Statement of Commitment to Child Safety
All children and young people who come to Assumption College have a right to feel and be safe. We are committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people. We are committed to providing a child safe and child friendly environment, where children and young people are safe and feel safe, and are able to actively participate in decisions that affect their lives.
We have a zero tolerance for child abuse and other harm and are committed to acting in students’ best interests and keeping them safe from harm.
The College regards its child safeguarding responsibilities with the utmost importance and is committed to providing the necessary resources to ensure compliance with all relevant child protection laws and regulations and maintaining a child safe culture.
Each member of the College community has a responsibility to understand the important and specific role that they play individually, and collectively, to ensure that the wellbeing and safety of all students is at the forefront of all that they do, and every decision that they make.
Information sharing laws to support child wellbeing and safety have recently changed with the Child Information Sharing Scheme (CISS) and the Family Violence Information Sharing Scheme (FVISS) now in place. If you have any queries about either scheme, please email: principal@assumption.vic.edu.au
For our students to flourish academically and in all areas of their lives, it's important that they are happy and enjoy being at school. Their safety and physical and mental wellbeing are of paramount importance to us.
We encourage any student who feels unsafe to confide in a trusted adult or contact the college's Senior Child Safety officers, Mr Peter Augustin and Mr Jamie Barnett, in person or by email: wellbeing@assumption.vic.edu.au
Our other Child Safety Officers (who receive special training)– listed below – can be contacted via Reception on (03) 5783 5000.
The college has counsellors (including psychologists) who are available to help students and their families. Our wellbeing team includes a paediatric occupational therapist and an educational psychologist who are available for consultations, which may be eligible for Medicare rebates.
There are some terrific online and phone resources if you need help and advice.
Any student who feels unsafe or has been made to feel unsafe, should speak to their house leader.
If, however, for whatever reason they feel uncomfortable about this, they can email our child safety team safety@assumption.vic.edu.au to alert us to any behaviours at school or online that they believe are having a negative effect on themselves or another student.
Our staff have a thorough knowledge of the policies below which are integral to ensuring that the young people in our care always feel safe.
The versions below are plain language student versions. For more information please visit our Policies & Key Documents page.
Marist Child Safe Adult Code of Conduct Staff and Student Professional Boundaries child safeguarding for studentsSTUDENT VOICE: ADDRESSING CONCERNSSTUDENT CODE OF CONDUCTIdeally, if children are struggling emotionally they should talk to their parents or guardians, who we encourage to normalise discussions about things that are bothering them.
As well, we encourage them to help their children become familiar with available resources if they need someone different to speak to. On this page, we have provided some quick links.
As the people who know their children best, we rely on parents' and guardians' knowledge to help support our work with them and welcome contact from them at significant times of concern – but also when things simply don’t feel right. The first point of call will usually be learning mentors, but if the matter is particularly serious or sensitive, contact should be made with house coordinators who will access other resources for support as necessary.
Youth Beyond Blue | Ph: 1300 224 636
Lifeline | Ph: 131 114
Kids Helpline | Ph: 1800 551 800
Suicide Helpline | Ph: 1300 651 251
Mensline | Ph: 1300 789 978
Centre Against Sexual Assault (CASA) Crisis Line | Ph: 1800 806 292
Domestic Violence Crisis Line | Ph: 1800 200 526
Pregnancy Helpline | Ph: 1300 792 798
Directline- Alcohol & Drug Counselling | Ph: 1800 888 236
