Child Protection
Child Protection Statement and Policy
The safety, protection and well-being of all students is of fundamental importance to the College. Therefore, the College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the safety, welfare and wellbeing of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
All persons who have a concern or allegation related to a Child Protection matter must report their concern or allegation to the Head of College (Head of Entity) by direct correspondence at head@wcc.nsw.edu.au.
If the allegation involves the Head of College, then it should be reported to the Chair of College Council by direct correspondence at chair@wcc.nsw.edu.au.
The College commits to be a child-safe organisation and to the implementation of the recommendations and the Child Safe Standards contained in the Final Report of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
The College will operate in accordance with all legislation in respect to Child Protection as a matter of priority.
All staff and volunteers must undertake annual training to make them aware of their Child Protection Obligations.
Reporting Child Protection Concerns
Complaints and allegations of staff misconduct and/or reportable conduct are managed by the College in a different manner to other complaints. This is because the College has legal obligations to report certain staff conduct to external authorities. Staff misconduct is a broad term that could include breaches of professional boundaries, codes of conduct or standards of behaviour, whereas reportable conduct is a term defined in law as including:
- A sexual offence
- Sexual misconduct
- An assault against a child
- Ill-treatment of a child
- Neglect of a child
- An offence under section 43B (failure to protect) or section 316A (failure to report) of the Crimes Act 1900; and
- Behaviour that causes significant emotional or psychological harm to a child.
The College requires you to report any concern you may have about the safety, welfare or wellbeing of a child or young person directly to the Head immediately, including if you are unsure about whether a matter is one of child protection. This covers complaints or allegations of staff misconduct or reportable conduct. If unsure, still report.
You may also have an obligation to report directly to the Department of Communities and Justice as a mandatory reporter.
National Redress Scheme
In November 2018, the William Branwhite Clarke College Council (William Clarke College) made application to join the National Redress Scheme through the Anglican Representative (National Redress Scheme) Limited.
In December 2019, the Minister for Families and Social Services declared the Council of William Clarke College a participating institution in the National Redress Scheme and a member of the Anglican Participating Group in accordance with the Scheme legislation.
The National Redress Scheme provides support to people who have experienced institutional child sexual abuse.
The National Redress Scheme can provide:
- access to counselling;
- a payment; and
- a direct personal response (for example, an apology) from the institution for people who want this.
To access the National Redress Scheme, please go to www.nationalredress.gov.au or call the National Redress Scheme directly on 1800 737 377. Free and confidential redress support services are also available.
