Term

Definition

Child

Any person under the age of eighteen years.

Child abuse

The abuse of a child’s rights to life, survival and development, and includes all forms of physical, emotional and sexual abuse, as well as domestic or family violence, neglect, sexual exploitation or child labour.

Child protection

Any activity, procedure or initiative designed to protect children from any form of harm, in particular harm arising from child abuse or neglect.

Child safe

An environment that has an open and aware culture around child safety and protection, and understands what the risks of child abuse look like, is bound by a comprehensive child safeguarding policy and frameworks, provides a voice to children, and everyone is encouraged to report any allegations, disclosures or concerns.

Domestic or family violence

This includes verbal, physical, sexual or emotional violence within the household or family that the child either witnesses or experiences. 

Emotional abuse

A persistent attack on a child’s self-esteem, including name-calling, threatening, ridiculing, intimidating or isolating a child. 

Grooming

Building the trust of a child or their carer to gain access to that child in order to sexually abuse them.  Indicators involve but are not limited to developing special relationships with a child, inappropriate interactions, or testing or ignoring professional boundaries.

Neglect

The persistent failure or denial, where there are means, to provide a child with clean water, food, shelter, sanitation or supervision/care to the extent that it risks the child’s health and development.

Physical abuse

Where a person purposefully injures, or threatens to injure, a child by, for example, slapping, punching, kicking, shaking, burning, shoving or grabbing.  Physical abuse also includes providing a child or young person with alcohol, poison or illicit drugs.

Sexual abuse

When a child is used by another child or adult for their own sexual stimulation or gratification, whether or not there is physical contact.  Sexual abuse includes all forms of sexual activity that involve children, including communication with children via digital technology or exposing children to pornographic images.

Sexual exploitation

Where a child is sexually abuse or exploited in return for cash or for kind. 

Best interests of the child

Every initiative, decision and program at Brandkind is guided by the fundamental principle that we serve the best interests of every child that we engage with. 

Zero tolerance of abuse

Brandkind will not tolerate any form of child abuse by any person working within the program or representing the organisation in any way.  

Shared responsibility

Brandkind believes that child protection and safeguarding is a shared responsibility, in that our ability to successfully implement our initiatives and create a safe environment is dependent on all of our representatives committing to and upholding this Policy.

Risk management 

Brandkind will ensure that risks of child abuse are identified, monitored and reasonably managed in assessing all activities and initiatives. 

Confidentiality, fairness and wellbeing

Any matter, allegation or concern raised under this Policy or the Child Safeguarding Code of Conduct will be dealt with in a fair, confidential and timely manner to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all persons involved. 

Respect

Brandkind believes that respect is central to ensuring a safe environment emotionally, psychologically and culturally for every person interacting with the organisation.  

Measure

Description

Child Safeguarding Code of Conduct

A Code of Conduct that must be signed and returned by every staff member and volunteer that works with the organisation.  This ensures that all representatives of Brandkind are given clear guidance on minimizing risks to children and the standards of behavior required of them at all times.

Compliance 

All programs and projects that we support are child-safe and child-friendly and our project partners have appropriate child protection policies that are consistent with the Policy principles.

Recruitment screening procedures 

A framework around screening procedures, interview and referee questions, and standards that all applicants are to be held to during the recruitment process for all positions with Brandkind. 

Reporting procedures

Clear procedures for all adults and children on reporting any known or suspected breaches of the Child Safeguarding Code of Conduct or Policy, and information about how those breaches and reports will be handled.

Use of children’s images 

We will always:

• comply with local traditions and cultural expectations when photographing/filming children;
• ensure all images are honest representations of the context and the facts;
• not use images in such a way as to reveal identifying information about the child;
• appropriately use technology around children, including computers, mobile phones, video cameras, and never engage in exploitative, harassing or pornographic activities; and
• ensure all images present children in a dignified and respectful manner, adequately clothed and not in sexually suggestive poses.

Risk management processes

An overview of risk management and clear guidelines for assessing, mitigating and reviewing any child safeguarding risks, including how to integrate these into the design and planning of any activity, event or program. 

Training 

We will take proactive steps to ensure that everyone to whom this Policy applies is made aware of this Policy and their responsibilities and are appropriately trained in child protection and how to reduce risks of harm to children and create child-safe environments.

Standards applied to partners and affiliates 

Standards and expectations required of any working agreements and contracts with partners or affiliates of Brandkind that are to be integrated into agreements and made known during initial discussions and planning. 

Conduct myself in a manner consistent with the values of Brandkind and the Child Protection Policy.

Provide a welcoming, inclusive and safe environment for all children, parents, staff and volunteers.

Treat all children equally and with respect regardless of their race, colour, gender, language, religion, opinions, nationality, social origin, ethnicity, property, disability, sexual orientation or other status.

Immediately disclose any charges, convictions or other outcomes of an offence that I was or am subject to that relates to child exploitation or abuse, including those which occurred before or during my association with Brandkind.

Listen to and be observant of children and be sensitive to the signals they send me about how comfortable they are with me (their language, conversation and physical intimacy) and respond appropriately and accordingly (including stopping any interaction with a child if a child says stop or if the child appears uncomfortable with the interaction).

Encourage open communication between all children, young people, parents, staff and volunteers so that they may speak out about issues that affect them.

Wherever possible, ensure that another adult is present whenever working with children.

Comply with all relevant Australian legislation relating to child protection and safety.

Obtain a Working with Children Clearance or other check where required by law or where otherwise requested by Brandkind.

Take responsibility for ensuring I am accountable and do not place myself in positions where there is a risk of allegations being made.

Self-assess my behaviours, actions, language and relationships with children.

Be transparent in my actions and whereabouts.

Behave in a manner that upholds the values of the Brandkind program and helps maintain the positive public image of Brandkind.

Immediately report any concern for the safety or wellbeing of a child, or any possible breach of the Child Protection Policy or Code of Conduct in accordance with Brandkind reporting procedures.

Speak with management about any concerns I may have about my involvement in a situation where my words, actions or behaviour could be interpreted as a breach of this Code of Conduct.

Behave or use language towards children that is inappropriate, harassing, abusive, sexually provocative, intended to humiliate, or culturally inappropriate or insensitive.

Use inappropriate, offensive or discriminatory language when speaking with a child or young person.

Engage in any form of sexual activity or sexual intercourse with any child.

Request, receive or accept benefits or gifts from children or their families, or solicit any form of advantage or sexual favour from a child.

Use physical or humiliating punishment on children.

Consume alcohol or illicit drugs when working with or in contact with children involved in programs, activities or events held by Brandkind. 

Discriminate against or act in favour of particular children to the exclusion of others.

Seek out or make contact or spend time with any child connected with Brandkind programs or activities outside of the designated program or activity time.

Engage in physical contact that is unprofessional, abusive, unnecessary, makes a child feel uncomfortable or unsafe, or in a culturally insensitive way.

Do things of a personal nature that a child can do for him/herself, such as assistance with toileting or changing clothes.

Take children to my own home/hotel or sleep in the same room or bed as a child.

Use any computer, mobile phone, video camera, camera or social media in a way that would undermine the values and purpose of Brandkind, exploit or harass a child, or provide access to child sexual exploitation material.

Hire children as domestic labour or any other labour which is inappropriate for their age or development or without consent.

Condone or participate in behaviour with children that is unsafe, illegal or abusive.

Be mindful of and take care to ensure cultural or legal restrictions for reproducing personal images are adhered to before publishing or circulating content.

Obtain informed consent from a child or their parent or guardian before photographing or filming that child, also providing an explanation of how that content will be used.

Ensure that any photograph or video of a child presents them in a dignified and respectful manner.

Ensure that any images or stories are an honest representation of the context and facts.

Ensure that any image, video or story does not reveal any identifying information about a child.