Child Safety
Statement of Commitment to Child Safety
LSA is committed to the wellbeing and safety of children and young people that access our managed venues and programs across Australia. LSA has a zero tolerance on any form of child abuse and will act accordingly to maintain the safety of children and young people.
LSA is committed to the safety, participation and empowerment of all children. LSA treats all allegations and child safety concerns seriously, as outlined in our policies and procedures.
LSA is committed to preventing child abuse and identifying risks early. LSA has robust recruitment processes to reduce the risk of harm to children and young people from potential new staff members.
LSA is committed to regularly training and educating our staff and volunteers on child abuse risks.
LSA is committed to the cultural safety of Aboriginal children, the cultural safety of children from culturally linguistic diverse backgrounds, and to providing them with a safe environment.
Child Protection Policy – Child Friendly Version
Child Safe Complaints Handling
LSA is committed to resolving and responding to all complaints from clients and the general public in a prompt, impartial and just manner. To access our complaints handling policy for general complaints please Click Here.
To access information about how LSA handles Child Safety Complaints, please refer to the ‘Complaints Handling’ section in LSA’s Child Protection Policy.
To make a complaint please click here. Please find our complaints form as a child friendly version available for Download Here.
Staff Code of Conduct
LSA ensures all aspects of our service, and our venues are always safe for all children. Our service has a moral and legal responsibility to ensure that the rights and best interests of the child are paramount.
LSA expects all Staff Members to be caring, compassionate adults who take an interest in the well-being of Children, and who set appropriate boundaries for worker-Child relations.
Staff Members must be aware that their interactions with Children are based on a trusting relationship arising from the nature of their role in the organisation, and that those relationships are open to scrutiny.
At all times, Staff Members must conduct themselves in a professional manner towards children, consistent with their appointed role.
A Staff Member must not act recklessly in this regard.
| STAFF MUST | STAFF MUST NOT |
| Talk to children in a professional and supportive manner | Use abusive or offensive language |
| Treat children with respect | Act in ways which may cause a Child to reasonably fear that unjustified force will be used against them, even if this is not their intention |
| Listen and respect what children have to say | Single out a child in a humiliating manner |
| Ensure all children are being supervised by a parent/adult | Be alone with a child in an unsupervised way |
| Perform checks of obstructed areas of the venue | Take a child into areas that are not visible to other staff members |
| Ensure that any physical contact is appropriate to the situation | Engage in physical contact without consent |
| Use gentle handling when making stroke corrections or manipulations within swimming lessons | Perform acts that are of a personal nature with the child such as changing clothes and toileting |
| Keep hands visible above the water’s surface when providing support | Touch the child or young person in areas of a sexual nature |
| Be cautious when using hands on correct whilst the child is still moving | Allow a child to smack or hit another student |
| Obtain consent from parents/guardians before taking any photos or videos of children | Engage in inappropriate physical contact/force with a Child including physical/corporal punishment of a child in the course of their role such as smacking or hitting a child as a form of discipline |
| Ensure adequate supervision of children in change rooms | Share personal information or photos of children without obtaining consent |
| Knock or announce oneself before entering change rooms | Use photographic or videos in change rooms |
| Ensure all activity and communication occurs within the scope of staff job role and responsibilities | Be in one-on-one situations with children without supervision by another staff member or the child’s parent |
| Ensure all interactions with children and their families remain within context of the teacher and student relationship | Buy gifts for children without authorisation from a manager and without the knowledge of parents/guardians |
| Respect children’s privacy when changing in a public area or change room | Share personal information with children |
| Always act in ways that promote the health, wellbeing and safety of children | Use change rooms while a child is present. If unavoidable, staff member should use a private stall |
| Be ethical, fair and honest in all dealings with children | Engage in any act that breaches the Child Protection Policy, including the Child Safe Code of Conduct |
| Be alert to risk indicators of child abuse and child grooming | Engage in any behaviour that puts children at risk |
| Comply with LSA’s Child Protection Policy | Permit bullying to take place between children |
| Behave in a manner which may cause psychological harm to a Child
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| Correct or discipline a Child in excess of what is reasonable or appropriate for the situation.
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