Our Commitment to Child Safety
At Freshwater Creek Steiner School we have zero tolerance for child abuse and are committed to acting in children’s best interests and keeping them safe from harm. The School regards its child protection responsibilities as being of the utmost importance and as such, is committed to providing the necessary resources:
to ensure compliance with all relevant child protection laws and regulations
to maintain a child safe culture.
Child Safety Officers
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 should immediately raise your concerns with one of our Child Safety Officers by calling the school office on 03 5264 5077, or emailing info@fwcss.vic.edu.au.
Please be aware that consulting with a Child Safety Officer does not change any obligation you have under legislation to report to an external authority.
The welfare and best interests of the child are paramount.
If you have concerns that a child is in immediate danger, call the Police on 000.
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Gabby Brennan
Senior Child Safety Officer
As Head of School and Senior Child Safety Officer, Gabby is our contact for the wider community when they have child protection concerns relating to the School. -
Lisa Anderson
Child Safety Officer
As Prep teacher, Lisa works in the Early Childhood area. She has been at the school for more than a decade and taught most of the children during their early years. -
Mandy Toohey
Child Safety Officer
Working in Reception, Mandy receives visitors, and takes general calls and emails. Mandy is also the school's First Aid Officer. The children and families know Mandy and she is available during school hours.
Child Safe Policies
Child Safe Standards Policy (Summary)
Freshwater Creek Steiner School has zero tolerance for child abuse and is committed to the protection of all children from all forms of child abuse.
Child Safe Code of Conduct
Student Child Safety Code of Conduct
Freshwater Creek Steiner School’s Child Safety Code of Conduct lists behaviours that are acceptable and those that are unacceptable. It provides a high-level statement of professional boundaries, ethical behaviour and acceptable and unacceptable relationships.
Mandatory Reporting Policy and Procedure
Reporting child sexual abuse is a community-wide responsibility. Accordingly, a new criminal offence has been created in Victoria that imposes a clear legal duty upon all adults to report information about child sexual abuse to police.
Child Safety Complaints Management
FWCSS implements child-focused processes for managing complaints and concerns.
This Policy supports the creation of a culture for students and their families to have their complaints heard, considered and responded to, and a culture of transparency in our complaints management processes.
