TURNING POINT DANCE

CHILD PROTECTION POLICY

revised February 2024

1. Commitment to the Safety of Children and Young People

We are committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and their right to live free from risk of harm. We embrace, accept and welcome all young people regardless of their abilities, sex, gender, cultural background or socio-economic circumstances. At Turning Point Dance we will uphold this goal in all its child-related activities.

Our policy complies with the Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017, Child Safety (Prohibited Persons) Act 2016 and the National Principles for for Child Safe Organisations.

The primary consideration in planning any activity for children will be the overriding importance of ensuring that it contributes to their well being and does not expose them to harm, including the risk of injury, sexual, physical or emotional abuse. Any form of bullying and harassment will not be tolerated.

2. Scope of Policy

All employed teachers, contractors, volunteers, student teachers, students and parents/guardians (hereby referred to as ‘staff members’) must at all times observe this policy for child safe environments, and in particular as required by the Prohibited Persons (Child Safety) Act 2016, obtain a current Working With Children Check (WWCC). If a staff member has an existing current DCSI child related employment clearance they may use until its expiry. National Police Checks will not be accepted.

Staff members working with children must also attend and maintain Mandatory Reporting training.

3. Communication

This child safe policy and related documents are available on our website, in our public information booklet, and in hard copy by request.

This child safe policy and related documents are provided to all staff members upon their induction at Turning Point Dance.

We encourage, respect and consider the views of our students and their parents/guardians, and take pride in providing them with opportunities to voice their opinions on our policies and procedures as appropriate. Staff members provide age-appropriate explanations to our students on their right to safety, their right to be listened to and their ability to provide feedback or make a complaint if they have any concerns, or ask a parent/guardian to do this on their behalf. We will listen to and act upon any complaints or concerns that our students raise with us.

4. Code of Conduct

As required by the Children and Found People (Safety) Act 2017, Turning Point Dance will ensure that everyone to whom this policy applies is aware of its availability, and has the opportunity to read this policy upon request.

Where any staff member believes that a duty of care and the requirements of these procedures are not being met, the activity should be terminated or any children involved in the activity should be withdrawn from that activity.

All Turning Point Dance staff members that are engaged in activities to which these procedures apply must have a current Working With Children Check. Turning Point Dance teachers or staff that are engaged in activities to which this policy and procedures apply will have completed Mandatory Reporting training.

Advice regarding Mandatory Reporting can be sought from the principal or administrator. Turning Point Dance staff or teachers responsible for any activity involving children must ensure that they meet their obligations under the Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017, and any other relevant legislation www.legislation.sa.gov.au/. Turning Point Dance staff members must at all times observe protocols for child protection, and in particular:

  1. must not transport children to and from places other than as detailed in a signed off consent form.

  2. must avoid any situation, which may give rise to suspicion or complaint such as the unnecessary touching or showing favouritism of children. This takes into consideration the fact that in a dance school, some physical contact between staff member and student is necessary in order to demonstrate correct and safe technique.

  3. must avoid contacting children through any social media i.e. Facebook, Twitter and all other social media websites including the use of text messaging and phone contact.

  4. external communications should only occur between parent and teachers. Staff members must represent Turning Point Dance in a respectful manner through social media platforms and include families associated with the school.

  5. must not make or use audio, photographic or visual representations of children not directly related to the purpose of the activity or which may be deemed as inappropriate interest.

Breaches of the above protocols by staff will be met with appropriate written warnings, professional guidance (directives to study and observe relevant policies and procedures) and further disciplinary action carried out as necessary.

  • all proposed activities involving children must be approved by the Principal or a registered teacher prior to the activity.

  • approval is also necessary for any informal continuation of Turning Point Dance activity or any related activity which may be construed by the public as a Turning Point Dance activity and which falls within the scope of this policy.

  • in approving such an activity the Principal or registered teacher should have an understanding of this policy and its procedures, and in particular to the level of training for staff or students in a supervisory role that is necessary for the activity to be conducted safely.

  • all activities covered by this policy and its procedures should be clearly described to all participants as a Turning Point Dance activity.

  • In order for a child to be involved in a Turning Point Dance activity that falls within the scope of this policy, before the event Turning Point Dance must provide the child's parent(s) or guardian with an information sheet describing the nature of the activity, the measures to be taken to ensure children's health, safety and well being, contact details for the staff or students responsible for the child in the course of the activity and information on whom to contact if they have any concerns.

    • whilst parents of children involved in events may also participate, they must not be placed in a supervisory role in relation to other children unless they meet all the requirements for staff or student supervisors specified in this policy and its procedures.

    • No child will be permitted to be involved in a Turning Point Dance activity unless the staff member or student in charge of the activity is in possession of an authority (note) signed by the child' s parent(s) or guardian(s) consenting to the child' s involvement in that activity.

    • Notes of consent or other authorities must give details of the proposed activity and the activity must be conducted as described in the consent note.

    • The ratio of adults to children in any Turning Point Dance activity must be adequate to ensure the proper supervision of children at all times and to be in accordance with State, Federal and Territory Licensing regulations, requirements and in keeping with Early Childhood Good Practice www.decd.sa.gov.au

    • any activity that may involve children using a toilet or washing supervision must be provided in accordance with State, Federal and Territory Licensing regulations and requirements and in keeping with Early Childhood Good Practice www.decd.sa.gov.au

    • In all Turning Point Dance activities involving children, the staff member or student supervisor must be mindful of the safety of the children at all times, and must not conduct any activity for which they do not have the appropriate training.

    • One or more Turning Point Dance supervisors must have appropriate first aid training including asthma and anaphylaxis or ready access to a First Aid Officer at all times.

    • An appropriate First Aid Kit should be readily accessible and have a first aid sign displayed.

    • Turning Point Dance staff and students involved in activities with children must comply with mandatory reporting legislation which requires that suspicions of child abuse be reported directly to the Child Abuse Report Line (13 14 78). If the suspicion is in relation to a person involved in our organisation, it must also be reported to a person who holds a management position in our organisation.

    • Concerns about the behaviour or intent of any person involved in the activity must be reported to the management of the activity or a senior member of Turning Point Dance staff whose contact details are given in the information sheet.

    • Young children are met at the entrance door and signed in by a staff member, authorised volunteer or parent. They are accompanied to the waiting area and then to their class. Upon finishing class, they are signed out by a staff member, authorised volunteer or parent. No young child is to leave the premises without being reunited with their parent or caregiver.

    • Written notification must be given to Turning Point Dance staff if the collecting adult is other than the usual parent or guardian. e.g. Grandparent, other relative or family friend. Should there be special circumstances where there is a delay in collecting a child, the school must be notified and the child will stay with Turning Point Dance staff until alternative arrangements are made.

    • Secondary School students may leave unattended provided prior parental permission has been communicated with Turning Point Dance staff.

    • A relevant body to approve, check the validity of the DHS screening unit, and accept a Working with Children Check includes: The Principal Michelle Hofmann or Administrator of Turning Point Dance.

Complaints regarding to the Code of Conduct should be reported as soon as practice to the Principal, Michelle Hofmann either in person, by telephone on 0413 113 950, or via email at michelle@tpdance.com.au.

5. Recruitment

Turning Point Dance ensures we engage the most suitable people to work with our young students. The following recruitment practices are in place:

- Written applications from applicants that require an outline of their commitment to child safety and their relevant child safety checks and trainings

- Face-to-face interviews with questioning to ensure the applicants knowledge and understanding of child safe environments

- At least two referee checks

We meet the requirements of the Child Safety (Prohibited Persons) Act 2016 which requires all staff members who work with children or young people to have a current “not prohibited” Working with Children Check (WWCC) issued by the DHS screening unit. All staff members must provide evidence of this poor to employment and renew this every 5 years. We will verify the accuracy of all WWCCs in the DHS Screening Unit portal as required by law.

Turning Point Dance is registered with the DHS Screening Unit and we link all Working with Children Checks (WWCC).

Turning Point Dance will immediately contact the DHS Screening Unit when we become aware of any information regarding any staff member involved with our organisation, including any serious criminal offence, child protection information, or disciplinary or misconduct information.

6. Training, supervision and support for workers

Turning Point Dance has strategies in place to supervise, train and support staff members to understand our organisation’s child safe policy, their mandatory reporting obligations and how to create a safe and inclusive environment for all students at or school. Our strategies include:

- Ensuring staff members are familiar with the Mandatory Notification Information Booklet available at: https://dhs.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/103179/CSE-Mandatory- notification-information-booklet.PDF

  • -  Complete Responding to Risk of Harm, Abuse and Neglect Training every 3 years

  • -  Regular monitoring of staff member’s Working with Children Checks, RAN training and First Aid, administration providing updates to Code of Conduct and staff member checks and training as

required

7. Reporting and Responding to Harm or Risk of Harm

We 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.

Mandated notifiers at Turning Point Dance are workers who provide dance education and tuition to children and young people (The Principal, teachers, contractors), alongside administration staff who provide supervision of students undertaking dance education and tuition activities, and parent volunteers who assist with the supervision of students.

All mandated notifiers have a legal obligation to report a reasonable belief that a child or young person has been harmed or is at risk of harm. Reports regarding the reasonable belief that a child or young person is, or may be, at risk of harm are to be made to the Child Abuse Report Line (CARL) on 13 14 78. If risk is immediate, report to South Australia Police (SAPOL) on 000. In cases involving Aboriginal children and young people, support is provided by Yaitya Tirramangkotti - an Aboriginal team, via the CARL number.

The individual worker or volunteer who identified the harm or risk of harm is the person who makes the report the CARL/SAPOL and this is not reported internally fo another worker to determine if it is a reportable matter.

All adult workers have a legal obligation to report child sexual abuse to the police and to protect a child from sexual abuse. Failure to meet these obligations may be considered a criminal offence.

If a worker is reported to CAROL or SAPOL for causing harm or risk of harm to a child or young person, they will be removed immediately from any role that involves working with any child or young person until authorities have concluded their investigation.

Following a report to CARL or SAPOL we will support the child or young person by continuing to provide dance education and tuition and monitoring their wellbeing and circumstances. We will documents all information received regarding the report and store this securely.

8. Reporting and responding to general complaints or feedback

Turning Point Dance will deal with all complaints in a fair, timely and transparent manner.

Complaints will be treated seriously and will be kept confidential except if the law requires disclosure or if disclosure is necessary to effectively deal with the complaint.

Turning Point Dance will take all reasonable steps to ensure that no one is victimised for making, supporting or providing information about a complaint.

The following steps are to be followed in the event of a complaint:

  1. Complaint received

  2. Record complaint details

  3. Establish contact person

  4. Report given to Michelle Hofmann, Principal

  5. Acknowledge the complaint

  6. Investigate the complaint

  7. Analyse/assess the complaint

  8. Explain the final outcome and avenues for review

  9. Close the complaint and record key data

  10. Facilitate ongoing support and referral (if required)

10. Policy Review

Policies and Procedures must be review at least once in every 5 years as required by the Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017. Where we update, change or substitute a Child Safe Environments Policy or Procedure, we will re-lodge a Child Safe Environment Compliance Statement with the Department of Human Services.