CHILD SAFETY

Statement of Commitment

Every child has the right to be safe and feel safe and at C3 Church Ryde, we commit
to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people.

To keep children safe, we commit to:

● Implementing the 10 Child Safe Standards

● Providing a safe and supporting environment for all children

● Empowering and listening to children when they share their opinions or
concerns

● Ensuring each child and young person knows who to approach if they feel
unsafe or have any concerns involving their safety

As a child safe organisation, we commit to:

● Educating all staff and volunteers at C3 Church Ryde on what it means to be
a child safe organisation, so that we can prevent, detect and effectively
respond to child abuse

● Ensuring that all staff and volunteers know how to appropriately respond to
concerns, allegations, disclosures or breaches to our Child Safe Code of
Conduct

● Welcoming feedback to continuously improve our child safe procedures and
practices

● Making sure that when family and community members interact with our
organisation, they are aware that child safety is a shared responsibility and
their behaviour aligns with our child safe practices

Child Safety Policy

Click on the button below to view the Child Safety Policy for C3 Church Ryde.

Code of Conduct

Click on the button below to view the Child Safety Code of Conduct for paid employees and volunteers at C3 Church Ryde.

CHILD SAFETY POLICY

We want children who participate in our kids and youth programs to have a safe and happy experience. We support and respect our children, their families and our workers.

  • INTRODUCTION

Our policy guides paid employees and volunteers on how to behave when interacting and engaging with children in our church. The policy focuses on how we can build and maintain a child safe environment which is inclusive, transparent and promotes children’s participation.

This policy and the following procedures apply to C3 Church Ryde and the related entities (Reach Community Initiative and church plants – C3 Rouse Hill & C3 Fairfield) that fall under its direct oversight. This document relates to legislated requirements for NSW only. 

  • CHILDREN’S PARTICIPATION

Our organisation supports the active participation of children in the programs, activities and services we offer. We provide a range of ways to allow children to provide feedback or raise concerns. We listen to their views, respect what they say and involve them when we make decisions, particularly those that will directly affect them. 

Children are aware of who they can talk to should they need to raise a concern. In the event that a concern is raised, they will be provided with adequate support and the concern will be addressed appropriately.

  • RECRUITMENT

Our organisation will maintain a rigorous and consistent recruitment, screening and selection process for all of our paid employees and volunteers. 

To achieve this standard, we will use: 

  • Working With Children Check (WWCC) for all paid employees and for volunteers over 18 working directly with children
  • References for those volunteering on a directly child related team (if a person has been in church for more than 12 months, 2 internal references will suffice. If a person has been in church for less than 12 months, 2 references external to our organisation must be provided).
  • Code of Conduct/Self Declaration for all paid employees and volunteers (whether or not they are working directly with children – as per Child Safe Standard 7).
  •  Child Safe Training for all paid employees and volunteers (whether or not they are working directly with children – as per Child Safe Standard 7).

If volunteers and employees complete these requirements, as verified by the Child Safety Team, they will be inducted into their paid role or volunteering team. 

  • PROCESS FOR REPORTING CONCERNS ABOUT CHILDREN

All paid employees and volunteers are trained at induction and then yearly, regarding the process for reporting the disclosure of abuse, or in response to a concern, about the safety or welfare of a child or young person.  

Everyone in our organisation should be confident that disclosures or concerns about a child’s safety will be dealt with immediately, honestly and fairly. 

Detailed further below are processes for volunteers and paid employees to manage disclosures or concerns within C3 Church Ryde. 

All disclosures and concerns should be reported, including:

  • Any direct disclosures of abuse 
  • Any disclosures that abuse is occurring in the home where a child or young person lives (even if it they are not being abused directly)
  • The observation or disclosure of inappropriate behaviour around children and young people
  • The suspicion of abuse or harm to a child or young person

The main types of child abuse are listed below, including some examples of physical and behavioural indicators: 

    • Physical abuse:
      • Bruises, fractures, burns, scarring, lacerations, poisoning. 
      • Anxiety, fear of parents/fear of going home, nervous, aggressive, jumpy.
  • Sexual abuse:
      • Inflammation, infection or injury to genital area, discomfort in urinating or frequent urinary tract infections, pregnancy. 
      • Age-inappropriate sexualised behaviour, regressive behaviour such as bedwetting or speech loss, aggression, signs of depression, difficulties sleeping, anxiety. 
  • Psychological/emotional abuse:
      • Possible delays in physical and speech development.
      • Low self-esteem, nervousness, highly anxious, withdrawal, aggressive behaviours. 
  • Neglect:
    • Poor hygiene, frequently hungry, unsupervised for long periods, inappropriate clothing, medical needs not attended to.
    • Steals food, stays at school outside of school hours, abuses alcohol/drugs.
  • Grooming: the process of building a relationship, trust and emotional connection in order to sexually abuse the child or young person. 
    • Examples of grooming:
  • Gaining a child’s trust by buying them special gifts or treats
  • Spending time along with the child 
  • Showing the child favoritism by treating them differently or making them feel special
  • Isolating the child from their family or friends
  • Children are present in a house where domestic violence (DV) is occurring
  • Domestic Violence: violent or aggressive behaviour occurring within the home committed by someone in the victim’s domestic circle i.e., a family member, partner, spouse, ex-partner, etc.
  • Legally, a mandatory report must be made if you are made aware that a child is living in a home where DV is occurring

 

REPORTING PROCESS FOR VOLUNTEERS 

  • If a child is in immediate danger, dial ‘000’
  • For Direct Disclosures of Abuse:
  1. Listen to the child/young person making the disclosure, and let them know you believe them.
    – Reassure the child that they have done the right thing in speaking to you; then inform them that you need to tell people who will try to help them. Ensure that the child is not in immediate danger.
  2. Immediately inform your Ministry Leader/Pastor, who will assist with making the relevant police and/or government reports
  3. Make a record of the disclosure  using the C3 Church Ryde Incident Report form (available from your Pastor).
  • Suspected Abuse:
  • If you suspect a child or young person is experiencing abuse or have concerns about their welfare, immediately inform your Ministry Leader/Pastor who will assist with making the relevant police and/or government reports. Make a record of the concern using the C3 Church Ryde Incident Report form (available from your Pastor).

 

A child/young person or any paid employee/volunteer can make a disclosure or raise a concern through a face-to-face meeting with the C3 Ryde Child Safety Team or by contacting them through the details below:

  • C3 Church Ryde Phone: 02 9086 6900
  • Cathie Green: Senior Pastor
  • Lou Brady: Management Pastor
  • Email: [email protected]

 

REPORTING PROCESS FOR PAID STAFF: NSW REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

 

Paid employees and volunteers are legally mandatory reporters and must report concerns about the risk of significant harm to a child. Paid employees and volunteers report to one of the C3 Ryde staff or the CSO (Keira Andrews) who will then make a report to the appropriate bodies below: 

 

In addition to the steps below, the incident must be recorded on an incident form and given to Keira Andrews.

  • Police:
  • If a child is in immediate danger, call ‘000’.

  • Creating Safer Communities Helpline:

Contact the Creating Safer Communities Helpline for advice and assistance and/or to ensure that C3 is aware of all child-related matters of concern (Please note: contacting this helpline is not compulsory, it is optional)

  • Helpline Number: 1800 070 511
  • Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ):

If you suspect a child is at risk of significant harm or abuse has been disclosed, you must report this to the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ). To report child abuse or neglect, please do so by using one of the methods below:

  • Phone DCJ: 132 111 (24 hour service) 
  • OR lodge an eReport through the NSW website using the following link:
  • Mandatory eReport Link 
  • Login details: see Keira Andrews

In the event you are unable to determine whether or not a mandatory report should be made, please consult the NSW Mandatory Reporter Guide (MRG) using the link below: 

If an allegation is made against a paid employee, volunteer or contractor (who currently holds a valid WWCC verified by C3 Church Ryde), a report must be made to the Office of the Children’s Guardian (OCG), under the Reportable Conduct Scheme.

Reportable conduct includes both criminal and non-criminal behaviour, namely: 

  • Significant emotional or psychological harm
  • Significant neglect
  • Physical violence
  • Sexual offence and/or sexual misconduct
  • Grooming
  • Relevant offences such as failing to report child abuse and female genital mutilation. 

 

It is recommended this be done on the first business day after the report of the event; refer to the numbers below: 

  • OCG phone number: (02) 8219 3600 
  • Alternative number: (02) 8219 3777

  • OTHER LEGISLATION, INDUSTRY STANDARDS OR INTERNAL POLICIES

Other legislation:

  • Child Safe Standards 2023
  • Child Protection (Working With Children) Act 2012
  • Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998

 

Internal Policies:

  • C3 Australia Safe Church Manual (Includes C3 Australia Safe Church Policy)
  • C3 Church Ryde Code of Conduct
  • Problem and Conflict Resolution Policy 
  • Electronic Communication & Social Media Policy 

Child to Leader Ratios:

We have a firm commitment at C3 Ryde to ensure that all children in our care are adequately supervised. In this regard, all of our ministries adhere to the standards set by the relevant government authorities in regards to child-to-leader ratios. These ratios are as follows:

 

    • A minimum of two adult leaders will be involved in any structured event or ministry activity; under no circumstances should an adult be left alone with a child or group of children
  • Creche children (from 0 to 24 months of age): 1:4 (leaders:children)
  • Over 24 months and less than 36 months of age: 1:5
  • Aged 36 months of age or preschool: 1:10
  • Over preschool age (primary and high school students): 1:15
  • Higher ratios if activities are deemed risky or if excursions / off-sites take place

  • COMMUNICATION

  • Our Child Safe Policy and Code of Conduct is easily accessible on our website: www.c3churchryde.com.au 
  • Our Child Safe Policy will be discussed during induction sessions for all new staff and volunteers
  • Our policies, or parts thereof,  will be mentioned at all gatherings of leaders.

 

REVIEW

 

The policy and guidelines will be reviewed every two years and incorporate comments and suggestions from our range of stakeholders (including workers, children and families).

 

If you have any questions about this Policy, please contact the C3 Church Ryde Child Safety Officer, Keira Andrews at [email protected] 

 

CODE OF CONDUCT

We are committed to creating and maintaining an environment that promotes the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people. This includes encouraging a culture where the prevention and reporting of abuse is supported and encouraged. All staff and volunteers from C3 Church Ryde and its plants are responsible for promoting the safety, wellbeing and empowerment of children.

This Code of Conduct sets expectations for how adults in our church should behave around children. This is important to help prevent children from being harmed. Child abuse takes many forms and can include physical, sexual and psychological abuse, domestic violence and neglect. Our Child Safety Policy provides
more information about these different types of abuse.

I will:

● Treat children with respect and be a positive role model in my conduct with them.
● Welcome all children and their families and carers by being inclusive.
● Listen to and communicate with children in an age appropriate manner.
● Set clear boundaries about appropriate behaviour between myself and a child.
● Only have physical contact with a child in ways which are appropriate to my professional and volunteer role and responsibilities.
● Be willing to listen and respond appropriately to a child’s opinions and concerns.
● Wherever possible, only interact online with young people in the context of group messaging.
● Welcome parents and carers to participate in decisions about childrens’ programs and any other matters about their safety.
● Take a child seriously if they disclose harm or abuse and report these immediately and transparently to C3 Ryde staff members.
● Participate in all compulsory training.
● Adhere to all relevant Australian and NSW legislation and C3 Ryde child safety policies and
procedures.
● Raise concerns with C3 Ryde staff if risks to child safety are identified.
● Ensure breaches of this Code of Conduct are reported to C3 Ryde staff immediately.
● Uphold the rights of the child and always prioritise their needs.

I will not:

● Ignore or disregard any concerns, suspicions or disclosures of child abuse.
● Exaggerate or trivialise child abuse issues.
● Approve or participate in illegal, unsafe or abusive behaviour towards children, including physical, sexual or psychological abuse, domestic violence, neglect or grooming.
● Use hurtful, discriminatory or offensive behaviour or language with children.
● Be alone with a child.
● Possess or use cigarettes/vapes or be under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs at any time while working with children.
● Offer children and young people alcohol, cigarettes/vapes or other drugs.
● Initiate direct messaging on social media or other platforms; or initiate friend requests or follow children or young people on social media (however, follow requests can be accepted when initiated by a child or young person)
● Develop any ‘special’ relationships with children that could be seen as grooming/favouritism such as the offering of gifts or special treatment.
● Engage in unwarranted and inappropriate touching involving a child.
● Use sexual language, innuendoes, jokes or gestures in the presence of children.
● Do things of a personal nature that a child can do for themselves, such as toileting or changing clothes.

All staff, volunteers, families and church members are required to speak to a C3 Ryde staff member if they have concerns about the safety of children or if they know that a child under 18 years has been abused. Complaints about a breach of this Code of Conduct can be reported to any of the C3 Ryde staff.

Some breaches of this Code of Conduct may need to be reported to the NSW Police, the Department of Communities and Justice and the Office of the Children’s Guardian. Staff and volunteers who breach our Code of Conduct may also be subject to disciplinary action. This can include increased supervision, appointment to an alternative role, suspension or termination from the organisation.

PLEASE NOTE:

As C3 Church Ryde is a mandatory reporter, adults working or volunteering will commit an offence if they know another person in the organisation poses a serious risk of abusing a child (under 18 years), and they have the power to reduce or remove the risk, and they negligently fail to do so.

CONTACT DETAILS

If you have any questions about the Child Safety Policy or Code of Conduct, please contact the Child Safety Officer.

Child Safety Officer
Keira Andrews

Email
[email protected]

Telephone
+61 (02) 9086 6900

Mailing Address
PO Box 919,
 Ryde NSW 1680

FEEDBACK FORM

Have any thoughts or feedback about our Child Safety Policy? Please let us know below: