Safeguarding Children and Young People

Overview

At Junior Adventures Group (JAG), the safety and wellbeing of children are paramount. JAG is committed to ensuring that all children have the right to be safe and feel safe, with a 'Whole of Child' philosophy that prioritizes children's voices in all decision-making. JAG acknowledges and celebrates the strengths of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities, recognizing them as the traditional custodians of the land. The organization is dedicated to protecting children from all forms of abuse, violence, bullying, and exploitation, requiring intentionality, leadership, practice, and resources.

JAG believes every child has the right to engage in play, leisure, and recreational activities, and to participate in cultural life and the arts, all while ensuring their safety and wellbeing. Every JAG person is responsible for prioritizing the safety and wellbeing of children in their thoughts, decisions, and actions. JAG commits to listening to and empowering children by taking their views seriously and addressing their concerns.

This policy applies to all individuals working for or providing services to JAG, in paid or unpaid capacities, and to all activities involving contact with children. It aligns with national and state standards, including the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations, Victorian Child Safe Standards, and NSW Child Safe Standards. JAG is committed to aligning with relevant legislative requirements, including the Education and Care Services National Law Act 2012, the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth), and the Australian Human Rights Commission Act – 1986 (Cth).

Policy Statement

To Children

JAG ensures that any form of child harm, abuse, neglect, or exploitation is not tolerated. Children are empowered to know and believe they have the right to be safe. JAG's activities are based on an understanding of children's rights and the importance of cultural safety, respecting and celebrating diverse cultures. JAG expects its people and activities not to harm, neglect, or exploit children, and any contravention of policy, procedure, or law regarding child safety is a serious breach.

To Parents/Guardians

JAG commits to open and honest communication with parents and guardians regarding their child/ren's wellbeing and safety. JAG provides programs that empower children and partners with families to meet evolving community needs. JAG will engage with and listen to parents' views on safety and wellbeing practices and policies, maintaining transparency in decision-making where it does not compromise child safety.

To JAG People

JAG commits to providing a supportive management structure and regular opportunities to clarify policies and procedures related to child safety. This includes annual training. JAG will provide debriefing and employee assistance support for those who have dealt with serious incidents of child abuse.

Principles

3.1. Respecting Children

JAG facilitates children's communication of views and feedback, valuing their participation in decision-making, including safety and wellbeing. Children's unique abilities and vulnerabilities are respected to ensure their agency within JAG. Each child's culture and identity are valued and celebrated. All JAG adults are expected to adhere to policies, regulations, and laws concerning child safety.

3.2. Code of Conduct

The Code of Conduct outlines expected behavior with and around children, ensuring all JAG people are committed to child safety and wellbeing. JAG people are required to understand and affirm this policy and the code by signing a declaration. They must have a working knowledge of children's rights and apply this to their decisions and actions concerning children. Children are treated as individuals, respecting their unique abilities and views.

3.3. Complaints, Concerns or Allegations

JAG takes seriously all complaints, concerns, or allegations raised by children, parents/carers, or school partners. All child safety complaints against any JAG person will be investigated. JAG people are expected to follow incident management procedures promptly. Allegations of abuse are treated with sensitivity and confidentiality to protect all children at risk.

3.4. Investigations

Any allegation of child abuse, neglect, or exploitation by a JAG person will be thoroughly investigated with appropriate privacy. The individual will be stood down from duties until the investigation concludes. JAG will cooperate with police or regulatory authorities and may include children in investigations, facilitated by qualified personnel.

3.5. Reporting

JAG people are expected to know and adhere to relevant state and territory laws regarding reporting actual or suspected child abuse, neglect, exploitation, and family violence. This includes mandatory reporting, reportable conduct, and statutory child protection requirements. JAG expects all personnel to take appropriate action in response to concerns about a child's wellbeing or safety. A Safeguarding Response team will provide support during investigations. While JAG's Privacy Policy generally requires consent for information sharing, exceptions are made for disclosures to Police, regulatory authorities, or statutory child protection agencies when a child's safety is a concern.

3.6. Recruitment and Screening

JAG's commitment to child safety is evident in all recruitment processes. JAG people are informed that their employment is subject to suitability checks, including working with children checks, national criminal record checks, and professional referee checks with a focus on child safety. Continuing employment depends on the outcomes of ongoing screening requirements.

3.7. Training, Support and Awareness

JAG provides training, support, and resources to enable personnel to understand the signs of child abuse, neglect, exploitation, and family violence, and to act confidently and effectively. Yearly updated training and professional development in child safety are required. Appropriate debriefing and employee assistance are offered to personnel involved in serious incidents of child abuse.

3.8. Environments

JAG is committed to creating equitable, welcoming, inclusive, fun, and safe environments for all children, recognizing and providing for their diverse circumstances and needs. This includes creating culturally safe environments for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. Risk assessments are conducted for all settings and activities. JAG proactively works to prevent cyberbullying, image-based abuse, and restricted content, acknowledging the importance of E-safety. Respectful and inclusive environments are provided, recognizing the importance of culture, religion, and beliefs, but these will not take precedence over a child's right to protection from harm.

3.9. Use of Images and Videos

Junior Adventures Group follows the National Model Code for Taking Images and Videos of Children. Only service-issued electronic devices are to be used for capturing images or videos of children during programs. Personal devices are not permitted while supervising children unless authorized for essential purposes. All images and videos must be stored securely according to relevant policies and are only accessed for approved purposes.

3.10. Review and Continuous Improvement

JAG acknowledges the need for constant review and improvement. The organization will regularly review and monitor its capacity to address children's safety and wellbeing needs, identifying strengths and areas for improvement. Learnings will be shared with JAG People, children, families, and school communities. A focus on child safety and wellbeing will be embedded into business practices, with the policy reviewed annually.

Key Terms

Term	Meaning
Child	A person under the age of eighteen years of age.
Junior Adventures Group (JAG)	The parent organisation in Australia for the brands OSHClub, Helping Hands Network and Primary OSH Care. All JAG policies relate to these brands.
JAG people	Any adult that governs, manages, conducts work for, or provides activities and/or services to, JAG in a paid or unpaid activity spanning all levels of the organisational structure.
Parents/Guardians	Any adult who has the legal responsibility for the care of the child either via birth or a legislative agreement.
Code of Conduct	An agreement with a set of rules of behaviour and proper conduct for all JAG people, explicitly communicating responsibilities and obligations of behaviour.
Child Harm	Any detrimental effect of a significant nature on the child's physical, psychological or emotional wellbeing.
Child Abuse: Physical Abuse	The intentional use of physical force against a child that results in - or has a high likelihood of resulting in - harm for the child's health, survival, development or dignity. This includes hitting, beating, kicking, shaking, biting, strangling, scalding, burning, poisoning and suffocating. In all Australian jurisdictions, civil child protection legislation exists to protect children and young people from physical abuse.
Child Abuse: Emotional Abuse	Emotional abuse is also sometimes called 'emotional maltreatment', 'psychological maltreatment' and 'psychological abuse'. Emotional abuse refers to a parent or caregiver's inappropriate verbal or symbolic acts towards a child and/or a pattern of failure over time to provide a child with adequate non-physical nurturing and emotional availability. Such acts of commission or omission are likely to damage a child's self-esteem or social competence. This includes rejecting, isolating, terrorising, ignoring, corrupting. In all Australian jurisdictions, emotional abuse is grounds for 'when a child is in need of protection'.
Child Abuse: Sexual Abuse	The involvement of a child in sexual activity that he or she does not fully comprehend, is unable to give informed consent to, or for which the child is not developmentally prepared, or else that violates the laws or social taboos of society. This includes online sexual abuse. Children can be sexually abused by both adults and other children who are by virtue of their age or stage of development - in a position of responsibility, trust or power over the victim. In all Australian jurisdictions, sexual abuse is grounds for 'when a child is in need of protection'.
Child Neglect	Neglect includes both isolated incidents, as well as a pattern of failure over time on the part of a parent or other family member to provide for the development and wellbeing of the child – where the parent is in a position to do so - in one or more of the following areas: health, education, emotional development, nutrition, shelter and safe living conditions. In all Australian jurisdictions, neglect is grounds for 'when a child is in need of protection'.
Child Exploitation	Child sexual exploitation includes: the production and distribution of child exploitation material; exploiting children for prostitution (sometimes called child prostitution); and the abduction and trafficking of children for sexual abuse purposes. Sexual exploitation of children in the context of tourism is also included. In Australia, state and territory laws criminalise all forms of commercial sexual exploitation of children.
Exposure to Family Violence	Forcing a child to live in an environment where a primary caregiver experiences sustained violence is, in itself, emotional and psychological abuse. Children exposed to violence are at increased risk of experiencing physical and sexual abuse. In all Australian jurisdictions, exposure to family violence is grounds for 'when a child is in need of protection'.
Child Abuse: Other	The five main subtypes of child abuse and neglect include: foetal abuse, exposure to community violence, institutional abuse, and state-sanctioned abuse.
Mandatory Reporting	Mandatory reporting is a requirement to report evidenced or suspected abuse and neglect. Laws identify cases of child abuse and neglect and assist children. Selected groups of people are required to report suspected cases to government authorities. Laws vary across jurisdictions regarding who must report, what types of abuse and neglect must be reported, the 'state of mind' that activates the reporting duty, and to whom the report is made.
Reportable Conduct	Reportable conduct covers allegations or convictions of child abuse or misconduct toward children. Organizations must report allegations of reportable conduct by an employee or volunteer, including ill-treatment, neglect, psychological harm, sexual misconduct, sexual or physical offenses, and inappropriate discipline. Organizations required to report differ by State/Territory.
Safeguarding	Safeguarding is the action taken to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm. It means protecting children from any form of abuse and maltreatment and preventing harm to their health or development.

References

Education and Care Services National Law and Regulations

Section 165 - Offence to inadequately supervise children
Section 166 - Offence to use inappropriate discipline
Section 167 - Offence relating to protection of children from harm and hazard
Regulation 82 – Tobacco, drug and alcohol-free environment
Regulation 84 – Awareness of child protection law
Regulation 103 – Premises, furniture, and equipment to be safe, clean and in good repair
Regulation 168 – Education and care services must have policies and procedures
Regulation 170 – Policies and procedures to be followed

National Model Code for Taking Images and Videos of Children

Other Relevant Legislation

ACT: Children and Young People Act 2008, Working with Vulnerable People Act 2011, Human Rights Commission Act 2005
NSW: Crimes (Child Sex Offenders) Act 2005, Family Violence Act 2016, Ombudsman Act 1989, Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998, Children's Guardian Act 2019, Anti-Discrimination Act 1977, Children (Criminal proceedings) Act 1987
QLD: Child Protection Act 2000, Child Protection Act 1999, Human Rights Act 2019, Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act 2012, Family and Child Commission Act 2014, Child Employment Act 2006, Public Guardian Act 2014
VIC: Children, Youth and Families Act 2005, Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006, Crimes Act 2013, Sex Offenders Registration Act 2004, Workers Screening Act 2020, Family Violence Protection Act 2008, Commissioner for Children and Young People Act 2012, Child Employment Act 2003
WA: Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005, Children and Community Services Act 2004, Equal Opportunity Act 1984, Community Protection (Offender reporting) Act 2004, Working with Children (Criminal Record Checking) Act 2004, Commissioner for Children and Young People Act 2006, Parliamentary Commissioner Amendment (Reportable Conduct) Act 2022

Related Policies

Employee Code of Conduct
Positive Interactions with Children policy
Technology, Devices and Internet Use Policy

Related Procedures

Procedure Collections

Other

Safeguarding Children and Young People Declaration
Statement of Commitment

Document Information

Version	1.3
Change History	Change Register
Date Approved	01/06/2025
Date Implemented	2023
Document Owner	CEO AU
Document Approvers	Executive Leadership Team
Next Review	June 2026

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