Child Safety
Child Safety at STEPS
We are committed to providing services for children which are welcoming, safe and nurturing, and to ensuring STEPS is a safe environment for children and their families. Our principles of child safe, child friendly practice are aligned with our STEPS values and are guided by our Child Safety Governance Framework.
Our commitment
We publicly affirm zero tolerance for abuse, neglect and exploitation of children and young people.
We will:
Take all reasonable steps to protect children’s safety and wellbeing and actively prevent risks
Embed child safety in leadership, governance, planning, and daily practice
Empower children to be heard and to participate in decisions that affect them and to be taken seriously
Partner with families and communities in open, two way communication
Uphold equity and cultural safety, including specific commitments to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, as outlined in the STEPS Cultural Safety Plan
Screen, train, and supervise all workers to ensure suitability to role and compliance to child safety principles
Respond promptly to concerns with a child focused, trauma informed approach
Equip team with knowledge providing induction, and ongoing training to ensure development of professional skills
Maintain safe physical and online environments with proactive risk controls
Continuously review and improve our child safe systems
Document and maintain/review clear, accessible, and publicly available policies and procedures
Contact
If you are concerned about anything you see, hear or feel in relation to the safety of a child, we encourage you to reach out to us. Talk to a staff member, manager or the STEPS Child Safety Officer
Call: 1300 131 965
All feedback and information received is private and confidential and is managed by our Child Safety Officer and trained managers.
Resources
STEPS resources
External resources