Protection of children and young people is based upon the belief that each person is made in the image and likeness of God, and that the inherent dignity of all should be recognised and fostered.

St Francis Xavier College is committed to the care, safety and protection of all children and young people and child protection strategies and procedures that safeguard children and young people against sexual, physical, psychological and emotional abuse and/or neglect.

For further information regarding our Child Protection Policies, please contact the College to speak with one of our Child Safety Champions

St Francis Xavier College has appointed the people listed below as the College’s Child Safety Champions . Each Child Safety Champion is available to answer any questions that you may have with respect to our Child Protection and Safety Policy and the Child Protection Program.

Child Safety Champions are selected based on a number of considerations, namely:

• their personal attitudes, experiences and beliefs, for example, a person who is non-judgmental, calm, resilient and demonstrates a high degree of integrity and respect for confidentiality;
• their role within the College, for example, a person who has seniority and experience working with complex student and family issues at the College and someone who is readily accessible and available to all members of the College community; and
• their personal profile within the College, for example, a person who is approachable, who students and staff trust and who is willing and able to respond to issues personally and sensitively.

It is every individual’s responsibility to protect children and make reports regarding their concerns to the appropriate authorities.

If a person requires support in reporting to the authorities, the College’s Child Safety Champions are your first point of contact. They receive special training that allows them to deal with child protection concerns both sensitively and effectively.

Child Abuse includes:

• sexual offences;
• grooming;
• physical violence;
• serious emotional or psychological harm;
• serious neglect; and
• family violence, or exposure to family violence.

If you have any concern that a child may be experiencing any form of abuse, whether or not you have formed a belief on reasonable grounds that the abuse has occurred, you can discuss your concerns with the College’s Child Safety Champion. Please note that only raising concerns with the College’s Child Safety Champion, does not meet your legal obligations to report suspected child abuse.

The welfare and best interests of the child are paramount. Whenever there are concerns that a child is in immediate danger the Police should be called on 000.

DOSCEL and St Francis Xavier College are committed to complying with Ministerial Order No. 1359: Implementing the Child Safe Standards – Managing the Risk of Child Abuse in Schools and Boarding House Premises. Child safety and wellbeing also considers the diversity of all children, including (but not limited to) the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, children with disabilities, and children who are vulnerable.

Preventing and responding to child abuse requires a whole of community response to bring about broad cultural change. To this end, the Victorian Child Safe Standards apply to a broad range of organisations that provide services for children, including schools, churches, sporting clubs and youth services.

Ensuring we have child safe communities goes to the heart of our faith and core purpose. Therefore, we are dedicated to upholding the values and practices that create safe learning environments for students.

There are a number of supports available when responding to incidents, disclosures or suspicions of child abuse.

24 Hour Services

• Victoria Police: 000
• DHHS Child Protection: 131 278

Support Services

• Australian Childhood Foundation: 1800 176 453
• BeyondBlue: 1300 224 636
• Centre Against Sexual Assault (CASA): 1800 806 292
• Child Wise: 1300 CHILDWISE
• Commission for Children and Young People: 1300 782 978
• eHeadspace: 1800 650 890
• Kids First: (03) 9450 0900
• Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800
• Lifeline: 13 11 14
• MensLine Australia: 1300 787 978
• Office of the eSafety Commissioner: 1800 880 176
• Safe Steps: 1800 015 188
• Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Teams (SOCIT)
  • Southern Metropolitan – Dandenong: (03) 8769 2200
  • Eastern Victoria – Bairnsdale: (03) 5150 2677
  • Eastern Victoria – Morwell: (03) 5120 0351
  • Eastern Victoria – Wonthaggi: (03) 5671 4100
  • Eastern Victoria – Sale: (03) 5142 2200

• Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467
• Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA): (03) 9287 8800
• Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation: (03) 9411 9411
• 1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732