City of Stonnington Child Safety Commitment Statement
The City of Stonnington has a zero tolerance to child abuse and is committed to the safeguarding of all children and young people.
Our commitment statement encompasses the duties of all council officers, employees, contractors, volunteers and Councillors. The City of Stonnington recognises their legal and moral obligation to promote the safety, wellbeing and empowerment of children and young people at all times.
The right to be protected from harm and to be treated with dignity, respect and integrity applies to all children and young people. This includes indigenous children, those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, those from the LGBTQIA+ communities and children and adults with disability. Furthermore, the right to protection is irrespective of age, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious beliefs, ability and family background.
As a child-safe organisation we are committed to providing welcoming, safe and accessible environments where children feel valued, listened to and considered in decisions that affect their lives. The need to remove or reduce the risk of child abuse informs our decision making concerning children in our care.
We will champion a culture of safety and utilise our specific policies, procedures and practices to support our people and community.
This video outlines how Council and the community can help keen children and young people safe.
The City of Stonnington supports the National Redress Scheme. The National Redress Scheme is an initiative to support survivors of institutional child abuse. To access counselling and other services provided by the National Redress Scheme, use this link.
Criminal offences
Criminal offences have been introduced in Victoria to improve responses to child sexual abuse within organisations and the community. They impose a clear legal duty upon all adults to protect children from sexual abuse and to report their concerns to Victoria police:
Victorian Child Safe Standards and Reportable Conduct Scheme
The City of Stonnington is committed to creating and maintaining environments where children and young people are safe, supported and heard.
Victoria’s 11 Child Safe Standards set out the minimum requirements organisations must meet to protect children and young people from harm and abuse. Council is required to comply with these Standards and embed child safety across its services, programs and activities.
The Reportable Conduct Scheme requires certain organisations, including Council, to respond to and report allegations of child abuse and other child-related misconduct involving their workers and volunteers.
The Social Services Regulator (SSR) oversees the Reportable Conduct Scheme and regulates the Child Safe Standards for organisations that do not have a sector-specific co-regulator. Council works with relevant regulators and authorities to meet its child safety obligations and continually strengthen its child safe practices.
Council is committed to ensuring children and young people are safe, respected, listened to and able to participate in decisions that affect them.
For child safety enquiries call us and ask to be put through to one of our child safety advisors.