Please note this policy is intended to be read in conjunction with the Hobart Toy Library’s Code of Conduct, the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations and the Tasmanian Child and Youth Safe Standards | Office of the Independent Regulator.
Child at immediate risk
If you believe a child is at immediate risk of abuse phone 000 and call Strong Families Safe Kids Advice and Referral Line on 1800 000 123. Where a child is not at immediate risk, please see ‘Process for Raising Concerns’ below.
Statement of Commitment
Our organisation is committed to child safety. We want children to be safe, happy, and empowered. We support and respect all children, as well as our volunteers, committee members, and staff (if applicable), and embrace all children regardless of their abilities, sex, gender, or social, economic or cultural background.
We are committed to the safety of all children, including the cultural safety of Aboriginal children and are committed to ensuring the equity and inclusion of all children, staff, volunteers and members.
We have zero tolerance of child abuse and racism, and all allegations and safety concerns will be treated very seriously and consistently with our robust policies and procedures.
We have legal and moral obligations to contact authorities when we are worried about a child’s safety, which we follow rigorously.
Our organisation has robust recruitment practices for all volunteers, committee members and staff (if applicable).
We have policies, procedures and education in place that support our staff and volunteers to achieve these commitments.
These commitments reflect our Constitution, which emphasises inclusivity, diversity, environmental sustainability, and community connection through play.
Our volunteers, committee members and staff
This policy guides our volunteers, committee members and staff (if applicable) on how to behave with children in our organisation.
Children should never be left unsupervised in the care of toy library volunteers, committee members or staff. Parents/guardians should always supervise their children at the toy library. Wherever feasible our organisation will implement the ‘two-person rule’ – ensuring there are two people present when the toy library is open.
All our volunteers, committee members and staff (if applicable) must agree to abide by our Code of Conduct, which specifies the standards of conduct required when working with children.
Our organisational culture aims for all staff and volunteers to feel confident and comfortable in discussing any allegations of child abuse or child safety concerns. Education is important to ensure that everyone in our organisation understands that child safety is everyone’s responsibility. All volunteers, committee members and staff (if applicable) receive training on our Code of Conduct.
Any inappropriate behaviour will be reported through appropriate channels, including the relevant Tasmanian government department or police, depending on the severity and urgency of the matter.
Training and supervision
Training and education are important to ensure that everyone in our organisation understands that child safety is everyone’s responsibility.
Our organisational culture aims for all staff and volunteers (in addition to parents/carers and children) to feel confident and comfortable in discussing any allegations of child abuse or child safety concerns.
New volunteers, committee members and staff (if applicable) will be supervised regularly to ensure they understand our organisation’s commitment to child safety and that everyone has a role to play in protecting children from abuse, as well as checking that their behaviour towards children is safe and appropriate (please refer to our Code of Conduct to understand appropriate behaviour further).
Any inappropriate behaviour will be reported through appropriate channels, including the relevant government department or police depending on the severity and urgency of the matter.
Recruitment (staff, committee and volunteers)
We take all reasonable steps to employ appropriately skilled people to work with our members. We develop selection criteria that clearly demonstrate our commitment to child safety and an awareness of our social and legislative responsibilities.
We carry out reference checks and require all staff, volunteers and committee members sixteen (16) years and over who have direct contact with children working must hold a current Registration to Work with Vulnerable People (RWVP) (Tasmania). We will check the status of all RWVP registrations periodically for currency.
Volunteers whose roles do not involve direct contact with children (for example, those cataloguing toys or performing administrative tasks outside of opening hours) are not required to hold a RWVP. However, all volunteers are expected to uphold the values and standards of our organisation and comply with relevant policies and procedures.
We require all committee members and paid staff to undertake the Free Child safe Organisations e-learning provided by the Australian Government.
Fair procedures
The safety and wellbeing of children, volunteers, members and staff is our highest priority. We are committed to acting fairly and transparently in all decisions, including recruitment, responding to incidents, and disciplinary matters.
Every allegation of abuse or safety concern is documented using our incident reporting process, with records kept securely and confidentially.
Where concerns are raised, we ensure families are kept informed of progress and the actions taken by our organisation.
Privacy
All personal information considered or recorded will respect the privacy of the individuals involved, whether they are volunteers, staff, committee members, parents, or children, unless there is a risk to someone’s safety. We have safeguards and practices in place to ensure any personal information is protected. Everyone is entitled to know how this information is recorded, what will be done with it, and who will have access to it.
Responsibilities
Our organisation takes our legal responsibilities seriously, including:
Mandatory reporting in Tasmania: Certain professionals (such as teachers, doctors, nurses, child care staff, police) are legally required to report reasonable suspicions of child abuse or neglect to Child Safety Services under the Children, Young Persons and Their Families Act 1997 (Tas). While not all toy library personnel may be mandatory reporters, all adults are encouraged to report any concerns. See more below.
Failure to protect: Leaders in our organisation must take reasonable steps to remove or reduce risks of child abuse if they know a child is at substantial risk.
Any personnel who are mandatory reporters (e.g. teachers, doctors) must comply with their statutory duties.
Mandatory Reporting
Generally, volunteers and committee members at the Hobart Toy LIbrary are not mandatory reporters unless their paid work outside the toy library places them in a mandatory reporting category (such as teachers, doctors, nurses, child care staff or policy). However, all adults are encouraged to report any concerns about a child’s safety.
Risk management
Organisations are required to protect children when a risk is identified (see information about failure to protect above). In addition to general occupational health and safety risks, we proactively manage risks of abuse to our children.
We will develop and continually improve risk management strategies to identify, assess, and take steps to minimise child abuse risks, which include risks posed by physical environments (for example, any doors that can lock), and online environments (for example, no staff or volunteer is to have contact with a child on social media).
Allegations, concerns, and complaints
Our organisation takes all allegations seriously and has practices in place to investigate thoroughly and quickly.
We work to ensure all families, staff and volunteers know what to do and who to tell if they observe abuse or are a victim, and if they notice inappropriate behaviour.
We all have a responsibility to report an allegation of abuse if we have a reasonable belief that an incident took place.
If an adult has a reasonable belief that an incident has occurred, then they must report the incident. Factors contributing to reasonable belief may be:
A child states they or someone they know has been abused (noting that sometimes the child may in fact be referring to themselves)
Behaviour consistent with that of an abuse victim is observed
Someone else has raised a suspicion of abuse but is unwilling to report it
Observing suspicious behaviour.
Process for Raising Concerns
Raising Concerns: Any concerns about a child’s safety or wellbeing should be reported to a committee member as the first point of contact.
Incident Reporting: The committee member will assist in completing an incident report to ensure that all relevant information is accurately documented at the time the concern is raised.
Escalation:
If there is an immediate threat to the safety or wellbeing of a child or young person contact police or seek emergency medical assistance by calling 000 immediately AND call Strong Families Safe Kids Advice and Referral Line on 1800 000 123.
If you believe, suspect or know a child (including unborn) or young person is or has been abused or neglected, call Strong Families Safe Kids Advice and Referral Line on 1800 000 123 and call Police on 131 444
If you have concerns about the safety or wellbeing of a child (including unborn) or young person, seek advice from Strong Families Safe Kids Advice and Referral Line on 1800 000 123
For non-emergencies or to report a crime, Tasmania Police should be contacted on 131444.
In addition, where the concern meets the threshold for mandatory reporting—such as when the committee member is a mandatory reporter in their professional capacity—the matter will also be escalated to the appropriate authorities in accordance with mandatory reporters legal requirements (already detailed in the ‘Mandatory Reporting’ section above).
Confidentiality and Seriousness: All concerns and reports are treated with the utmost seriousness and, subject to legal obligation to report, confidentiality.
Creating a Child Safe Environment
We will display information about local support services and community resources for families who may need additional support.
Regular review
This policy will be reviewed at least every two years and following significant incidents if they occur. We will ensure that families and children can contribute to the review. Where possible we do our best to work with local Aboriginal communities, culturally and/or linguistically diverse communities and people with a disability.