Child Safety and Wellbeing
Christ Church Grammar views its obligation to safeguard and protect children and young people from harm as an ongoing process of improvement and continues to strive to be a better, safer place for children and young people.
Safeguarding children is everyone’s responsibility.
“Every boy deserves to feel safe at the school. Safety means physically safe, safe from sexual abuse, emotionally safe, safe from neglect.” – Alan Jones, Principal
Statement of Commitment
Christ Church Grammar School is committed to ensuring the safety, welfare and wellbeing of all children and young people at the School. This is the primary focus of our care and decision-making.
Christ Church Grammar School has zero tolerance for child abuse. All allegations and safety concerns are treated very seriously and consistently with our policies and procedures. We have legal and moral obligations to contact authorities when we are concerned about a child or young person’s safety, which we follow rigorously.
Christ Church Grammar School is committed to providing a child-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 is paid to the cultural safety of Aboriginal children and children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds, as well as the safety of children with a disability and those who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and/or intersex. Our complaints process is child-focused and responsive to the concerns of children and young people.
Christ Church Grammar School is committed to preventing child abuse and identifying risks early, and removing and reducing these risks both in physical and online environments. We have robust human resources and recruitment practices to reduce the risk of child abuse by new and existing Council members, staff and volunteers. We are committed to regular and ongoing education and training on child safety and wellbeing for our Council members, staff and volunteers.
Christ Church Grammar School are committed to informing and involving families in child safety and wellbeing at the School.
Every person involved at Christ Church Grammar School has a responsibility to understand the important and specific role they play 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.
Christ Church Grammar School recognises the devastating impact and effects of child sexual abuse. The School has joined the National Redress Scheme which offers an independent, workable and non-adversarial option for applicants and importantly ensure choice for the applicants’ voice.
Child safety framework
The School has adopted the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations developed by the Australian Human Rights Commission out of the findings of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
The National Principals underpin the policies, procedures, practices and culture within the School to ensure that the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people is at the forefront of everything the School does and every decision they make.
Click on the links to access the School’s Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy and Child Safety and Wellbeing Handbook.
Complaints and concerns
Christ Church Grammar School is committed to ensuring the safety, welfare and well-being of all children and people at the School and has zero tolerance for child abuse. All allegations and safety concerns will be treated very seriously and with consistency. We will always give priority to any complaints involving the safety, welfare and well-being of students.
For more information, refer to the School’s Disputes and Complaints Policy.
Former students
Where a former student (still under the age of 18), or the parent or guardian of a former student, makes an allegation about child sexual abuse at the School occurring before 2009, the Department of Communities – Child Protection Service is to be informed immediately.
An allegation involving a former student who is now aged 18 or over is reportable to the Police. In either case, the Principal must submit a Critical Incident report to the Director General, Department of Education and may also be required to notify the Teacher Registration Board of Western Australia.
The Principal can be contacted at principal@ccgs.wa.edu.au.
Healing historical harm
The School recognises the devastating impacts and effects of child sexual abuse, and supports a system that allows applicants of child sexual abuse to seek redress/compensation.
Redress Framework
The National Redress Scheme started on 1 July 2018 and will run for 10 years. In March 2019, the School joined the National Redress Scheme which offers an independent, workable and non-adversarial option for applicants and importantly ensures choice for the applicant’s voice.
Applicant Liaison Coordinator
In 2019 the School created the role of Applicant Liaison Coordinator for anyone in our community who would like counselling or support about issues of child sexual abuse and/or historical harm. Registered Psychologists Kate Atkinson (9442 1749) and Michael Ralph (9442 1761) can be contacted between 9.00am and 3.00pm local time Monday to Friday.