Our commitment to child safety.

I am committed to providing a safe environment to all children and young people. My policy complies with the Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017, the Child Safety (Prohibited Persons) Act 2016 and aligns with the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations.

I value and respect children and young people and welcome them regardless of their abilities, sex, gender or socioeconomic or cultural background. Bullying and harassment won’t be tolerated.

This policy applies to all business and activities undertaken by me trading as Occupational Therapy with Tamsyn.

This child safe policy and related documents are available to children, young people and their families on my website.

I encourage and respect the views of children and young people and involve them in decision making as appropriate. I provide clear age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate explanations to children and young people including their right to safety and their right to be listened to. I let them know they can provide feedback or make a complaint if they have a concern or ask their parent/guardian to do this on their behalf. I will listen to and act upon complaints or concerns that a child or young person raises with me.

Caring for children and young people brings additional responsibilities for myself. I am responsible for promoting and protecting the safety and wellbeing of children and young people.

I will:

• stick to my child safe policy at all times and take all reasonable steps to ensure the safety and protection of children and young people
• treat everyone including those of different race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, social class, physical ability or attributes and religious beliefs with respect and honesty and ensure equity is upheld
• uphold the rights of the child and always prioritise their needs
• make sure the needs of all children remain the paramount focus of any decision making
• be a positive role model to children and young people in all conduct with them
• set clear boundaries to maintain appropriate behaviour with children and young people, boundaries help everyone to understand their roles
• listen and respond appropriately to the views and concerns of children and young people
• be alert to bullying behaviours and respond promptly and appropriately
• ensure another adult is present or in sight when conducting one to one consulting, coaching, instruction or other activity
• take all reasonable steps to protect children and young people from abuse and harm
• be alert to children and young people who have been harmed, or may be at risk of harm and report this quickly to the Child Abuse Report Line (13 14 78)
• respond quickly, fairly and transparently to any complaints made by a child, young person or their parent/guardian
• encourage children and young people to ‘have a say’ on issues that are important to them
• include a child’s parent or carer in any direct online communication or correspondence with a child or young person
• raise concerns with required people and supports if risks to child safety are identified
• make sure breaches of the Child Safe Code of Conduct and any instances of concerning behaviour from adults are reported immediately.

I will not:

• condone or participate in unsafe, harmful or abusive behaviour towards children, including psychological, physical and sexual abuse, grooming, misconduct or lack of appropriate care
• ignore or disregard any concerns, suspicions or disclosures of child abuse
• exaggerate or trivialise child abuse issues
• use hurtful, discriminatory or offensive behaviour or language with children
• use racial, cultural, homophobic or sexist slurs
• be intimidating such as yelling, finger pointing, moving into a child’s personal space
• be verbally abusive to a child, or create a climate of fear
• engage in unwarranted and inappropriate touching involving a child
• encourage a child to communicate in a private setting, including online or on social media
• engage in rough physical games
• develop any ‘special’ relationships with children and young people that could be seen as favouritism such as the offering of gifts or special treatment
• do things of a personal nature that a child or young person can do for themselves, such as toileting or changing clothes
• discriminate against any child or young person because of age, gender, cultural background, religion, vulnerability or sexuality.

Breaches or suspected breaches of the Code of Conduct can be reported as soon as practicable to me either in person, by telephone on 0494 679 171 or via email at tamsyn@otwt.com.au.

Breaches or suspected breaches of the Code of Conduct will be taken seriously and dealt with quickly, fairly and transparently.

I am a sole trader with no paid or unpaid workers. In accordance with the Child Safety (Prohibited Persons) Act 2016, I hold a current, ‘not prohibited’ Working with Children Check (WWCC) issued by the Screening Unit of the Department of Human Services which permits me to work with children and young people in South Australia and I will renew this every 5 years.

To maintain my knowledge regarding child safe environments I:

• have read and understand the Mandatory reporting information booklet available at dhs.sa.gov.au
• complete ‘Responding to Risk of Harm, Abuse and Neglect’ training every 3 years.

I aim to ensure that children and young people are safe from harm and risk of harm. Section 17 of the Safety Act defines ‘harm’ to mean physical or psychological harm (whether caused by an act or omission), including harm caused by sexual, physical, mental or emotional abuse or neglect.

I am a mandated reporter under Section 30 of the Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017. I understand my legal obligation to report direct to the Child Abuse Report Line (CARL) on 13 14 78 as soon as practicable if I have a suspicion that a child or young person has been harmed or may be at risk of harm. If the child or young person is at immediate risk, I will report to South Australia Police (SAPOL) on 000.

Information about making appropriate reports of harm or risk of harm is available from the South Australian Department for Child Protection website: childprotection.sa.gov.au/reporting-child-abuse.

I will be guided by the Department for Child Protection and/or SAPOL after making a report.

Following a report to CARL or SAPOL I will support the child or young person by:

• referring the child, young person or their family to other appropriate services if required, or
• continuing to provide a service to the child, young person and their family and monitor their circumstances.

I will document all information received regarding the report and store this securely in a separate file.

Providing opportunities for complaints and feedback ensures that children, young people and their parents/guardians feel valued and respected and enables me to improve the quality of my service. Children, young people and their families are informed that they can provide feedback or make a complaint at their first appointment.

Compliments, complaints or feedback should be directed to me in person, by telephone on 0494 679 171 or via email at tamsyn@otwt.com.au.

I will manage all complaints and feedback promptly, sensitively and fairly and will:

• listen to the complaint/feedback
• prioritise the safety and wellbeing of children and young people when handling complaints and concerns
• respond to the complainant with an outcome in a timely manner
• clearly document and securely store decisions and actions taken in response to complaints and feedback
• make sure that procedural fairness is followed at all times.

Where my response about a complaint is not considered sufficient or appropriate, further advice/support can be obtained through the following agencies:

• Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC)
  Phone: 1300 363 992
  Website: oaic.gov.au
• Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
  Phone: 1300 419 495
  Website: ahpra.gov.au
• NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission
  Phone: 1800 035 544
  Website: ndiscommission.gov.au
• Health and Community Services Complaints Commissioner
  Phone: 08 8226 8666
• Australian Human Rights Commission
  Website: humanrights.gov.au
  Phone: 1300 656 419
• South Australian Equal Opportunity Commission (for complaints relating to discrimination)
  Website: eoc.sa.gov.au
  Phone: 08 8207 1977.

The following risks have been identified in the delivery of occupational therapy services to children and young people, along with the actions taken to minimise them.

I will, at a minimum, review this policy and the related procedures once every 5 years as required by the Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017. I will also review this policy when:

• new or added risks are identified for children or young people, which may require a change in the policy or procedures
• a critical incident occurs where a child or young person has experienced harm through involvement in the organisation
• concerns are raised by anyone involved in my organisation about child safety or welfare in the organisation
• awareness or compliance to the child safe policy and/or procedures is low
• legislative changes/requirements.

I will lodge a new child safe environments compliance statement with the Department of Human Services each time I review and update this policy.