Living School Child Protection Policy

Policy Overview

Living School is committed to ensuring the safety, welfare, and well-being of all students. This policy provides a framework for compliance with the NSW Registered and Accredited Individual Non-Government Schools Manual (Section B8.1) and relevant child protection legislation. It establishes clear procedures for the prevention, identification, and response to child protection concerns, ensuring a safe and supportive school environment.

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to:

• Protect the rights of children by providing a safe educational environment.
• Ensure compliance with NSW child protection laws, including:
  • Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012
  • Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998
  • Children’s Guardian Act 2019
• Outline the responsibilities of staff, volunteers, and stakeholders in preventing, identifying, and reporting child protection concerns.
• Provide clear procedures for mandatory reporting, staff training, and community engagement.

Scope

This policy applies to:

• All employees, volunteers, and contractors engaged in child-related work at Living School.
• All students under 18 years of age enrolled at Living School.
• Parents, guardians, and community stakeholders who wish to raise concerns about child protection matters.

Aims

Through this policy, Living School aims to:

1. Ensure all child-related workers are compliant with Working with Children Check (WWCC) requirements.
2. Implement robust reporting mechanisms for identifying and responding to children at risk of significant harm (ROSH).
3. Prevent, identify, and address reportable conduct through staff training and clear behaviour expectations.
4. Maintain compliance with NSW child protection laws and best practices in safeguarding children.
5. Foster a culture of child safety, transparency, and accountability within the school community.

Implementation

1. Working with Children Checks (WWCC)

To comply with the Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012, Living School:

• Requires all staff, volunteers, and contractors in child-related work to hold a valid WWCC clearance.
• Verifies WWCC clearances through the Office of the Children’s Guardian (OCG) prior to employment.
• Maintains WWCC verification records and renewal tracking.
• Ensures that any staff with an expired or revoked WWCC immediately cease child-related work.

2. Mandatory Reporting of Risk of Significant Harm (ROSH)

Under the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998, Living School mandates that all mandatory reporters:

• Identify and report students at risk of significant harm (ROSH) to the NSW Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ).
• Report concerns based on reasonable grounds, including:
  • Physical abuse, neglect, or exposure to domestic violence.
  • Psychological harm or sexual exploitation.
  • Risk of self-harm or other serious welfare concerns.
• Follow Living School’s internal reporting procedures, including notifying the Conductor (Principal) and Child Protection Officer.
• Maintain confidentiality and prioritise student safety throughout the reporting process.

Key People for This Policy and Procedure

• Conductor (Principal) – Oversees child protection policy enforcement and staff training.
• Child Protection Officer – Primary contact for child protection concerns, ensures compliance with mandatory reporting, and liaises with external authorities.

Stakeholder Complaints & Reporting Misconduct

Living School encourages a transparent and accountable reporting culture. Stakeholders can report concerns about:

• Child protection issues.
• Staff misconduct or reportable conduct allegations.

Stakeholders can report concerns through:

1. Direct communication with the Conductor (Principal) or Child Protection Officer.
2. Confidential written complaints, which will be reviewed following procedural fairness.
3. External reporting to the Office of the Children’s Guardian (OCG) or NSW Police, where appropriate.

Important Links/Files

There are a number of other School policies that relate to child protection that staff members must be aware of and understand including (but not limited to):

• Code of Conduct (students, staff, parents) – sets out information about the standards of behaviour expected of all community members; 
• Work Health and Safety Statement – identifies the obligations imposed by work health and safety legislation on the School and staff members; 
• Discrimination, Harassment and Bullying Statement – summarises obligations in relation to unlawful discrimination, harassment and bullying; 
• Complaint Handling Procedures – provides the steps taken by the School in addressing complaints; and
• Anti-Bullying Policy
• Care and Wellbeing.
• Supervision
• Positive Behaviour (discipline management)

Review: January 2027