4.1 Duty of care – physical environment
A staff member has a legal obligation to take reasonable care for their own safety and the safety of children and
others they come into contact with as part of their engagement with the Archdiocese.
These obligations arise from the specific role and responsibilities of the staff member and include (but are not
limited to) the following:
- providing adequate supervision
- following procedures relating to child safety, behaviour management, welfare and well-being (for example,
reporting procedures)
- demonstrating personal behaviours that promote the safety, welfare and well-being of children
- providing medical assistance (if competent to do so), or seeking assistance from a medically trained person
to aid a child who is injured or becomes sick
- identifying and protecting a child from hazards that pose a risk of harm and which can be reasonably
predicted
- taking appropriate action to reduce or remove risks impacting on a child’s safety, welfare or well-being.
- ensuring children are aware of their rights and responsibilities.
The standard of care that is required needs to take into consideration various factors, such as a child’s maturity,
ability and circumstances.
Duty of care to children applies during all activities and functions conducted or arranged by the Archdiocese where
children are in the care of staff members.
Staff members must assess and manage the risk associated with any activity before undertaking the activity. This
includes developing and implementing a risk assessment.
Actual harm to a child, or potential to cause significant harm to a child, caused by:
(a) a single serious failure to exercise appropriate duty of care; or
(b) repeated less serious failures to exercise appropriate duty of care
may constitute misconduct, neglect or negligence and/or a breach of this Code.
Staff members should not put themselves in a position that may create a risk of an allegation of a child protection
nature. For example, staff members must not:
(a) transport a child or children in a car alone; and
(b) otherwise be alone with a child, unless they are in the view of others and/or there is a reasonable requirement
to do so.
Staff members should seek out a child’s parents/guardians or another adult, if to keep a child safe, a need to
transport a child arises. Any such incident should be documented and provided to the IPSS Manager within 24
hours.
4.1.1 Professional conduct
Staff members must act professionally and appropriately when dealing with children and others they come into contact
with as part of their engagement with the Archdiocese.
This includes using appropriate language and tone toward children and others. Rude or insulting behaviour, including
verbal aggression; abusive, threatening or derogatory language or conduct; or intimidating words or actions towards
children is unacceptable. It is also unacceptable to engage in such conduct towards others in the presence of
children.
4.1.2 Physical contact
Staff members must not engage in inappropriate physical contact with children, or act in ways that may cause a child
to reasonably fear that unjustified force will be used against them.
Examples of inappropriate physical contact include (but are not limited to):
- intentional and unjustified use of physical force
- use of physical contact to have a child or student follow directions
- throwing an object to gain a
child’s attention in a hostile way
- restraining a child (unless as part of an approved behaviour management plan)
- hitting, kicking, pushing, pulling, shoving, grabbing, pinching, poking, shaking or throwing a child.
“Justice should not only be done, but should be manifestly and undoubtedly be seen to be done."
Examples of conduct that involves the reasonable use of physical contact for exercising appropriate control over a child include (but are not limited to):
- disarming a child who is at risk of harming themselves or another person
- separating children who are fighting
- reasonable use of physical force for the protection of self or others.
Staff members when assisting a distressed child, should seek the child’s permission prior to placing a hand or one arm around them for comfort, given this act could unintentionally cause further distress.
4.1.3 Discipline
Staff members must not correct or discipline a child in excess of what is reasonable or appropriate for the
situation and the child’s maturity, ability and circumstances. Discipline is excessive if it is a disproportionate
response to a child’s behaviour.
Examples of inappropriate discipline or ill-treatment include (but are not limited to):
- locking a child in a cupboard as punishment
- tying a child to a chair
- keeping a child on detention during lunch without allowing them to eat or go to the toilet.
4.1.4 Medication, drugs and other substances
Staff members must not purchase for, offer, supply, give or administer to children, illegal drugs, restricted
substances, prescribed or non-prescribed medication (unless dealing with or administering medication in accordance
with relevant policy), alcohol or tobacco. Neither should the use of such substances be condoned or encouraged.
4.2 Duty of care - Appropriate relationships and boundaries
Staff members must act professionally and appropriately when dealing with children and others they come into contact
with as part of their engagement with the Archdiocese. This obligation also extends to relationships staff members
have with children outside of work.
Staff members must maintain appropriate physical, social and emotional boundaries with children. A single serious
‘crossing of professional boundaries’ by a staff member, or repeated less serious breaches of professional conduct
or exercise of poor judgment in the following areas, may constitute misconduct, sexual misconduct and/or a breach of
this Code.
4.2.1 Relationships Staff members must not behave in a way that could reasonably be construed as involving an inappropriate relationship with a child or a group of children.
Staff members must not invite children they come into contact with as part of their engagement with the Archdiocese
to join their personal electronic social networking or messaging sites/apps or accept children’s invitations to join
theirs. They must not attend parties or socialise with children or invite a child to their home or attend a child’s
home without an appropriate professional reason and without the parents/carers’ consent and the consent of Manager
(IPSS) or delegate.
Where there are existing personal relationships, such as a family relationship or close friendships that involve a
staff member and a child, the staff member needs to take care to be transparent, prudent and behave appropriately
and be mindful of any perceived conflict of interest.
A staff member who is unsure about the appropriateness of a relationship with a child or a child’s family must
disclose it to Manager (IPSS) or their delegate. Staff members must not have an intimate, romantic or sexual
relationship with any child or student who is under their care or supervision regardless of their age. It is
irrelevant whether the relationship is consensual, non-consensual, known to or condoned by parents, guardians or
caregivers.
Extreme care must be taken in any relationship between a staff member and a former child client or student, even if
the person is now over 18 years of age.
A personal or sexual relationship with a former child client or student entered into by any staff member may be
considered sexual misconduct if it is established that the staff member used his or her position to develop and/or
maintain an inappropriate personal or intimate relationship with the person when they were a client or student of
the Archdiocese.
4.2.2 Grooming
Staff members must not engage in grooming behaviour with either a child, their family and/or community. Grooming
behaviour involves a pattern of conduct that is consistent with grooming a child for sexual activity, where there is
no other reasonable explanation for it.
Examples of grooming behaviours include:
- persuading a child or group of children that they have a ‘special’ relationship, for example, by spending
inappropriate special time with a child, inappropriately giving gifts or showing special favours to them but
not
other children, inappropriately allowing the child to overstep rules, or asking the child to keep this
relationship
to themselves
- testing boundaries, for example, by undressing in front of a child, encouraging inappropriate physical
contact
(even where it is not overtly sexual), talking about sex, or ‘accidental’ intimate touching
- inappropriately extending a relationship outside of work
- inappropriate personal communication (including emails, telephone calls, letters, text messages, social
media and
web forums of a sexual nature)
If there are reasons for a staff member to communicate with children using electronic information and
communication
technology (ICT) for reasons other than work purposes, it is important to discuss this with and gain the
approval of
the IPSS Manager or delegate.
4.2.3 Sexually inappropriate behaviour
Staff members must not make sexually explicit comments or engage in other sexually overt or implied behaviour
towards or in the presence of children. Such behaviour may constitute sexual misconduct.
Examples of sexual behaviours include:
- inappropriate conversations of a sexual nature
- unwarranted and inappropriate touching
- exposure of children to sexual behaviour of others
- watching children undress in circumstances where supervision is not required and
Staff members must not commit a sexual offence. This encompasses all criminal offences involving a
sexual
element that is committed against, with or in the presence of a child and includes indecent assault,
sexual
assault, possession/ dissemination/ production of child exploitation or child abuse material.
4.3 Working with children clearances
The Archdiocese must ensure that verified clearances are in place for all relevant persons as required under the
Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012 for staff employed in NSW and as required under the Working
With Vulnerable People (Background Check) Act (2011) for staff employed in the ACT.
A NSW Working With Children Check is valid for five years, and from 1 July 2020 an ACT Working With Vulnerable
People Registration is valid for five years (previously it was valid for three years). Staff members are
responsible for ensuring their clearance or registration is renewed.
Staff members who are required to have a verified Working with Children Check (in NSW) or a valid registration
allowing them to Work with Vulnerable People (in the ACT) and do not have one, cannot be or continue to be
engaged in child related work. Consequently, their employment or engagement with the Archdiocese may be
terminated.
4.4 Notification and reporting
Staff members must satisfy reporting and notification requirements under the law, including:
- mandatory reporting requirements to the Department of Communities and Justice under the Children and
Young
Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 (NSW)
- reportable conduct requirements under the Children’s Guardian Act 2019 (NSW)
- reporting requirements to the Office of the Children’s Guardian under the Child Protection (Working with
Children) Act 2012 (NSW)
- reporting child abuse offences under section 316A of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW)
- mandatory reporting requirements to the Children and Youth Protection Services under the Child and Young
People Act 2008 (ACT)
- reportable conduct requirements under Part 17G of the Ombudsman Act (1989) (ACT)
- reporting requirements to Access Canberra under the Working With Vulnerable People (Background Check)
Act
(2011) (ACT)
- reporting child sexual offences under section 66AA of the Crimes Act 1900 (ACT)
Staff members must make reports to the IPSS Manager in accordance with sections 4.4.1 and 4.4.2. The IPSS
Manager or delegate will determine if reporting or notification needs to be made to the relevant authority and
will make the report.
- For staff members in NSW the relevant authority includes the Office of the Children’s Guardian,
Department of
Communities and Justice and/or the NSW Police.
- For staff members in the ACT the relevant authority includes the ACT Ombudsman, Community Services –
Child and
Youth Protection Services, Access Canberra and/or the ACT Police.
4.4.1 Mandatory reporting
- Neglect
- Psychological Harm
- Physical Abuse
- Sexual Abuse
4.4.1.1 Mandatory reporting in NSW
Staff members in NSW, who deliver health care, welfare, education, children’s services, religious based
activities
to children or residential services, wholly or partly, to children as part of their paid or professional work
are
mandatory reporters of children who are at risk of significant harm. This also applies to clergy and staff
members
in a management position with direct responsibility for or supervision of such services.
A child or young person is at risk of significant harm if current concerns exist for the safety, welfare or
well-being of the child or young person because of the presence, to a significant extent, of any one or more of
the
following circumstances:
- the basic physical or psychological needs of the child or young person are not being met (neglect) or
are at
risk of not being met
- the parents or caregivers have not arranged necessary medical care for the child or young person
(unwilling
or unable to do so)
- the parents or caregivers have not arranged for the child or young person to receive an education in
accordance with the Education Act 1990 (NSW)
(unwilling or unable to do so)
- risk of physical or sexual abuse or ill-treatment
- parent or caregiver behaviour towards the child causes or risks serious psychological harm (emotional
abuse)
- incidents of domestic violence and as a consequence the child or young person is at risk of serious
physical or psychological harm (domestic or family violence)
- the child was the subject in a pre-natal report and the birth mother did not engage successfully with
support services.
If a mandatory reporter has reasonable grounds to suspect a child is at risk of significant harm and those
grounds arise during the course of or from their work, they must make a report to the NSW Department of
Communities and Justice. Assistance can be provided by calling the IPSS Manager or delegate on 6239 9806.
While it is not mandatory under NSW legislation to report about young persons (children aged 16-17 years), staff
members should make reports about concerns for young persons to IPSS Manager or delegate who will use
professional judgement in deciding whether the concerns warrant a report to the relevant authority.
Reporting to NSW Police
In accordance with section 316 (A) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), all adults in NSW are required to bring
information to the attention of NSW Police if they:
- know, believe or reasonably ought to know that a child (under 18 years) has been abused, or
- know, believe, or reasonably ought to know that they have information that might materially assist in
securing
the apprehension, prosecution or conviction of the offender.
A reasonable excuse for a person not bringing information to the attention of the police, includes the alleged
victim was an adult at the time that the information was obtained by the person and the person believes on
reasonable grounds that the alleged victim does not wish for the information to be reported to police.
If a staff member believes this to be a reasonable excuse for not bringing information to the attention of the
police, but the offender is a current staff member of the Archdiocese, this information must be brought to the
attention of the IPSS manager to comply with section 43B of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW).
If you require assistance making a report, please call IPSS Manager on 6239 9806.
4.4.1.2 Mandatory reporting in the ACT
Mandatory reporters in the ACT include staff members who are a doctor, dentist, nurse, teacher or teacher’s aid
at a school, counsellor, minister of religion, religious leader or member of the clergy of a church or religious
denomination, a person caring for a child at a childcare centre, a person coordinating or monitoring home-based
care for a family day care scheme proprietor, a person who, in the course of the person’s employment, has
contact with or provides services to children, young people and their families and is prescribed by
regulation.
The staff members are required to make a report if, due to information obtained during the course of, or because
of their work (including information disclosed in a religious confession), they believe on reasonable grounds
that a child or young person has experienced, or is experiencing:
- Sexual abuse
- Non-accidental physical injury (physical abuse)
Staff members must make a mandatory report to Child and Youth Protection Services. Assistance can be provided by
the IPSS Manager or delegate in making a mandatory report.
While it is not mandatory under the ACT legislation to report about the neglect, emotional abuse of a child or
young person, staff members must make reports about concerns for young persons to IPSS Manager who will use
professional judgement in deciding whether the concerns warrant a report to the relevant authority.
Reporting to ACT police
In accordance with section 66(AA) of the Crimes Act 1900 (ACT), all adults in the ACT are required to report
information they obtain that leads them to reasonably believe that a sexual offence has been committed against a
child to Police.
4.4.2 Reporting of inappropriate conduct of staff members
Staff members must report to the IPSS Manager or delegate:
- any convictions or allegations of reportable conduct involving any other staff member that they are
aware of, or reasonably suspect
- if they are charged with or convicted of an offence relevant to working in child-related employment, or
if they have had any reportable conduct allegation made against them
- any information or concerns about inappropriate behaviour by any staff member that involves a child or
children, including behaviour that has occurred either inside or outside
of work. Inappropriate behaviour includes behaviour which is inconsistent with Sections 5.1 and 5.2 of
this Code
- any information or concerns where a fellow staff member may know of a child being abused (in any
context) and has not met their reporting obligation under s316A of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) or s66AA of
the Crimes Act 1900 (ACT).
A staff member who is unsure of whether they are required to make a report should discuss the matter with the
Manager (IPSS) or delegate.
4.4.3 Reporting Child Abuse Offences
There may be situations where a staff member suspects that a child abuse offence has occurred, but it is not
covered by the reporting obligations set out in sections 5.4.1 or 5.4.2.
Staff members must report this to the IPSS Manager if it involves an Archdiocesan staff member, regardless of
the context in which it occurs.
4.5 Confidentiality
Staff members must maintain confidentiality in relation to any matters of a child protection nature and only
discuss the matter with those required to be notified or reported to. Where a staff member is in doubt as to the
requirements of confidentiality, they should seek advice from IPSS Manager or delegate.
4.6 Victimisation
Staff members must not take detrimental action against a complainant or person who reports information as
required by legislation and this Code. Such action is unlawful.
4.7 Record keeping
A staff member must maintain appropriate records and data in relation to their professional practice in the care and protection of children. Records may include case notes, student/client files and behaviour management plans.
A staff member must keep contemporaneous records of any disclosure, observations and discussions regarding a child protection matter, including any alleged breach of this Code.
These records must be kept in a secure location as provided for by the Archdiocese. Records relating to the care and protection of children are not to be destroyed.
4.8 Investigations
Allegations of a child protection nature against a staff member will be investigated and dealt with in line with the Archdiocese‘s Investigation Policy.