt1AA, ss 13E&13F
- NT – Care & Protection of Children Act 2007 (NT) ss 15, 16 & 26
- NSW – Children & Young Persons (Care & Protection) Act 1998 (NSW) ss 23 & 27
- ACT – Children & Young People Act 2008 (ACT) s 356
- SA – Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017 (SA) Chapter 5 s 30-s 31
- WA – Children and Community Services Act 2004 (WA)Division 9A, s 124A to s 124H,
Relevant CQ People who must comply
Child Protection Officer
All jurisdictions in Australia have child abuse mandatory reporting legislation.
All jurisdictions require a reasonable belief or suspicion that a child is at risk of harm to trigger a mandatory report.
Reportable Conduct
- NSW – NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian
- VIC – Children Legislation Amendment (Reportable Conduct) Act 2017 (Vic)
- ACT – Reportable Conduct and Information Sharing Legislation Amendment Act 2016 (ACT)
All three Reportable Conduct Scheme legislations require employment-related child protection matters to be reported including employed volunteers and unpaid staff members.
Relevant CQ People who must comply
Camp Quality and its services/personnel in NSW, VIC and ACT
Failure to Protect and Failure to Disclose
VIC, TAS, QLD, NSW & ACT,
In response to recommendations made by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, adults who reasonably believe that a sexual offence has been committed against a child, must make a report to police. Failure to make a report is an offence.
Relevant CQ People who must comply
All Camp Quality staff and volunteers in VIC, TAS, QLD, NSW & ACT
