Executive Director’s Update to Principals #43 - 5 September 2022

Child Safe Standards

Policy Update.

On 1 July Ministerial Order 1359 took effect which requires DOBCEL schools to have policies to meet the new minimum requirements as specified by Ministerial Order 1359 and the eleven new Child Safe Standards. As shared via Executive Directors Update #37 (26 July 2022) schools were provided access to ten revised or new child safe policies. Following consideration by the DOBCEL Boad and ratification by Bishop Paul Bird, an additional five policies will soon be added to eSort for schools to import as local resources. 

The following ratified policies will be uploaded to eSort along with specific instructions. All five policies replace existing DOBCEL policies: 

• DOBCEL Digital Technologies & Agreement 
• DOBCEL School Guidelines for Police and DFFH Interview Protocols 
• DOBCEL Child Safe Governance Policy 
• DOBCEL Identifying and Responding to Abuse: Reporting and Responding Obligations for Schools Policy 
• DOBCEL [PROTECT] Reportable Conduct Scheme 

CECV Updated Commitment to Child Safety.

The updated CECV Statement of Commitment to Child Safety has now been re-published on the following webpages: 

• CECV Child Safety 
• CECV Child Safety: Information for Parents 
• MACS Child Safety
• CEVN Child Safety – About Child Safety. 

Please remove the previous CECV Statement of Commitment to Child Safety from your websites and replace it with this one. The Statement may also need to be updated within your school environments too.

Child Safety Officers.

Principals will soon be asked to provide CEB with the details of who their Child Safety Officers are. This request will come via an email directly to Principals.

Diocesan Schools Child Safety Network.

The Diocesan Schools Child Safety Network (DSCSN) has continued to meet with Principals, other school leadership staff, child safety and compliance officers this term. The DSCSN provides an avenue for school staff to provide feedback and ask questions regarding the implementation of the new Child Safe Standards. All meetings are recorded and are available to members who are unable to attend. Please email Jacqui Righetti if you would like to be added to the mail list and to gain access to the DSCSN Google Drive.

Guidelines on the Employment of Staff in Catholic Schools

With planning underway for the 2023 school year to meet potential scheduled class time reductions and the usual movement of staff, it is a timely reminder to continue to refer to the Guidelines on the Employment of Staff in Catholic Schools while undertaking recruitment. This is particularly relevant with the above changes in the Child Safe Standards. 

It is strongly recommended that the Guidelines are followed, most particularly the reference checking provision which should see the hiring principal contacting the most recent principal directly.  Should a candidate request their most recent principal not be contacted or does not list them as a referee, we recommend that the hiring principal contact the HR Team. 

Playground Compliance and Safety Audit Inspections

The tender for centralised, annual, Playground Compliance and Safety Audit Inspections for all Primary Schools within the Diocese has been awarded to Hutchinson Parks Services (HSP).  HSP are independent playground auditors that regularly work for many municipal councils within the Diocese and also currently audit many primary schools. They pride themselves on offering practical solutions to playground risk management and their Business Profile can be found here. 

HSP will be in direct contact with schools over the coming weeks to schedule appointments for an audit so that all can be completed by the end of the year. 

As reports are completed and reviewed with the assistance of CEB, it is possible that rectification works may be required in schools.  To assist in the rectification of items identified during the audit, CEB and HSP will source quotes to rectify identified matters and provide for your consideration.  Rectification works will need to be paid for by each school. 

The cost of the Playground Compliance and Safety Audit Inspections this year will be supported by DOBCEL. CEB Business managers are assisting you to include the cost of future audits into your annual budget from 2023. 

For further information in relation to the Playground Compliance and Safety Audit Inspections, please contact Penelope Irish at pirish@dobcel.catholic.edu.au

Tom Sexton
Executive Director, Catholic Education Ballarat