Child and Youth Safety and Wellbeing Policy

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​1. Purpose

The Child and Youth Safety and Wellbeing Policy outlines our commitment to making our workplace and our work child safe.

It informs all workers of their obligations under the Child and Youth Safe Organisations Framework​ in relation to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people.

2. Statement of Commitment

At the EPA we care about children and young people’s safety and wellbeing. We have zero tolerance of child abuse and harm. We will treat all allegations and safety concerns seriously, in line with our policies and procedures, and in compliance with the Child and Youth Safe Organisations Act 202​3.

We are committed to building a positive and proactive child safe culture to support child safety and wellbeing.

We will be responsive to the needs of all children and young people, including the cultural safety and needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, children with disability, and LGBTIQA+ children.

We will ensure that child safety and wellbeing is embedded in our organisational culture, reflected in our policies and procedures, and understood and practiced at all levels of our work.

Being a child safe organisation is an ongoing process that will require us all to work together to keep children and young people safe.

3. Scope

This Policy applies to:

• all workers undertaking work for the EPA. Workers include employees, volunteers, officers, contractors, consultants, board members, students and trainees.

• all activities in the EPA which involve, result in, or relate to contact with children and young people.

4. ​​​​​Requirements of The Child and Youth Safe Organisations Framework

The Child and Youth Safe Organisations Framework (the Framework) was established through the Child and Youth Safe Organisations Act 2023.  

The four pillars of the Framework are:

• the Child and Youth Safe Standards, 
• the Reportable Conduct Scheme, 
• the Independent Regulator, and 
• information sharing provisions.

The Child and Youth Safe Standards (the Standards) are 10 standards that outline how we can develop a culture with child safety and wellbeing at its centre.

In putting the Standards into practice, we will also give effect to the Universal Principle for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Safety. The Universal Principle says organisations must provide an environment that ensures that the right to Cultural Safety of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children and young people is respected. The Universal Principle applies to all 10 Standards.

The Child and Youth Safe Standards

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Standard 9 Implementation of the Child and Youth Safe Standards is regularly reviewed and improved.

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

​Reportable Conduct Scheme

The Reportable Conduct Scheme is about creating a culture where organisations that engage with children and young people investigate concerns about conduct related to a child or young person in a thorough, transparent, safe and child-centred way.

The Reportable Conduct Scheme is specifically aimed at providing independent oversight of how organisations respond to concerns about child-related harm by workers.

The Head of Agency (or delegate) is required to notify the Independent Regulator of concerns raised over conduct related to a child or young person involving a worker, and the conduct of the investigation(s).

Reportable conduct includes criminal and non-criminal behaviour including (but not limited to):

• significant neglect
• physical violence
• a sexual offence
• sexual misconduct
• grooming
• causing significant emotional or psychological harm
• failing to report child abuse.

The Reportable Conduct Scheme covers conduct alleged to have​​ occurred:

• at work
• outside of work
• before the worker was employed at the organisation
• before the Scheme commenced.

Information outlining how to report child and youth concern(s) and disclosure of information is provided in the EPA’s Reporting and Investigating Reportable Conduct Procedure.

If a child or young person is at immediate risk, call 000 or contact the Strong Families, Safe Kids, Advice and Referral Line​ on 1800 000 123.

Independent ​​​​​Regulator

An independent regulatory body that provides for independent oversight and supports organisations to understand how to comply with the Framework by providing support and advice and monitoring compliance.

The Independent Regulator has specific powers under the Act, including the power to:

• monitor the EPA's investigation into reportable conduct
  

• request information or documents to enable it to monitor the EPA's investigation into reportable conduct,​ or for the purpose of conducting its own investigation, and 

• share reportable conduct information with organisations, Tasmanian and interstate police bodies, the Registrar of the Registration to Work with Vulnerable People Act 2013 and other regulators.

Information ​sharing and record keeping

Inquiries into child abuse in organisational settings have shown there can be serious consequences when information does not flow effectively between relevant groups. It is very important that information is securely shared in a timely manner to protect children and young people from harm. Organisations may hold some information that, when pieced together with information from other sources, creates a more complete picture of conduct or risk of harm to children and young people. Information sharing can minimise these risks.

All information received will be kept and managed as per the retention and disposal schedule outlined in the Office of the State Archivist Royal Commission Toolkit and the Personal Information Protection Act 2004. The EPA will ensure that any personal information will not be used or disclosed, other than as required under the Personal Information Protection Act 2004, the information sharing rights​ under the Framework or as permitted to do so under another law.

5. Education and awar​​eness

It is important to ensure that all workers understand that the safety of children and young people is the responsibility of everyone. Workers will be provided with appropriate training and support to ensure that they understand our commitment and obligations to the safety of children and young people. The EPA aims to ensure that everyone knows how to identify risks of harm to children and young people and how to report concerns and disclosure of information related to child safety.

6. Child safe pro​​fessional conduct

All EPA employees are expected to treat children and young people with respect and act in accordance with the State Service Principles and Code of Conduct. 

EPA workers who work with children and young people, or who come into contact with children and young people in the workplace must:

• Comply with relevant legislation including Child and Youth Safe Organisations Act 2023 and Registration to Work with Vulnerable People Act 2013​.

• Treat children, young people and their families with respect, fairness, professionalism and courtesy.

• Take all reasonable steps to protect children from abuse (including completing all induction and child safety training)

• Professionally introduce themselves as a representative of the EPA to children and young people and their parent/guardian.

• Wherever possible, ensure another adult is present when working with children and young people, or where there is a likelihood of children and young people being present.

• When photographing or filming a child or using a child’s image for work related purposes, where their face is identifiable, obtain informed consent from the child and parent or guardian of the child as per the Tasmanian Government Communications Policy​. 

• Ensure the EPA’s communications present children and young people in a dignified and respectful manner and do not reveal identifying information about a child.

• Not use any computers, mobile phones, video cameras, cameras or social media to exploit or harass children or young people, or access child exploitation material through any medium.

• Not use language or behaviour towards children and young people that is inappropriate, harassing, physically or emotionally abusive, sexually provocative, demeaning or culturally inappropriate.

• Always maintain professional boundaries with children and young people and not pursue contact with children and young people outside of the work environment if that contact has arisen in the course of their duties.

• Always provide direct supervision to their own children if they are brought into the workplace. 

• Immediately report any failure to comply with this policy to the CEO and any concerns or allegations of child harm using the Reporting and Investigating Reportable Conduct Procedure​.

• Immediately disclose to the agency all charges, convictions and other outcomes of an offence that relate to child harm, including those that occurred before or during association with the agency.

7. Compl​iance

A failure to report a breach or suspected breach of this policy may be taken to be a breach of the policy. 

A breach of this policy may be a breach of the State Service Code of Conduct and may result in disciplinary action.  

A proven breach of the Code of Conduct could result in sanctions such as a reprimand, a fine, reduction in salary, reassignment of duties or termination of employment.

8. Respon​​​sibility​

​​9. ​Definitions