Child Safety Commitment

Our Duty to Child Safety

Arthurs Creek Primary School is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people.
This is the primary focus of our care and decision-making.

Arthurs Creek Primary School has zero tolerance for child abuse, and we are committed to protecting children from harm.

We committed to providing a 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 cultural safety of Aboriginal children and children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds, as well as the safety of vulnerable children and those with a disability.

Every person involved in Arthurs Creek Primary 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.

The vision of the school community encompasses a commitment to excellence in education for all students. Our school recognises the strong link between home and school. This partnership is encouraged and valued. We aim to be a family friendly school that focuses on the whole child.

Student achievement, engagement and wellbeing are the fundamental pursuits of our school. We aspire to engage our students, with the support of the greater community, to develop the requisite skills and strategies to adopt a growth mindset towards lifelong learning.

Every child arrives at our school as an important and respected member of our community. They become confident interacting with any age group and take an active role in shaping our collaborative and inclusive culture.

A young girl with brown hair and a blue long-sleeve shirt smiling and hanging on a red climbing rope at a playground, with trees and a blue sky in the background.
A young girl with brown hair and a blue long-sleeve shirt smiling and hanging on a red climbing rope at a playground, with trees and a blue sky in the background.

At Arthurs Creek Primary School we believe:

  • Children should be empowered to pursue life-long learning

  • Motivating, challenging and enjoyable curriculum inspires creativity and a love of learning

  • All children have the ability to learn and quality education is best when provided in a safe and caring environment

  • A spirit of team work and co-operation fosters a strong sense of belonging in our rural community

  • We are a learning community and value the strong partnership between students, teachers, parents and the wider community

A young boy wearing glasses and a blue and black school uniform is hanging from a blue horizontal bar at a playground, with a wooden climbing structure in the background.
A young boy wearing glasses and a blue and black school uniform is hanging from a blue horizontal bar at a playground, with a wooden climbing structure in the background.

Principles for Child Safety

In its planning, decision-making, and operations Arthurs Creek Primary School will:

  • Provide all students with an outstanding education that will lead them to reach their full potential (incorporating and moderating best practice content with classroom instruction)

  • Provide a safe, enjoyable and caring learning environment (Small class sizes, small number of students, access to allied health services through DET, School Principal acts as Child Safety Officer)

  • Promote and provide physical, emotional and cultural safety for all students

  • Acknowledge the importance of child safety and the schools role in protecting children from child abuse by taking a preventative, proactive and participatory approach to child safety

  • Develop partnerships between students, staff, parents/carers and the community (Parents are encouraged to join parent/carer groups, school Council and other activities that support the community)

  • Inspire students to have high expectations of themselves, to be positive, adaptable and resilient

  • Value and empower children to participate in decisions which affect their lives

  • Promote life-long learning

  • 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 on appropriate conduct and behaviour towards children

  • Engage only the most suitable people to work with children and have high quality staff and volunteer supervision and professional development

  • 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 is at risk; and

  • Value the input of and communicate regularly with families and carers

Child Safety and Wellbeing Policies

Our comprehensive child safety framework outlines our school’s strategies to support student safety and wellbeing.

The framework includes the following policies, codes and procedures:

Our students and their families are important partners in keeping our students safe. We value feedback and ideas on how we can continuously strengthen our child safety framework.

If you have any suggestions or comments please contact, the Principal, Andrew Lamers on (03) 9714 8204 or at arthurs.creek.ps@education.vic.gov.au.