Child Safe Statement

Creating a Safe Haven for Every Child

At Sherbourne Preschool, nothing is more important than the safety, wellbeing, and protection of the children in our care. We are deeply committed to providing an environment where every child can thrive, free from harm, and empowered to reach their full potential.

The Victorian Child Safe Standards

Sherbourne Preschool proudly upholds all Victorian Child Safe Standards. These standards ensure that:

📋 Standard 1: Cultural Safety

We embed cultural safety for Aboriginal children, and children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds

🎯 Standard 2: Leadership & Commitment

Our leadership team champions child safety at every level of the organization

📝 Standard 3: Code of Conduct

Clear expectations guide how all adults interact with children

👥 Standard 4: Human Resources

Rigorous screening ensures only suitable people work with children

🗣️ Standard 5: Child Voices

Children’s voices are heard and acted upon in all matters affecting them

🚨 Standard 6: Risk Management

We identify and mitigate risks to child safety proactively

💪 Standard 7: Empowerment

Children are empowered about their rights and how to stay safe

👨‍👩‍👧 Standard 8: Family Engagement

Families are informed and involved in child safety decisions

🏛️ Standard 9: Physical Environments

Our spaces are designed with child safety as the priority

🔄 Standard 10: Review & Improvement

We continuously review and improve our child safety practices

How We Keep Children Safe

🔍 Rigorous Staff Screening

• Working with Children Checks for all staff and volunteers
• Police checks and thorough reference checking
• Ongoing supervision and professional development
• Clear boundaries and professional conduct expectations

👂 Listening to Children

We create multiple ways for children to express themselves:

• Daily conversations where children’s opinions matter
• Visual communication tools for non-verbal children
• Regular check-ins about feelings and experiences
• Child-friendly feedback mechanisms

🏠 Safe Physical Environments

Our facilities are designed with safety in mind:

• Secure perimeters with controlled access
• Visibility in all learning spaces
• Age-appropriate equipment and resources
• Regular safety audits and maintenance

📚 Education & Empowerment

We teach children about safety in age-appropriate ways:

• Body safety and personal boundaries
• Trusted adults and how to seek help
• Feelings recognition and expression
• Protective behaviours program implementation

Special Focus Areas

🌈 Cultural Safety & Inclusion

We recognize that some children may face additional vulnerabilities. We provide targeted support for:

Your Role in Child Safety

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 For Parents & Caregivers

• Stay informed about our child safety policies
• Communicate openly with staff about any concerns
• Supervise your children during drop-off and pick-up
• Report any concerns immediately

🙋 How to Raise Concerns

We take all concerns seriously. If you have any worries about child safety:

1. Speak to the Director - Katrina Failla is your first point of contact
2. Contact the Committee - The President can address governance concerns
3. External reporting - Department of Education, Child Protection, or Police

Continuous Improvement

Child safety is not a destination – it’s an ongoing journey. We:

• Review policies annually with staff, families, and experts
• Provide regular training for all staff and volunteers
• Seek feedback from children, families, and the community
• Stay current with best practices and legislative changes
• Learn from incidents to prevent future occurrences

Resources & Support

📖 Key Documents

• Child Safe Environment & Wellbeing Policy
• Code of Conduct Policy
• Supervision of Children Policy

🔗 External Resources

• Commission for Children and Young People
• Department of Education Child Safe Standards
• Raising Children Network

Our Commitment in Action