Purpose
This policy explains how AGMS protects the safety, wellbeing, dignity and rights of children and young people who participate in AGMS examinations, assessments, events, scholarships, programs, communications and other activities.
Scope
This policy applies to the AGMS Board, employees, examiners, adjudicators, contractors, consultants, volunteers, representatives and any other person acting on behalf of AGMS. It applies to in-person, live-online and recorded activities, as well as communications and digital systems used in connection with AGMS services.
For this policy, a child means a person under 18 years of age.
Our child-safety principles
1. Child safety and wellbeing are embedded in AGMS leadership, governance and culture.
2. Children are informed about their rights, able to participate in decisions affecting them and taken seriously.
3. Families and communities are informed and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing.
4. Equity is upheld and diverse needs are respected.
5. People working with children are suitable, screened where required, trained and supported.
6. Complaints and concerns are handled in a child-focused, fair and timely way.
7. AGMS personnel receive the knowledge, skills and awareness needed to keep children safe.
8. Physical and online environments are designed to promote safety and minimise opportunities for harm.
9. AGMS regularly reviews and improves its implementation of child-safety requirements.
10. AGMS documents, communicates and enforces the policies and procedures that keep children safe.
Universal Principle — cultural safety
AGMS promotes and upholds the right of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children to cultural safety. We seek to create environments in which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children feel welcome, safe, valued, included and respected. AGMS will consider cultural safety in policy design, examiner training, communications, complaints, accessibility, events and continuous improvement.
Equity, diversity and inclusion
AGMS recognises that children have different needs and experiences. We will take reasonable steps to make participation and safety information accessible to children with disability, children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, children living in regional or remote areas, and children with other needs or vulnerabilities.
Responsibilities
Screening and suitability
AGMS will assess each role to determine the applicable Blue Card or Working With Children Check requirements. No person may begin regulated child-related work unless all legally required screening, linking and other pre-commencement requirements have been satisfied. AGMS may apply additional suitability measures even where a statutory check is not required, including identity verification, referee checks, declarations, role-specific induction and supervision.
Professional boundaries
AGMS personnel must keep interactions with children professional, necessary and related to the legitimate AGMS activity. Private or secret communications, grooming behaviour, sexualised conduct, favouritism that creates inappropriate dependency, unnecessary physical contact, humiliating conduct, discriminatory conduct and exploitation are prohibited.
Responding to concerns
AGMS prioritises the immediate safety and wellbeing of the child. A person receiving a disclosure must listen, remain calm, avoid conducting their own investigation, record the child’s words as accurately as possible, and report the matter through AGMS’s Child Safety Complaints & Reporting Procedure. AGMS will make external reports or referrals where required by law or where necessary to protect a child.
Privacy and records
Child-safety information will be handled sensitively, securely and on a need-to-know basis. AGMS will not promise absolute confidentiality where information may need to be disclosed to protect a child, investigate a concern, obtain advice or comply with law. Access to child-safety records is restricted to authorised persons.
Review
This policy will be reviewed at least annually and following any serious child-safety incident, significant complaint, legislative change or material change to AGMS services. Feedback from children, families, examiners and staff will inform improvement.
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