Child Safe Policy

Good Company Disability Services Pty Ltd
Effective Date: 29 May 2025
Review Date: 29 May 2026
Contact: [email protected]


🌱 1. Purpose

This policy outlines how Good Company Disability Services protects the rights, safety, and wellbeing of children and young people who access our supports. We are committed to being a child safe organisation where children are safe, respected, heard, and able to thrive.


👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 2. Scope

This policy applies to:

  • All staff, contractors, volunteers, and students

  • Children and young people under 18 years of age receiving supports

  • Parents, carers, guardians, and advocates

  • All locations and formats of service delivery (in-home, community, online)


📘 3. Definitions

TermDefinition
Child/ChildrenA person under 18 years of age.
Child Safe OrganisationAn organisation that creates conditions to reduce the likelihood of harm to children, increases their confidence to speak up, and responds effectively to concerns.
Mandatory ReportingLegal requirement to report suspected abuse or neglect to relevant child protection authorities.
AbuseIncludes physical, emotional, psychological, sexual abuse, neglect, and exposure to family violence.

🛡️ 4. Commitment to Child Safety

Good Company:

  • Has zero tolerance for child abuse, harm, or exploitation

  • Prioritises the safety and rights of all children

  • Recognises that children with disability face heightened risk

  • Promotes the participation and voice of children in all decisions affecting them

  • Ensures early intervention, swift response, and continuous improvement


📜 5. Legal and Regulatory Framework

This policy is informed by:

  • Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 (VIC)

  • Children and Community Services Act 2004 (WA)

  • NDIS (Quality Indicators) Guidelines 2018

  • National Principles for Child Safe Organisations

  • UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)

  • NDIS Code of Conduct

  • Privacy Act 1988 (Cth)


🧒 6. Empowering Children and Families

We:

  • Welcome children’s feedback and involve them in support planning

  • Provide clear information in child-friendly formats where requested

  • Support family members or guardians to speak up

  • Encourage safe relationships and protective behaviours education

  • Offer Easy Read and culturally adapted materials for all children where requested


👥 7. Child Safe Culture and Staffing

7.1. Recruitment and Screening
  • All staff working with children must hold:

    • A valid Working With Children Check (WWCC) or equivalent

    • An NDIS Worker Screening Check or a National Police Check

7.2. Staff Code of Conduct
  • Staff must:

    • Maintain professional boundaries

    • Avoid all forms of grooming, isolation, or favouritism

    • Never use physical punishment or emotionally abusive language

7.3. Training
  • All staff complete Child Safety Induction Training, including;

    • Identifying signs of abuse

    • Responding to disclosures

    • Understanding legal obligations for reporting

    • Supporting children with disability to communicate safely


🚨 8. Identifying and Responding to Risk

We actively monitor:

  • Physical and emotional indicators of harm

  • Environmental safety in homes, transport, and community settings

  • Online safety and communications between staff and children

If any staff suspect a child is at risk:

  • They must report immediately to a Manager or Director

  • The concern will be documented and reported to relevant authorities in line with mandatory reporting laws

  • The child’s support team will be informed to ensure safety, wellbeing, and advocacy


🧭 9. Reporting and Incident Management

  • Child safety concerns are reported via the internal Incident Management System

  • Serious or reportable incidents are escalated to:

    • Child protection services in the relevant state

    • The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission (if applicable)

  • Families and guardians are informed (unless this would place the child at greater risk)


📝 10. Complaints and Feedback

Children and families can raise concerns:

  • In person

  • By phone or email

  • With the help of an advocate or interpreter

We take all concerns seriously and respond in a timely, transparent, and child-sensitive manner.


📊 11. Monitoring and Continuous Improvement

We review child safety practices regularly through:

  • Incident trends and feedback reports

  • Staff training participation rates

  • Annual internal audits of compliance

  • Participant satisfaction data from children and families

Improvements are incorporated into service delivery and staff development.


🔗 12. Related Policies and Resources

  • Safeguarding & Risk Management Policy

  • Incident Management Policy

  • Complaints and Feedback Policy

  • Participant Rights and Advocacy Policy

  • Staff Code of Conduct

  • NDIS Code of Conduct

  • National Principles for Child Safe Organisations (Australian Human Rights Commission)


📅 13. Review

This policy is reviewed:

  • Annually

  • After any serious child safety incident

  • If there are updates to child protection laws or NDIS regulations


🧩 14. Alignment with the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations

Good Company aligns its practices with the 10 National Principles for Child Safe Organisations, as outlined below:

National PrincipleGood Company Application
1. Leadership, governance and cultureChild safety is embedded in governance and supported by leadership, policy, and reporting.
2. Child voiceChildren are actively involved in support planning and encouraged to express concerns.
3. Family involvementFamilies are informed and involved in decision-making. Feedback is welcomed and acted on.
4. Equity and inclusionPractices are tailored for children with disability, Aboriginal and CALD backgrounds, and LGBTIQA+ children.
5. Staff screening and supervisionAll child-facing staff are screened, trained, and supervised to support child safety.
6. Child-focused complaints processesComplaints can be raised in multiple formats with support, and are handled respectfully.
7. Training and educationMandatory training covers recognising abuse, reporting, and child-centred communication.
8. Safe environmentsServices are delivered in physically and emotionally safe spaces, including online.
9. Continuous improvementFeedback and incident data inform regular review of child safety practices.
10. Clear documentationThis policy and supporting procedures are clearly written, accessible, and regularly reviewed.

✅ Final Statement

Every child supported by Good Company has the right to feel safe, respected, and supported.
We are committed to creating an environment where children with disability can thrive — with trust, dignity, and care.