Code of Conduct
Body Safety Australia is a whole-of-community service provider of body safety, protective behaviours and child safety education. We deliver specialist professional training to educators and management, workshops for parents and guardians, as well as incursions for 3yo-and-4yo kindergarten.
We are committed to delivering programs that are sensitive and inclusive of:
Low socio economic status families
Single parent headed families
Same-sex headed families
Families from CALD backgrounds
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families
Children from refugee backgrounds
Children living in out-of-home care
Children with disabilities
Children who identify as LGBTIQ+
Families of diverse religious backgrounds
Child victims of childhood sexual abuse
Children who are at high risk of childhood sexual abuse
Parent survivors of childhood sexual abuse
Body Safety Australia prides itself on being responsive to organisations and their communities.
To ensure the best possible services to our clients and to provide a positive work environment, Body Safety Australia expects team members to follow the rules of conduct as specified below.
We are a values-based organisation and we expect our team members to act with compassion, and in the highest ethical regard.
Any team member found in violation of our code of conduct will be subject to disciplinary actions including reprimand, warning, suspension or dismissal.
Our team, including but not limited to; board members, staff, contractors and volunteers will:
Respect our legal obligations
As governed by the laws of the State of Victoria
As governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Australia
All parties agree to irrevocably submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Victoria.
In particular, our team are to observe Victorian legislation:
· 'Failure to disclose' as outlined by the Crimes Amendment (Protection of Children) Act 2014
· 'Failure to protect' as outlined by the Crimes Amendment (Protection of Children) Act 2014
· Mandatory reporting as outlined by Section 327 of the Victorian Crimes Act 1958 and the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth)
Respect our organisational policies
Comply with Body Safety Australia policies and procedures
Comply and carry out any reasonable and lawful instructions of a Manager or Co-worker
Follow Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) policies to ensure that the workplace is physically, psychologically and culturally safe for everyone
No members of the team are allowed to possess firearms, weapons, alcohol, illegal drugs or drug paraphernalia of any kind on company or client property.
Respect persons
Everyone, from our team to members of the public, is to be treated with respect, dignity and compassion
Engage in professional conduct and act with the highest professional integrity, including complying with Body Safety Australia's dress code on company and/or client property
Acceptance of any persons' culture, race, ethnicity or disability
Body Safety Australia does not tolerate threatening, obscene, profane or abusive language, gestures or behaviour. Nor do we tolerate any sort of bullying and/or discriminatory behaviour.
Body Safety Australia is committed to the principles of Equal Employment Opportunity and supports the creation of working conditions to ensure that all team members have an equal chance to seek and obtain employment, promotion, training and the benefits of employment.
Please refer to our Equal Opportunity and Anti-Discrimination Policy for more details.
Respect children and young persons
Body Safety Australia takes our commitment to child safety seriously. Our organisation works with children and young people. We also have a family-friendly office, in which children and young people may be present at the office.
All team members are required to observe the Victorian Child Safe Standards and our child safe policies and procedures.
Every child and young person is to be treated with respect, dignity and compassion
Acceptance of children's culture, race, ethnicity or disability
Uphold our statement of commitment to child safety, and take all reasonable steps to protect children and young people from abuse at all times
Display appropriate behaviour towards and in the company of children and young people at all times
Encourage children to ‘have a say’ and participate in all relevant organisational activities where possible, especially on issues that are important to them
Engage in activities that support the safety, participation, wellbeing and empowerment of children and young people, including but not limited to;
Listening and responding to the views and concerns of children, particularly if they are telling you that they or another child has been abused and/or are worried about their safety or the safety of another
Promoting the cultural safety, participation and empowerment of Aboriginal children
Promoting the cultural safety, participation and empowerment of children with culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds
Promoting the safety, participation and empowerment of children with a disability
Our educators and workshop facilitators are also required to observe the following:
Not permitted to be alone with student in the classroom with another educator, teacher or teacher's aide present. If this happens, teaching is to be paused and support requested.
Report any allegations of child abuse to our Child Safety Officer and leadership for debriefing, and follow our incident reporting procedure as outlined in the educator manual
Report any child safety concerns to our Child Safety Officer and leadership for debriefing, and follow our incident reporting procedure as outlined in the educator manual
If an allegation of child abuse is made, Body Safety Australia will ensure, as quickly as possible, that the child(ren) and young person(s) are safe.
Act with integrity
Declare any real or perceived conflict of interests
Report any attempted bribery or coercion of the team and clients
Keep any confidential or official information within the organisation unless otherwise instructed
Stand up to (if it is safe to do so) any expression of discriminatory views, personal or professional, cultures, race or sexuality, in particular, in the presence of children and young people
Report any child safety violations to our Child Safety Officer and leadership for further action
Be honest and transparent in your actions with the team and clients
Act appropriately with children and young people
Treat all children and young people equally and without discrimination
Interact with children and young people in a professional manner (ie. do not develop any ‘special’ relationships with children and young people, display excessive physical, or discuss content intended for adult audiences in the presence of children and young people)
Be aware of both situational and physical risk to children and young people at all times
Divert any need from children or young people to do things of a personal nature that a child can do for themselves, such as toileting or changing clothes, to the appropriate support aide
Divert any direct contact with a child, young person or family outside of Body Safety Australia to our Child Safety Officer for consideration (ie. babysitting)
Divert any direct online contact with a child, young person or their family to our Child Safety Officer for consideration (ie. personal emails, personal phone calls etc)
Observe roles and responsibilities
Body Safety Australia has defined roles and responsibilities for team members, in order to limit unnecessary and unsupervised contact with children and young people. We still train and expect the whole to be aware of their child safety obligations. This is an added protective measure.
The board
Advises and guides the executive team
Does not have access to children and young people in a professional context or professional capacity
May come into contact with children and young people in an informal manner as our office and work environment is family-friendly
Unless explicitly instructed and communicated to the team and the public, a board member will not be working with children and young people on behalf of Body Safety Australia. Please contact our Child Safety Officer if you are concerned about a board member's behaviour towards children and young people.
Leadership & Educators
Delivers and implements programs working with children and young people
Has contact with children and young people in a professional setting on client premises
May come into contact with children and young people in an informal manner as our office and work environment is family-friendly
Leadership and educators are the only team members will work with children and young people as part of their roles and responsibilities. All members falling under this band of employment receive quarterly professional training on child safety, and 'hearing disclosures'.
Please contact our Child Safety Officer if you are concerned about leadership or an educator's behaviour towards children and young people.
Administration Staff
Supports leadership and the educator team at our office located in Preston
Does not have access to children and young people in a professional context or professional capacity
May come into contact with children and young people in an informal manner as our office and work environment is family-friendly
Unless explicitly instructed and communicated to the team and the public, an administrative team member will not be working with children and young people on behalf of Body Safety Australia. Please contact our Child Safety Officer if you are concerned about a team member's behaviour towards children and young people.
Contractors
Supports leadership, administration and the educator team off-site
Does not have access to children and young people in a professional context or professional capacity
May come into contact with children and young people in an informal manner as our office and work environment is family-friendly
Unless explicitly instructed and communicated to the team and the public, a contractor will not be working with children and young people on behalf of Body Safety Australia. Please contact our Child Safety Officer if you are concerned about a contractor's behaviour towards children and young people.
Volunteers
Supports administration and the administration team at our office located in Preston
· Does not have access to children and young people in a professional context or professional capacity
May come into contact with children and young people in an informal manner as our office and work environment is family-friendly
Unless explicitly instructed and communicated to the team and the public, a volunteer will not be working with children and young people on behalf of Body Safety Australia. Please contact our Child Safety Officer if you are concerned about a volunteer's behaviour towards children and young people.
Volunteers support our work by working in research or performing ad hoc administrative duties. Volunteers do not deliver any of our programs to clients; children, young people, families or professionals working with children and young people.
Be diligent in your work
Respect your colleagues and our clients' time by being punctual and ready to work
Be responsible and accountable for your work duties during working time
Arrive ready for work, sober and without being under the influence of alcohol or any illegal drugs
Report any accessing or sharing pornography, hate websites or illegal websites using company equipment or BYOD (Bring Your Own Device)
Be cooperative, responsible and communicate with your team
Ensure that your work is completed in a timely and effective manner
Body Safety Australia promotes good working habits including but not limited to;
Taking breaks to stretch, hydrate and go for a walk
Having flexible work hours, and taking self-care days
Leaving work at work
Smoke breaks are permitted as long as team members are not in violation of the Tobacco Amendment Act 2016.
Body Safety Australia also acknowledges that social media, and smart phone usage throughout the work day may be a part your responsibilities. Reasonable and appropriate social media and smart phone usage permitted.
Be economical and efficient
Take proper care of Body Safety Australia's equipment, resources and tools
Respect property belonging to a client and/or fellow team
Be appropriate with Body Safety Australia's equipment, property or consumables at all times
Seek authorisation before using Body Safety Australia's equipment, property or consumables for private purposes