Iona College is committed to the protection of all young people and has a zero tolerance for child abuse and neglect.
Iona College prioritises the safety and wellbeing of every student entrusted to our care. Child safeguarding is at the forefront of our mission, and we are committed to creating a safe, supportive and nurturing environment where all students feel valued, respected and protected from harm. In line with the eleven Victorian child safe standards we adhere to rigorous policies and procedures aimed at preventing child abuse and promoting child safety in all aspects of our College community. This includes a range of measures, including clear policies and procedures, the implementation of robust recruitment and screening processes, the provision of quality training and professional development for staff, the promotion of positive and respectful relationships, and the empowerment of our young people to participate in decisions that affect them.
Iona College is dedicated to upholding these standards and continuously strives to create a safe and inclusive environment where every student can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
Child Safe Standards
The Victorian Child Safe Standards outlined in Ministerial Order 1359 were updated in July 2022 and apply to all Victorian schools.
There are 11 Child Safe Standards:
- Standard 1: Culturally safe – Establish a culturally safe environment in which the diverse and unique identities and experiences of Aboriginal children and young people are respected and valued.
- Standard 2: Leadership, governance and – Ensure that child safety and wellbeing are embedded in school leadership, governance and culture.
- Standard 3: Child and student – Children and young people are empowered about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.
- Standard 4: Family – Families and communities are informed and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing.
- Standard 5: Diversity and – Equity is upheld and diverse needs are respected in policy and practice.
- Standard 6: Suitable staff and – People working with children and young people are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice.
- Standard 7: Child-focused complaints – Ensure that processes for complaints and concerns are child focused.
- Standard 8: Child safety knowledge, skills and – Staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education and training.
- Standard 9: Physical and online – Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for children and young people to be harmed.
- Standard 10: Review of child safety – Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is regularly reviewed and improved.
- Standard 11: Implementation of child safety – Policies and procedures that document how schools are safe for children, young people and students.
Child Protection at Iona
Child safety is everyone’s responsibility and Iona College is proud to be a child safe school. We have a moral obligation and legal responsibility to uphold and actively promote the safety of all students.
We explicitly educate our young people about abuse and neglect and work with them to empower all students. There are four child protection officers at the College responsible for assisting staff and students if they need to report any abuse. These trusted adults receive specialised training and are committed to acting in the students best interests keeping them safe from harm.
Child Protection Officers at Iona
