Post on 19-Apr-2020
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STUDENT PROTECTION POLICY
Villanova College is committed to providing a caring educational environment where each Villanova student is safe.
Every human being is created in the image of God and has inherent dignity. Personal Integrity is both a right and a
responsibility. Respect in relationships is essential to Christian community.
Policy
Villanova College is committed to fostering a safe and caring environment within which Villanova students
experience a proper sense of their own dignity and the dignity of others; safety in relationships; as well as security
and support in addressing any situation in which they are at risk of or suffer inappropriate behaviour, harm, sexual
abuse or likely sexual abuse.
Principles
All staff members and adult volunteers of Villanova College have a responsibility to care for each Villanova
student, to promote his welfare and to protect him from any kind of inappropriate behaviour, harm or sexual
abuse.
Each Villanova student has a right to safety in relationships as part of his total education and therefore
should be protected against inappropriate behaviour, harm, sexual abuse or likely sexual abuse caused by
school staff, volunteers, other Villanova students and other persons within and beyond the immediate school
community.
All persons involved in situations where inappropriate behaviour, harm, sexual abuse or likely sexual abuse
to a Villanova student is suspected or disclosed, must be treated with sensitivity, dignity and respect (as far
as possible, subject to legislative and other legal requirements).
Implications:
The College is committed to the prevention of inappropriate behaviour, harm, sexual abuse or likely sexual abuse
by:
Developing strategies which will fulfil the letter and the spirit of the Working with Children (Risk
Management and Screening) Act 2000 and the Child Protection Act 1999
Abiding by the relevant provisions in the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006
Abiding by the precepts and directions found in Towards Healing 2010
Endorsement: Approved by College Board - 22 October, 2003
Approved by College Board - 17 September, 2014
Policy Reviews: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 (September), 2013 (January), 2014 (September), 2015
(September), 2017 (February)
Next Review: 2017
STUDENT PROTECTION PROCEDURES
Implementation
1. Villanova students should experience a sense of safety and feel able to disclose, to an appropriate adult, any
instance of inappropriate behaviour, harm, sexual abuse or likely sexual abuse in accordance with the
student reporting process outlined below.
2. Where a Villanova College staff member has reasonable grounds for suspecting that a Villanova student has
suffered inappropriate behaviour, harm, sexual abuse or likely sexual abuse or is at risk of same, the College
staff member will act to report the matter in accordance with staff reporting processes outlined below.
3. Appropriate pastoral care will be offered to all persons involved in situations where inappropriate behaviour,
harm, sexual abuse or likely sexual abuse is suspected by a staff member or disclosed to a staff member.
4. Villanova College will take the staff training steps outlined below to ensure that staff members and
volunteers have a clear sense of their responsibilities in this area, and of the procedures to be followed if
they become aware of or suspect inappropriate behaviour, harm, sexual abuse or likely sexual abuse to
Villanova students in accordance with the staff reporting processes outlined below.
5. Villanova College will take student/parent training steps outlined below to ensure that Villanova students
and their parents/guardians are made aware of the policies and procedures that operate at Villanova College
with respect to student protection matters.
6. Should an allegation be made against a member of staff, a volunteer, or any other person the rights of that
person will be respected (as far as is possible, subject to legislative and other legal requirements), even
where prudence demands that precautionary measures have to be taken in the interests of Villanova students.
7. Villanova College will cooperate with and give appropriate support to the Queensland Police Service and
the Department of Child Safety where they carry out their responsibilities to protect Villanova students from
inappropriate behaviour, harm, sexual abuse or likely sexual abuse.
Definitions
"Harm" is defined in section 9 of the Child Protection Act 1999 (the ‘CPA’) as:
1. Harm, to a child, is any detrimental effect of a significant nature on the child’s physical, psychological or
emotional wellbeing.
2. It is immaterial how the harm is caused.
3. Harm can be caused by-
a. Physical, psychological or emotional abuse or neglect; or
b. Sexual abuse or exploitation.
4. Harm can be caused by-
a. A single act, omission or circumstance; or
b. A series or combination of acts, omissions or circumstances.
Abuse may be physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse or neglect. Abuse can be defined as an action such as:
hitting; punching; fondling; and exposure to domestic violence or scapegoating; or it can be inaction such as the
failure to provide medical care; or failure to provide appropriate stimulation.
Harm means damage or injury caused by abuse to a child’s body, to a child’s emotional state or to a child’s
psychological state. Harm is the effect or impact on the child of the abuse.
"Inappropriate Behaviour" is any behaviour by a staff member or adult volunteer or any other person that a
Villanova student considers inappropriate.
"Sexual Abuse" is defined under the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 s 364 and includes sexual behaviour
involving the relevant person and another person in the following circumstances-
a. The other person bribes, coerces, exploits, threatens or is violent toward the relevant person;
b. The relevant person has less power than the other person;
c. There is a significant disparity between the relevant person and the other person in intellectual capacity or
maturity.
Sexual abuse can take many forms, from sexual jokes, innuendo and conversation, inappropriate unethical use of
internet, e.g. pedophile networks and procuring a child or youth over the internet, and showing pornographic
materials to a child or youth, to sexual touching and invasive sexual acts. It includes exposure, fondling, voyeurism
and exhibitionism as well as sexual intercourse, incest and child prostitution.
It takes place between a child, youth or a person with a disability and a person who is older, or has power, authority
or control over the child or youth. This authority allows the older person to use force, trickery, emotional bribery or
blackmail or other emotional pressure. It could also involve secrecy, misuse of power and distortion of adult-child
relationships.
A child 16 years and under cannot legally consent to sexual acts and such activity is a criminal offence even if the
child has, or appears to have, consented. Young people over sixteen can be subject to sexual abuse in a situation of
power and improper use of authority, and forced consent is not an excuse in these cases either. This policy therefore
applies to protect a person over the age of 18 if that person is a student as defined in this paragraph.
"Student" is any child or other person enrolled at Villanova College.
References
Towards Healing, 2010 - Australian Catholic Bishops Conference & Australian Conference of Leaders of Religious
Institutes’
Towards Healing outlines principles and procedures for responding to complaints of sexual abuse made against
personnel of the Catholic Church in Australia. The National Committee for Professional Standards, which was
established by the Australian Bishops’ conference and the Australian Conference of Leaders of Religious Institutes,
produced the document. A Professional Standards Resource Group exists in each State to ensure that investigations
proceed for any allegation reported to it.
Education (Accreditation of Non-State Schools) Act (Qld) 2001
Education (General Provisions) Act (Qld) 2006
Education (Queensland College of Teachers) Act (Qld) 2005
Working with Children (Risk Management and Screening) Act 2000
Child Protection Act 1999 (Qld)
Student Protection Policy 2011, Catholic Education Council, Archdiocese of Brisbane
Non-compliance procedure
Under the Education (Accreditation of Non-State Schools) Regulation 2001 (Regulation 10(7)), Villanova College
has a written complaints procedure to address allegations of non-compliance with student protection processes.
Information about the Disputes and Complaints against Members of the Villanova College Community Policy is
available from the College.
STUDENT REPORTING PROCESS
1. If a Villanova College student has been sexually abused or been subjected to harm or inappropriate behaviour by
a staff member or adult volunteer of Villanova College, or by another Villanova student or by anyone else, then
that Villanova student should tell one of the College's Student Protection Officers (see below) or any other staff
member.
STUDENT PROTECTION OFFICERS
Mr Mark Stower-Principal
Mr Steven Bremner- Deputy Principal
Mr Matthew Levander - Head of Senior School
Mr Greg O’Neill-Head of Middle School
Mr Stephen Rouhliadeff-Head of Junior School
Mr Tass Sakellariou- College Psychologist
Mr Adrian Hellwig- College Counsellor
Mrs Julianne Shaw - Teacher
2. The Student Protection Officer or staff member must act immediately in accordance with this policy.
STAFF TRAINING STEPS
1. The Principal (or his delegate) shall annually: -
1.1. Ensure that a copy of this Policy is provided to each staff member and each adult volunteer of Villanova
College and that their attention is drawn to reporting requirements
1.2. Post a copy of the policy on the staff intranet.
1.3. Provide to each staff member and each adult volunteer of Villanova College information about the signs and
indicators of sexual abuse.
VILLANOVA COLLEGE PARENT/STUDENT TRAINING STEPS
2. The Principal (or his delegate) shall: -
2.1. devise documents that outline this policy in language adapted to: -
2.1.1. parents (Parent Policy Outline); and
2.1.2. students (Student Policy Outline).
2.2. send a copy of the Parent Policy Outline home with a school newsletter in each year and draw the attention of
parents to reporting processes, including the names of the College Student Protection Officers and their
contact details.
2.3. post a copy of the Student Policy Outline on the student intranet and draw the attention of Villanova
students to the reporting processes, including the names of the College Student Protection Officers and
their contact details.
2.4. publish a copy of the Student Policy Outline in the student diary and draw the attention of Villanova
students to the reporting processes, including the names of the College Student Protection Officers and
their contact details.
2.5. ensure that in each year new students and their families receive a copy of the Parent Policy Outline and the
Student Policy Outline before commencing as Villanova students and draw the attention of Villanova
students to the reporting processes, including the names of the College Student Protection Officers and
their contact details
2.6. provide to parents information about the signs and indicators of sexual abuse.
2.7. post a full copy of this policy on the College website in a section accessible to parents and Villanova
students.
STUDENT PROTECTION REPORT TO QUEENSLAND POLICE SERVICE
AND/OR DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITIES, CHILD SAFETY AND DISABILITY SERVICES
TYPE OF REPORT
Mandatory Report of Sexual Abuse/Likely Sexual Abuse to the Queensland Police Service
Mandatory Report of a Reportable Suspicion to the Department of Child Safety (Sexual Abuse /Physical
Abuse)
Report of a reasonable suspicion that a child may be in need of protection caused by emotional abuse or
neglect to the Department of Child Safety
Report of significant physical harm/risk of significant harm of a student by another student to Queensland
Police Service
THE QLD CHILD PROTECTION GUIDE WAS USED TO SUPPORT THE DECISION TO SUBMIT THIS
REPORT
Yes No
PART A: FIRST PERSON REPORT (RECORD OF CONCERN)
SCHOOL DETAILS
School Name:
School Address: School Suburb:
School Telephone:
Name of Principal:
DETAILS OF THE SUBJECT CHILD
Please note: If you have more than one subject child (who is not a sibling), a separate student protection report will
have to be completed.
Legal Name: First Name: Surname:
Preferred Name:
Date of Birth: Year Level:
Indigenous Status:
Main Language: Interpreter Required (y/n):
Disability (y/n): Disability Details:
Verified (y/n):
Residential Address(es):
Current Location of the Child:
Are there additional subject children in relation to this matter?
Please note: If you have more than one subject child (who is not a sibling), a separate student protection report will
have to be completed. If the additional subject children are siblings, indicate below.
Yes No
PARENT/GUARDIAN/CARER OF THE CHILD
Legal Name: Preferred Name:
Gender: Date of Birth:
Relationship to Child:
Lives with the Affected Child (y/n):
Contact Telephone Number(s):
Residential Address (es):
Indigenous Status:
Main Language: Interpreter Required (y/n):
Disability (y/n): Disability Details:
ADDITIONAL PARENT/GUARDIAN/CARER OF THE CHILD
Legal Name: Preferred Name:
Gender: Date of Birth:
Relationship to Child:
Lives with the Affected Child (y/n):
Contact Telephone Number(s):
Residential Address(es):
Indigenous Status:
Main Language: Interpreter Required (y/n):
Disability (y/n): Disability Details:
SIBLINGS/OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS
Please type name, DOB and relationship to the subject child for each family member. Please indicate if the siblings
are also considered subject children in relation to this matter. Eg. John Smith (DOB, sibling, also a subject child)
TYPE OF ABUSE
Sexual abuse Likely sexual abuse
Physical abuse/unacceptable risk of physical abuse
Emotional abuse/unacceptable risk of emotional abuse
Neglect/unacceptable risk of neglect
AWARENESS OF CONCERN
Disclosure by student
Information from another student
Information from a relative of the student
Information from another parent at the school
Observations of a staff member
Anonymous report
Other <specify>
DESCRIPTION OF CONCERN
(Please include as much information as possible to facilitate a thorough assessment of safety/harm by QPS and
Child Safety. Include information such as - what happen, who was involved? when did it happen (approx.
date/time)? Where did it happen? )
Has the concern (or similar) occurred previously?
INJURIES TO CHILD
(Please describe any injuries if known, include information such as – location, shape, size, colour. )
Yes No Unknown
Details:
IMMEDIATE SAFETY CONCERNS:
(Please detail any concerns you may have about the subject child’s immediate safety)
Yes No Unknown
Details:
OBSERVATION OF SUBJECT CHILD’S BEHAVIOUR
(Please provide details of the subject child’s current behavioural/emotional presentation where known or relevant.
For example, please indicate whether these behaviours were present prior to the disclosure or observed post
disclosure)
SOURCE(S) OF CONCERN
(Details of person believed to have caused the harm)
Legal Name: Preferred Name:
Gender: Date of Birth:
Contact Telephone Number(s):
SOURCE OF CONCERN BY CATEGORY
Staff member, other employee or volunteer
Parent, carer, family member or other person in the community
Other student enrolled at the school
Self-harm
Is the source of concern a parent: Yes No Unknown
Relationship:
Does this parent have current access to the subject child: Yes No Unknown
FIRST PERSON REPORT (RECORD OF CONCERN) COMPLETED BY
Name: Position:
Contact Telephone Number(s):
Other contact information:
PART B: ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (COMPLETED BY THE PRINCIPAL)
INFORMATION FOR THE SUBJECT CHILD
Family Court Orders: Yes No Unknown
Details:
Child Protection Orders: Yes No Unknown
Details:
Departmental Out of Home Care: Yes No Unknown
Details:
Departmental Intervention: Yes No Unknown
Details:
Previous Student Protection Reports: Yes No Unknown
Details:
RISK FACTORS
(Please provide details of any known risk factors. This includes issues that may impact of the child’s vulnerability –
medical issues, challenging behaviours, social issues and any issues that may impact on the parent’s ability and
willingness to protect the child – substance misuse, domestic violence, mental illness)
Child Risk Factors: Yes No Unknown
Details:
Parent(s) Risk Factors: Yes No Unknown
Details:
PROTECTIVE FACTORS
(Please provide details of any known protective factors such as - any actions parent/s have taken to address the
concerns, involvement of support agencies, family support network)
Yes No Unknown
Details:
OTHER ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (to be completed if the principal has knowledge of any other
relevant information not included above, for example – previous discussion with parents, support offered by the
school and any actions taken by school staff)
PERSON(S) WITH MORE INFORMATION
Name: Position:
Contact Telephone Number(s):
Other contact information:
REPORT SUBMITTED BY (PRINCIPAL’S DETAILS)
Name: Position:
Date: Time:
Contact Telephone Number(s):
Email:
School:
Suburb:
REPORT SUBMITTED VIA PRINCIPAL’S EMAIL TO:
QPS – CPIU
DCCSDS – RIS TEAM
REQUEST BY SCHOOL FOR OUTCOME ADVICE
Villanova College requests that the outcome of the State Authority’s (QPS/Child Safety) assessment of the
reported concerns be communicated to the Principal.
Note to Principals:
1) Please save a copy of this form before submitting
2) All SP reports to QPS/ DCCSDS must be submitted by the Principal (the principal’s signature is not required
as emailing of the report fulfils the principal’s legislative obligations)
3) The Principal must inform the First Person /author of the Record of Concern that the Report has been made.
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The Education (Accreditation of Non-State Schools) Regulation 2001 Section 10
PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL
Staff Reporting Form
Alleged or suspected INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVOUR towards a
student by a staff member, volunteer or other employee
For an allegation or reasonable suspicion of inappropriate behaviour by a staff member,
volunteer or other employee towards a student
(OTHER THAN SEXUAL ABUSE, HARM OR LIKELY HARM)
To be completed by the staff member who first becomes aware of the allegation or reasonably
suspects the inappropriate behaviour
Please complete the details below and hand to the principal or other Student Protection Contact at the
school. If the allegation is about the Principal, please hand to the Chair of College Council or
Provincial- Augustinian Order of Australia.
School Name:
Principal/Acting Principal Name:
Staff member making this report: Name:
Role:
Phone contact:
Employee against whom the behaviour to a
student is alleged or suspected:
Name:
Role:
Student(s) concerned:
Name:
Year level:
Summary of incident/allegation: Time:
Date:
Details:
Details of the basis for reasonably suspecting
inappropriate behaviour:
Any other relevant information including the
name of anyone else who may have information
about this allegation / reasonable suspicion:
Signature of staff member making this report:
Signature: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Date:
Time:
Name of the person to whom this form has been passed: