Child safety and wellbeing
The safety and wellbeing of children and young people is everyone’s responsibility.
Every child and young person has the right to feel safe and we all have a shared responsibility to protect them from harm and abuse.
At Maroondah City Council, we are committed to being a child safe organisation where all children and young people are valued and protected from harm and abuse.
Child safety information for children and young people
Children should feel safe and protected wherever they go and whatever they do. The grown-ups looking after them should know how to keep them out of harm's way.
If you ever feel unsafe, you can tell someone and talk about it.
There are many people who can help you, as well as Maroondah City Council:
- Kids helpline: 1800 551 800
- Police: Triple Zero (000)
Download the child-safe brochure - please speak up(PDF, 145KB)
If you or someone you know needs support or assistance
- Lifeline 13 11 14 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can also text 0477 13 11 14 or chat online with a Crisis Supporter any time of the day or night.
- Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or connect with a Kids Helpline counsellor through webchat or email counsellor@kidshelpline.com.au.
What to do if you are concerned about a child or young person’s safety
- if a child is in immediate danger, call 000 (triple zero)
- For immediate concerns and to report abuse, contact:
- Police on 000 (triple zero), and/or
- Child Protection on 1300 360 391 or after hours on 13 12 78.
What to do if you have any child safety concerns or complaints regarding Maroondah City Council
Council has zero tolerance towards child abuse and takes all concerns and complaints about child safety in our organisation extremely seriously.
You can report a child safety concern or complaint about Council in any of the following ways:
Maroondah City Council is committed to being a child safe organisation
Child Safe Standards
Council is required by law to implement the Victorian Child Safe Standards to protect children and young people from harm and abuse.
The Child Safe Standards are a compulsory framework for Victorian organisations that provide services and facilities specifically for children and young people aged 0 to 18 years.
The Standards aim to:
- promote the safety of children
- prevent child abuse
- ensure organisations and businesses have effective processes in place to respond to and report all allegations of child abuse.
Organisations and community groups can learn more about the Standards from the Commission for Children and Young People
Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy
In response to new Child Safe Standards which come into effect on 1 July 2022, Council has developed a new Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy.
The Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy outlines Council’s commitment to child safety and how we will work as a child safe and child friendly organisation to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people.
View the Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy
Council’s Commitment to Child Safety
Maroondah City Council is committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. We have a zero-tolerance approach to child abuse. We are committed to creating and maintaining a child-safe and child-friendly organisation where all children and young people are valued and protected from abuse.
All children and young people regardless of their age, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious beliefs, ability and family background have the right to be protected from harm and to be treated with dignity and respect. We are an inclusive organisation that recognises and respects diversity and we are committed to proactively supporting and building the cultural safety and inclusion of all children and young people in Maroondah.
We recognise the distinctive history and experience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and respect and observe their cultural rights. We are committed to creating a culturally safe and inclusive environment in which the diverse and unique identities, experiences and cultural rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people are respected and valued.
As a child safe organisation, we are committed to providing welcoming, safe and accessible environments where all children and young people feel valued, are listened to and are genuinely considered and involved in decisions that affect their lives.
The wellbeing and safety of the children and young people in our care will always be our priority. We have specific policies, procedures and practices in place to support our people to achieve these commitments.
Engagement with children, young people and their families
Council ensures that children, young people and their families are actively engaged and consulted as equal citizens whose views are respected and valued.
Some of the ways we listen to and engage with children and young people are discussed below.
Maroondah Youth Wellbeing Advocates (MYWA)
MYWA is a group of young people aged 15 to 25 who work in partnership with Council to:
- raise the wellbeing of Maroondah’s young people
- advocate for Maroondah’s young people
- contribute to Council's strategies and plans
- provide advice to Council to ensure that young people are effectively engaged on matters that affect them and their communities.
Read more about MYWA
Further information
For further information on child safety, please view our Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy.