Child Safety Policy

Organisation: Community Care Crew Owner: Benny Renya, Director Applies to: All Community Care programs involving children and young people Jurisdiction: Victoria, Australia Version: 1.0 - May 2026

1. Statement of Commitment

Community Care Crew is committed to the safety, wellbeing, and participation of all children and young people in our programs. We believe every child has the right to be safe, respected, and heard.

We recognise that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people have the right to cultural safety - to feel safe as Indigenous people, to connect with their culture and community, and to not be required to suppress or compromise that identity to participate.

This policy applies to all staff, volunteers, contractors, and companions involved in any Community Care program. It aligns with the Victorian Child Safe Standards and the obligations of mandatory reporters under the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 (Vic).

2. Scope

This policy applies to:

All programs run by Community Care Crew and its brands (Creative Companion, Community Care Campus, etc.)
All people working with children on behalf of Community Care Crew, paid or unpaid
All environments where Community Care programs operate - in-person, online, and remote

3. Child Safe Standards Alignment

This policy is written to meet the Victorian Child Safe Standards (effective 2022, CCYP).

Standard	How We Address It
1 - Culturally safe environments	See Section 4
2 - Child empowerment and participation	See Section 5
3 - Families and communities informed	See Section 6
4 - Equity and diverse needs	See Section 4 and 5
5 - Suitable and supported people	See Section 7
6 - Complaints are child safe	See Section 10
7 - Knowledge and awareness	See Section 8
8 - Safe physical and online environments	See Section 9
9 - Continuous review and improvement	See Section 11
10 - Policies and procedures	This document
11 - Risk reduction embedded in governance	See Section 9

4. Cultural Safety

Community Care Crew works with Indigenous students and communities. Cultural safety is not optional - it is central to how we operate.

We commit to:

Creating environments where Indigenous children are not required to explain, justify, or minimise their identity
Seeking out and prioritising Indigenous-led cultural guidance when designing and delivering programs
Recognising and respecting the diversity within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
Not using cultural activities, symbols, or imagery without permission or appropriate guidance
Actively working against racism, including casual and structural racism, in our programs and communications

Companions and staff must complete cultural safety training before working with Indigenous students. See docs/qualifications.md.

5. Child Empowerment and Participation

Children in our programs have the right to:

Know what program they are joining and what is expected of them
Be heard and taken seriously
Raise concerns without fear of consequences
Withdraw from a program at any time without penalty
Have their input shape how programs are delivered

We do not:

Pressure students to participate in activities they are uncomfortable with
Share student work or information publicly without consent
Make decisions about a student's participation without involving the student

6. Families and Guardians

Before a child joins any Community Care program:

A parent or guardian must provide written consent
The program purpose, scope, and duration must be explained clearly
Contact details for the program lead must be provided
Families must be told how to raise a concern or complaint

Families and guardians are welcome to ask questions at any time. Contact is via [email protected].

7. Screening and Suitability

Anyone working with children through Community Care Crew must hold:

A valid Working With Children Check (WWCC) for Victoria
A current National Police Check (within the last 3 years)

These must be obtained and verified before any direct contact with children.

Recommended (required before second student for Creative Companion):

First Aid Certificate (HLTAID012 or equivalent)
Youth Mental Health First Aid
Cultural Safety Training

Self-assessment is not sufficient. Checks must be verified and recorded.

8. Code of Conduct

All people working with children through Community Care Crew must:

Act in the best interests of the child at all times
Maintain professional boundaries in all interactions
Not engage in one-on-one contact with a child outside of agreed program channels (email, forum, or pre-agreed video call)
Not share personal contact details (personal phone, personal email, personal social media) with students
Not meet a student in a private location without prior parental/guardian knowledge
Not photograph or record a student without explicit consent from parent/guardian
Not discuss or share a student's personal information with anyone not directly involved in their program
Not engage in any form of corporal punishment, humiliation, or emotional abuse

Companions must also:

Respect a student's pace, interests, and creative direction
Not pressure a student toward a particular outcome or style
Escalate immediately if a student discloses abuse, harm, or risk

9. Safe Environments

Physical

In-person meetings with students must have a parent or guardian present, or take place in an open, observable space
Private one-on-one in-person sessions are not permitted without a third adult present
Any facility used for a Community Care program must be assessed for child safety before use

Online

Online contact with students happens through agreed channels only - currently the Community Care forum (when established) and email at [email protected]
Sessions over video call require prior parent/guardian knowledge and consent
Screen recordings of sessions are not made without consent
No student under 18 is added to personal social media, messaging apps (Discord, WhatsApp, etc.) or any platform outside the agreed program channels

Risk Assessment

Before any new program activity or location is introduced, a brief risk assessment must be completed. This does not need to be formal - a written note of identified risks and mitigations is sufficient at this stage.

10. Reporting Concerns and Mandatory Reporting

Mandatory Reporting (Victoria)

Under the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 (Vic), certain people are mandatory reporters - required by law to report to Child Protection if they believe, on reasonable grounds, that a child is in need of protection.

If you suspect a child is being abused, neglected, or is at risk of harm:

Do not investigate yourself - report it and let Child Protection assess
Report to Child Protection - Child Protection Crisis Line: 13 12 78 (24 hours)
Document - write down what was disclosed or observed, as close to the event as possible, in the child's own words where applicable
Notify the program lead - inform Benny Renya at [email protected] as soon as it is safe to do so

Reporting in good faith is protected by law even if the concern turns out to be unfounded.

Concerns About a Program Person

If a concern involves a staff member, companion, or volunteer (not an external party):

Report directly to Benny Renya, unless Benny is the subject of the concern
If Benny is the subject, contact the Commission for Children and Young People: 1300 782 978

11. Complaints Process

Any child, family, or community member can raise a complaint or concern about a Community Care program.

How to raise a complaint:

Email: [email protected]
Or speak directly to Benny Renya

What happens:

Complaint is acknowledged within 2 business days
Complaint is investigated fairly and promptly
The person who raised the complaint is kept informed
Outcome is documented

Complaints relating to child safety are treated with the highest priority. If the complaint involves an immediate risk to a child, it is reported to Child Protection first.

Children and families have the right to take a complaint to an external body at any time:

Commission for Children and Young People (CCYP): 1300 782 978 / ccyp.vic.gov.au
Victorian Ombudsman: 9613 6222

12. Review

This policy will be reviewed:

Annually (next review: May 2027)
After any child safety incident or near miss
When legislation or Child Safe Standards change
When the program significantly expands (new staff, new locations, new student cohorts)

Policy version and review dates are recorded in the version history below.

Version History

Version	Date	Changes
1.0	May 2026	Initial policy - Creative Companion program launch