Family Information

Victoria's Child Safe Standards were put in place in 2016 to protect children and young people from harm and abuse. Barayip Primary School is committed to providing a child safe and child friendly environment, where students are safe and feel safe. Barayip Primary School has zero tolerance for child abuse.

Our child safety and wellbeing policies outline the measures and strategies we have in place to support, promote and maintain the safety and wellbeing of our students:

• Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy, Child Safety Code of Conduct, Child safety Responding and Reporting Obligations Policy and Procedure.
• Student Wellbeing and Engagement Policy, Bullying Prevention Policy, Volunteers Policy, Visitors Policy, Digital Learning Policy.

As valuable partners in promoting and maintaining child safety and wellbeing at Barayip Primary School we welcome and encourage your feedback.

If you have any suggestions, comments or questions in relation to our child safe policies and practices, please contact the Administration Office to make a time to speak with one of our leadership team.

Child Safe Commitment

Barayip Primary School is committed to providing a child safe environment where children and young people are safe and feel safe, and their voices are heard about decisions that affect their lives. Particular attention will be paid to the diversity of all children, including the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, children with disabilities and vulnerable children.

Barayip Primary School is committed to providing a child safe environment where children and young people are safe and feel safe, and their voices are heard about decisions that affect their lives.

Every person involved in our school has a responsibility to understand the important and specific role he/she plays individually and collectively to ensure that the wellbeing and safety of all children and young people is at the forefront of all they do and every decision they make. At Barayip Primary School, our planning, decision-making and operations will model a preventative, proactive and participatory approach to child safety.

At Barayip Primary School, we show our commitment to the child safe standards because we:

• Value and empower children to participate in decisions which affect their lives.
• Foster a culture of openness that supports all persons to safely disclose risks of harm to children.
• Respect diversity in cultures and child rearing practices while keeping child safety paramount.
• Provide written guidance and policies on appropriate conduct and behaviour towards children.
• Engage only the most suitable people to work with children and, have high quality supervision and professional development in this school.
• Ensure children know who to talk with if they are worried or are feeling unsafe, and that they are comfortable and encouraged to raise such issues.
• Report suspected abuse, neglect or mistreatment promptly to the appropriate authorities.
• Share information appropriately and lawfully, with other organisations where the safety and wellbeing of children at risk.
• Value the input of and communicate regularly with families.

Racism is not tolerated at Barayip Primary School

Barayip Primary School is committed to fostering a welcoming, inclusive environment where racism is not tolerated. Racism harms students’ mental health, learning and sense of belonging. We celebrate the diversity of cultures, ethnicities and faiths of all our students. It is up to all of us at Barayip Primary School to make our school a place that is free of racism and where everyone feels respected and can learn in a safe and inclusive environment.

What Barayip Primary School is doing to prevent racism

Barayip Primary School follows the Department of Education’s Preventing and Addressing Racism in Schools Policy. We are building a culturally safe school with inclusive learning for everyone by working with staff, students, families, carers and communities. We will:

• provide programs that teach about and celebrate diversity, inclusion and the impact of racism to build understanding and empathy
• use practices that support all students to thrive
• implement anti-racism efforts to prevent and address racism effectively
• make sure everyone feels safe, with clear and accessible pathways to report racism

What to do if your child experiences or witnesses racism at school

If your child experiences or witnesses racism or religious discrimination at school, please let us know. You can tell your child’s teacher or any of the following school staff members: Principal, Assistant Principals or a member of the Leadership Team.

Report Racism hotline

If you don’t feel comfortable reporting racism to school, or you are not happy with the school’s response, you can report racism to:

• The Department of Education’s Report Racism hotline via email racism@education.vic.gov.au or phone 1800 722 476 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
• Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc. (VAEAI) via email vaeai@vaeai.org.au or phone 03 9481 0800 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
• Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission (VEOHRC) online, via email complaints@veohrc.vic.gov.au or phone 1300 292 153 (Monday to Friday 10am to 2pm).

For additional support following an incident of racism:

• First Nations students, staff or families can contact Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc. (VAEAI)
• Jewish students, staff or families can contact the Jewish Community Council of Victoria
• Muslim students, staff or families can contact the Islamic Council of Victoria

For more information about how to report racism to the school, and to get information in community languages, visit this website: Report racism or religious discrimination in schools.

If you need an interpreter to call the school, please use the details available at: Guide for Families: How to use an interpreter to contact your school.

How Barayip Primary School will respond to racism

When you report a racist incident, Barayip Primary School will:

• take your report seriously and act quickly
• give you ongoing support
• investigate and respond safely and appropriately
• keep you informed, while respecting privacy
• review the incident to help avoid it from happening again.

Download the Preventing And Addressing Racism In Schools Policy

The Department of Education (DoE) does not provide personal accident insurance for students. Parents/guardians of students who do not have student accident insurance are responsible for paying the cost of medical treatment for injured students, including the cost of ambulance attendance/transport and any other transport costs. Parents/guardians can purchase insurance policies from commercial insurers. Personal property is sometimes brought to school by students, staff and visitors. This can include, but is not limited to mobile phones, electronic games, calculators, toys, musical instruments, sporting equipment, and cars parked on school premises.

The Department of Education and Training does not hold insurance for personal property brought to schools and it has no capacity to pay for any loss or damage to such property. It is probably wise for valuable items to be left at home.

For further information, please see Legal Claims, Subpoenas, Summonses and other Legal Documents via this link: www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/legal-claims-subpoenas-summonses-and-other-legal-documents/policy