Child Safe Organisation
Hobsons Bay City Council is committed to being a child safe organisation and has zero tolerance for child abuse. Council is an inclusive and welcoming environment that is committed to protecting the physical, emotional, cultural and social wellbeing of all children.
Council has policies and systems in place to support employees to achieve our commitment to child safety, and all allegations and safety concerns will be treated seriously. Hobsons Bay City Council acknowledges that children’s safety is an organisation wide responsibility.
Background
In April 2012, the Victorian Government initiated the Family and Community Development Committees Inquiry into the handling of child abuse by religious and other organisations (Betrayal of Trust Inquiry).
The Betrayal of Trust report was tabled in November 2013 and the Victorian Government committed to implementing all 15 recommendations which include criminal law reform, civil law reform and the introduction of compulsory Victorian Child Safety Standards.
The Victorian Child Safe Standards are compulsory for all organisations providing services to children, with the aim to drive cultural change in organisations so that protecting children from abuse is embedded in the everyday thinking and practice of leaders, staff and Council volunteers. This will assist organisations to:
- prevent child abuse
- encourage reporting of any abuse that occurs
- improve responses to any allegations of child abuse