Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy

The Push is committed to child safety, providing safe environments for the children and young people who engage in our programs.

This policy outlines The Push’s values regarding child safety and wellbeing and provides information on how we work to create, maintain and improve the safety of our programs.

Child Safey Policy: 

The Push views child safety and wellbeing in a holistic sense: we strive to create environments where young people’s voices are valued, they are physically and psychologically safe, are encouraged to freely enjoy their cultural rights and their diverse needs are recognised and respected.  

The Push understands the importance of the individual rights of the child – the right to be safe, to be respected, to be included, to have a say, to be heard and to have their views and opinions taken seriously. 

The Push is committed to equity and inclusion. We aim to uphold equity for all young people and prevent child abuse and harm resulting from discrimination based on disability, race, ethnicity, religion, sex, intersex status, gender identity or sexual orientation. 

The way we design our programs, recruit new people to the team and how we communicate serves The Push’s commitment to creating safe spaces where young people can thrive. 

Safety of all Young People 

The Push works with people aged between 12 and 25 years old. While the term ‘child safety’ refers to the safety of young people under the age of 18, The Push is committed to the safety of all young people participating in our programs. 

The Push’s Obligations 

The Push has obligations to safeguard children and provide an environment that fosters child safety and wellbeing under National and State-based legislation, regulations, principles and guidelines.  

National Principles for Child Safe Organisations have been developed by the National Children’s Commissioner to provide a nationally consistent approach to creating organisational cultures that foster child safety and wellbeing. Australian organisations are not legally required to adopt the National Principles, however, are considered best practice for fostering child safety and wellbeing culture and practice. 

 Victoria has compulsory minimum Child Safe Standards that The Push is required to comply with. Under the Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005 (Vic) organisations that exercise care, supervision or authority over children, whether as part of its primary function or not are required to comply with the Victorian Child Safe Standards.