Child safety and wellbeing
The safety and wellbeing of children and young people is everyone’s responsibility.
Every child and young person has the right to feel safe and we all have a shared responsibility to protect them from harm and abuse.
At Nillumbik Shire Council, we are committed to being a child-safe organisation where all children and young people are valued and protected from harm and abuse.
Child Safe Standards
Council is required by law to implement the Victorian Child Safe Standards to protect children and young people from harm and abuse.
The Child Safe Standards are a compulsory framework for Victorian organisations that provide services and facilities specifically for children and young people aged 0 to 18 years.
The Standards aim to:
- promote the safety of children
- prevent child abuse
- ensure organisations and businesses have effective processes in place to respond to and report all allegations of child abuse.
Organisations and community groups can learn more about the Standards from the Commission for Children and Young People.
Our Commitment to Child Safety
Nillumbik Shire Council has zero tolerance of child abuse and is committed to being a child safe organisation.
We are committed to supporting the safety and wellbeing of children and young people and keeping them safe from harm. This is embedded in the everyday thinking and practice of Council, by Councillors, employees, contractors and volunteers.
We have zero tolerance for racism. We acknowledge and respect the unique histories, cultures and identities of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people and their families. We actively support their cultural safety, participation and enjoyment of their cultural rights.
We value and are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. We treat all children and young people with kindness and respect. We want all children, young people and their families to feel welcome and safe regardless of their age, gender identity, ethnicity, sexual orientation, culture, abilities or socio-economic background. We are committed to removing and addressing barriers to participation across Council.
The voices of children and young people are listened to. We empower children and young people to know their rights and to speak out. We ask their ideas and opinions and give them a say in decisions that impact them. We value their contributions and will empower them to help shape our community.
We have systems in place to achieve these commitments. This includes specific policies, procedures and practices. All concerns about child and young people’s safety or wellbeing are responded to. We recognise that there is always more that can be done to support our young citizens to thrive. We will continue to strengthen our work in supporting the safety and wellbeing of children and young people.
Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy
Nillumbik has a Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy(PDF, 3MB) which outlines Council’s commitment to creating and maintaining a child-safe organisation where protecting children and preventing and responding to child abuse is embedded in the everyday thinking and practice of all Councillors, employees, contractors and volunteers.
Report a child safety incident
If you are concerned about a child or young person’s safety
If a child is in immediate danger, call 000 (triple zero).
For immediate concerns and to report abuse, contact police on 000 (triple zero) and/or Child Protection on 1300 664 977 or after hours on 13 12 78.
If you have child safety concerns or complaints regarding Nillumbik Shire Council
Council has zero tolerance towards child abuse and takes all concerns and complaints about child safety in our organisation extremely seriously.
Anyone can report a child safety concern or complaint about Council.
Find out more about how to make a report and what happens as part of the reporting process:
Report a child safety concern
If you or someone you know needs support or assistance