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Child Safe

Child Safety Code of Conduct  

 

1. Purpose & Scope

This Code of Conduct outlines the mandatory professional behaviours expected of all individuals associated with NE Tracks LLEN. This includes board members, permanent and casual employees, labour-hire staff, independent contractors, and volunteers (collectively referred to as Personnel).

The primary objective is to protect children and young people participating in NE Tracks LLEN program delivery from child abuse, harm, and neglect.

 

2. Mandatory Acceptable Behaviours

Personnel must:

  • Uphold Child Safety: Actively promote the safety, participation, and empowerment of all children and young people at all times.

  • Maintain Cultural Safety: Respect and welcome the diverse identities and experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth, youth from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, LGBTQIA+ youth, and youth with disabilities.

  • Follow Reporting Protocols: Immediately report any child/youth safety concerns, disclosures, or suspicions of abuse to the Chief Executive Officer. If the concern involves the Chief Executive Officer, report directly to the Committee of Management Chair.

  • Report to Regulators: Ensure that any reportable allegations are handled in alignment with the Social Services Regulator (SSR) notification guidelines.

  • Work in Open Environments: Ensure that physical and virtual/online interactions with children and young people occur in open view, avoiding isolated 1-on-1 situations wherever practical.

  • Verify Compliance: Maintain a valid Working with Children Check (WWCC), where required in accordance with the Worker Screening Act 2020. Immediately notify management of any changes to your criminal record status.

 

3. Prohibited Unacceptable Behaviours

Personnel must NOT:

  • Engage in Inappropriate Contact: Touch a child or young person inappropriately or engage in any behaviour that could be interpreted as grooming, sexual harassment, or physical violence.

  • Use Direct Private Digital Channels: Communicate with a child or young person via personal social media accounts, private messaging apps, or unmonitored personal mobile lines. All online/virtual contact must use approved, transparent NE Tracks LLEN channels.

  • Consume Substances Around Youth: Consume alcohol, use illicit substances, or be under the influence of any mind-altering substances while supervising children and young people or attending NE Tracks LLEN-sanctioned events.

  • Transport Youth Without Authorisation: Transport an unaccompanied child or young person in your personal vehicle without explicit, written operational pre-approval from the Chief Executive Officer and written consent from the parent, guardian or school.

  • Exchange Inappropriate Gifts: Offer personal gifts, money, or favours to individual children or young people outside of official, approved program incentive frameworks.

  • Expose Youth to Inappropriate Content: Share or display adult content, sexually explicit material, or politically extreme materials during programs or on NE Tracks LLEN digital infrastructure.

  • Discriminate or Bully: Ignore, dismiss, minimise, or mock the concerns or cultural expressions of a child or young person.

 

4. Beach of this Code

Breaches of this Code of Conduct will be taken seriously. Depending on the severity of the breach, actions may include:

  1. Formal disciplinary proceedings or performance management.

  2. Suspension or termination of employment, contract, or Committee of Management position.

  3. A formal report filed under the Reportable Conduct Scheme to the Social Services Regulator.

  4. Referral to Victoria Police if criminal conduct is suspected.

 

Approval Date:                                 June 2026
Review Date:                                    June 2028
Approving Authority:                       NE Tracks LLEN Committee of Management

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Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy

 

1. Purpose & Scope

This policy outlines NE Tracks LLEN’s commitment to creating and maintaining a child-safe and child-friendly environment. It provides a clear framework for how our organisation implements the Victorian Child Safe Standards under Ministerial Order 1359.

 

Scope

  • Personnel: Applies to all Board members, staff, volunteers, sub-contractors, and tertiary students on placement.

  • Environments: Covers all physical, internal and external workplaces and environments managed by NE Tracks LLEN.

  • Target Audience: Applies to all interactions with children and young people (aged 0–18 years).

 

2. Statement of Commitment to Child

NE Tracks LLEN has zero tolerance for child abuse. We are committed to providing environments where children and young people are safe, feel safe, and can actively participate in shaping their future pathways.

 

We proactively work to:

  • Support and empower children and young people.

  • Prevent abuse/harm by identifying and mitigating risks early.

  • Establish culturally safe environments that celebrate and respect the unique identities of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

  • Ensure inclusion for young people with disabilities, those from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, and LGBTQIA+ youth.

 

3. Alignment with the 11 Victorian Child Safe Standards

 

Standard 1: Culturally Safe Environments

  • NE Tracks LLEN actively supports a child or young person's ability to express their culture.

  • We design programs that respect and value the diverse identities and experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people.

 

Standard 2: Leadership, Governance, and Culture

  • The NE Tracks LLEN Board and Executive Officer champion a child-safe culture.

  • Child safety is a standing agenda item at all governance meetings.

  • A staff member is designated as the Child Safety Champion to oversee compliance and training.

 

Standard 3: Child and Youth Empowerment

  • We provide children and young people with accessible information about their rights.

  • We involve children and young people in programmatic feedback loops, ensuring their voices are taken seriously in decisions that affect them.

 

Standard 4: Family and Community Engagement

  • We inform parents, carers, and partners about our child safety approach.

  • Child-safe policies are easily accessible on the NE Tracks LLEN Website.

 

Standard 5: Diversity and Equity

  • Our practices account for intersectional vulnerabilities.

  • We actively adapt our workplace learning initiatives to accommodate the distinct needs of students with disabilities, remote students, and those experiencing socio-economic barriers.

 

Standard 6: Suitable Staff and Volunteers

  • Personnel must maintain a current Working with Children Check (WWCC) where required in accordance with the Worker Screening Act 2020.

  • Robust HR screening is enforced, including rigorous interview questions focused on child-safe values and mandatory reference checks.

 

Standard 7: Child-Focused Complaints Processes

  • We maintain a transparent, clear, and youth-friendly pathway for reporting concerns, complaints, or disclosures.

  • All complaints are treated with strict confidentiality, documented, and investigated promptly.

 

Standard 8: Staff Knowledge, Skills, and Awareness

  • All regular employees receive mandatory child safety induction and bi annual refresher training.

  • Training explicitly covers recognising indicators of abuse, grooming behaviour, and mandatory reporting thresholds.

 

Standard 9: Physical and Online Environments

  • We systematically assess safety risks across all physical operational spaces and online portals.

  • Workplace safety assessments are strictly required before matching students with employers for Work Based Learning (WBL) or placements.

 

Standard 10: Review and Continuous Improvement

  • This policy is reviewed every two years at minimum or immediately following a reported incident or relevant changes to Victorian legislation.

  • Improvements are continuously informed by feedback from schools, students, and partnering employers.

 

Standard 11: Documented Policies and Procedures

  • NE Tracks LLEN formally documents its operational safeguards within this policy, our Child Safety Code of Conduct, and our Risk Management Framework.

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4. Responding to and Reporting Suspected Child Abuse

Any individual who forms a reasonable belief that a child has been harmed, or is at risk of harm, must take immediate action:

 

  1. Ensure Immediate Safety: If a young person is in immediate danger, call 000 straight away.

  2. Internal Notification: Promptly report the concern to the NE Tracks LLEN Executive Officer or designated Child Safety Champion.

  3. External Reporting: If mandatory reporting criteria under the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005are met, or if an immediate risk of harm is suspected, make a direct notification to DFFH Child Protection or Victoria Police.

  4. Reportable Conduct: Reportable Conduct allegations involving staff or volunteers will automatically trigger Reportable Conduct Scheme procedures, requiring notification to the Social Services Regulator within 3 business days

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Approval Date:                                 June 2026
Review Date:                                    June 2028
Approving Authority:                       NE Tracks LLEN Committee of Management

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