Child Safety Risk Register: Standard 9

Help for non-English speakers

If you need help to understand this policy, please contact Donald Eddington, Principal. Non-English speakers can also access Google translate at the bottom of this web page.

As valuable partners in promoting and maintaining child safety and wellbeing at William Ruthven Primary School, we welcome and encourage your feedback. If you have any suggestions, comments or questions in relation to our child safe policies and practices, please contact the Principal, Donald Eddington via email, donald.eddington@education.vic.gov.au.

School	William Ruthven Primary School	Responsiblity	Gemma Albress, Wellbeing Leader
Endorsed:	February 2024	Endorsed by:	Donald Eddington, Principal
Next review:	February 2025	File location:	School website

Child Safe Standard 1 – Aboriginal cultural safety Child Safe Standard 2 – School leadership, governance and culture Child Safe Standard 3 – Children are safe, informed and actively participate Child Safe Standard 4 – Family engagement Child Safe Standard 5 – Equity and diverse needs Child Safe Standard 6 – Suitable staff and volunteers Child Safe Standard 7 – Complaints processes Child Safe Standard 8 – Child safety knowledge, skills and awareness Child Safe Standard 9 – Physical and online environments Child Safe Standard 10 – Review of child safety practices Child Safe Standard 11 – Implementation of child safety practices

Child Safe Standard 1 – Aboriginal cultural safety

Child Safe Standard 2 – School leadership, governance and culture

Child Safe Standard 3 – Children are safe, informed and actively participate

Child Safe Standard 4 – Family engagement

Child Safe Standard 5 – Equity and diverse needs

Child Safe Standard 6 – Suitable staff and volunteers

Child Safe Standard 7 – Complaints processes

Child Safe Standard 8 – Child safety knowledge, skills and awareness

Child Safe Standard 9 – Physical and online environments

Child Safe Standard 10 – Review of child safety practices

Child Safe Standard 11 – Implementation of child safety practices

RISK TITLE AND DESCRIPTION	RISK ASSESSMENT Causes of the child safety risk	ASSESSMENT Consequences if the child safety risk happens	EXISTING CHILD SAFETY AND WELLBEING CONTROLS	CONTROLS ASSESSMENT
Child Safe Standard 9 – Physical and online environments
School physical environment Description: There is a risk the school’s child safety policies, procedures and practices do not adequately address and manage the risk of abuse and harm in the school’s physical environment. Risk type: Situational	Areas of child safety risk in the school buildings or grounds are not identified and appropriately supervised or managed.	There is an increased risk of child abuse occurring on school grounds or buildings if policies, procedures and practices fail to identify and manage areas of risk in the school’s physical environment. Physical and psychological harm as a result of child abuse	Our Yard Duty and Supervision of Students Policy (available on request) and Supervision arrangements - Before and after school (Statement) outlines supervision processes and requirements with a focus on child safety. Yard duty staff are trained to actively patrol the school grounds, paying particular attention to secluded areas that have been identified as high-risk including embankments, carpark, front of administration block, toilets and the fence line between primary and secondary school. Child safety and wellbeing policies, procedures and practices are in place to enable staff and volunteers to identify and mitigate risks in the physical school environment without compromising a child or student’s right to privacy, access to information, social connections and learning opportunities, including our Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy and our Child Safety Code of Conduct. Additional information that is specific to the risks at our school include: garden sheds and store cupboards are locked unless in use, with controlled access to keys school grounds are well lit for after-school activities students needing to go to the toilet during class time are required to go with a student of the opposite gender when accessing the outside/external toilets. We promote activities in the school community that connect schools and communities and raise awareness to prevent bullying and violence (e.g. National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence). We keep records of any court orders in place regarding access or intervention orders and communicate to staff who can collect students in these circumstances. We keep records of incidents that occur, including accidents and medical events. Give particular attention to the safety, diverse needs and vulnerabilities of students in each activity or setting. Consider whether there are any barriers that might prevent students from raising concerns.	Tolerable risk? Yes
Online environment Description There is a risk the school’s child safety policies, procedures and practices do not adequately address and manage the risk of abuse and harm in the school’s online environment. Risk type: Situational	Child safety risks in the school’s online environment are not identified and appropriately managed. Students are not provided with education about online risks and appropriate online behaviours. Online safety measures fail to adapt to emerging technologies and child safety risks	There is an increased risk of child abuse occurring if policies, procedures and practices fail to identify and manage areas of risk in the school’s online environment – particularly risks relating to grooming and further risk of abuse if the grooming goes undetected. Physical and psychological harm as a result of child abuse	Digital Learning Policy outlines the controls in place for online conduct and online safety at our school and is implemented. Acceptable Use Agreements are in place and enforced. Child safety and wellbeing policies, procedures and practices are in place to enable staff and volunteers to identify and mitigate risks in the online school environment without compromising a child or student’s right to privacy, access to information, social connections and learning opportunities, including our Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy and our Child Safety Code of Conduct. Staff undertake a privacy impact assessment for apps and other platforms in use by the school which includes the risk of access to children or personal information by people external to the school. Our students are educated about staying safe online through the school’s Start-Up program which include cyber safety education. We use filtering software on school-based devices. We have guidelines for taking, storing and using images of children and students – including photos and video recordings. Encourage parents to use parental controls on personal devices. Advise students on how they can seek help from a trusted adult if they are exposed to inappropriate online imagery or content that upsets them.	Tolerable risk? Yes
Off-site school activities and use of third-party providers Description: There is a risk that the school’s child safety policies, procedures and practices do not adequately address and manage the risk of abuse at school activities off-site and/or school activities involving third party providers. Risk type: Situational Organisational Propensity Vulnerability	School staff fail to identify and manage risks of child abuse occurring during off-site school activities. School staff fail to identify and manage risks of child abuse by third-party providers engaged by the school	There is an increased risk of child abuse occurring if policies, procedures and practices fail to identify and manage areas of risk for off-site school activities and school activities that involve third party providers. Physical and psychological harm as a result of child abuse	Our school complies with relevant DET policies with respect to the following activities, including policy relating to child safety and wellbeing: Excursions NDIS Funded Therapy in Schools Procurement For off-site school activities and school activities engaging a third-party provider, we identify and assess the risks of child abuse that are specific to that activity and ensure appropriate controls are in place. Consider off-site physical environments for student use and, where reasonably possible, inspect these sites and venues for events, excursions and camps ahead of time.	Tolerable risk? Yes

RISK TITLE AND DESCRIPTION

RISK ASSESSMENT

Causes of the child safety risk

ASSESSMENT

Consequences if the child safety risk happens

EXISTING CHILD SAFETY AND WELLBEING CONTROLS

CONTROLS ASSESSMENT

NEW CONTROLS

New controls to mitigate the child safety risk further

BY WHEN

Child Safe Standard 9 – Physical and online environments

School physical environment

Description:

There is a risk the school’s child safety policies, procedures and practices do not adequately address and manage the risk of abuse and harm in the school’s physical environment.

Risk type:

Situational

Areas of child safety risk in the school buildings or grounds are not identified and appropriately supervised or managed.

There is an increased risk of child abuse occurring on school grounds or buildings if policies, procedures and practices fail to identify and manage areas of risk in the school’s physical environment.

Physical and psychological harm as a result of child abuse

Our Yard Duty and Supervision of Students Policy (available on request) and Supervision arrangements - Before and after school (Statement) outlines supervision processes and requirements with a focus on child safety.

Yard duty staff are trained to actively patrol the school grounds, paying particular attention to secluded areas that have been identified as high-risk including embankments, carpark, front of administration block, toilets and the fence line between primary and secondary school.

Child safety and wellbeing policies, procedures and practices are in place to enable staff and volunteers to identify and mitigate risks in the physical school environment without compromising a child or student’s right to privacy, access to information, social connections and learning opportunities, including our Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy and our Child Safety Code of Conduct.

Additional information that is specific to the risks at our school include:

garden sheds and store cupboards are locked unless in use, with controlled access to keys
school grounds are well lit for after-school activities
students needing to go to the toilet during class time are required to go with a student of the opposite gender when accessing the outside/external toilets.

We promote activities in the school community that connect schools and communities and raise awareness to prevent bullying and violence (e.g. National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence).

We keep records of any court orders in place regarding access or intervention orders and communicate to staff who can collect students in these circumstances.

We keep records of incidents that occur, including accidents and medical events.

Give particular attention to the safety, diverse needs and vulnerabilities of students in each activity or setting. Consider whether there are any barriers that might prevent students from raising concerns.

Tolerable risk? Yes

Online environment

Description

There is a risk the school’s child safety policies, procedures and practices do not adequately address and manage the risk of abuse and harm in the school’s online environment.

Risk type:

Situational

Child safety risks in the school’s online environment are not identified and appropriately managed.

Students are not provided with education about online risks and appropriate online behaviours.

Online safety measures fail to adapt to emerging technologies and child safety risks

There is an increased risk of child abuse occurring if policies, procedures and practices fail to identify and manage areas of risk in the school’s online environment – particularly risks relating to grooming and further risk of abuse if the grooming goes undetected.

Physical and psychological harm as a result of child abuse

Digital Learning Policy outlines the controls in place for online conduct and online safety at our school and is implemented.

Acceptable Use Agreements are in place and enforced.

Child safety and wellbeing policies, procedures and practices are in place to enable staff and volunteers to identify and mitigate risks in the online school environment without compromising a child or student’s right to privacy, access to information, social connections and learning opportunities, including our Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy and our Child Safety Code of Conduct.

Staff undertake a privacy impact assessment for apps and other platforms in use by the school which includes the risk of access to children or personal information by people external to the school.

Our students are educated about staying safe online through the school’s Start-Up program which include cyber safety education.

We use filtering software on school-based devices.

We have guidelines for taking, storing and using images of children and students – including photos and video recordings.

Encourage parents to use parental controls on personal devices.

Advise students on how they can seek help from a trusted adult if they are exposed to inappropriate online imagery or content that upsets them.

Tolerable risk? Yes

Off-site school activities and use of third-party providers

Description:

There is a risk that the school’s child safety policies, procedures and practices do not adequately address and manage the risk of abuse at school activities off-site and/or school activities involving third party providers.

Risk type:

Situational

Organisational

Propensity

Vulnerability

School staff fail to identify and manage risks of child abuse occurring during off-site school activities.

School staff fail to identify and manage risks of child abuse by third-party providers engaged by the school

There is an increased risk of child abuse occurring if policies, procedures and practices fail to identify and manage areas of risk for off-site school activities and school activities that involve third party providers.

Physical and psychological harm as a result of child abuse

Our school complies with relevant DET policies with respect to the following activities, including policy relating to child safety and wellbeing:

For off-site school activities and school activities engaging a third-party provider, we identify and assess the risks of child abuse that are specific to that activity and ensure appropriate controls are in place.

Consider off-site physical environments for student use and, where reasonably possible, inspect these sites and venues for events, excursions and camps ahead of time.

Tolerable risk? Yes

Child Safety Risk Register: Standard 9

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