Child Safe Commitment Statement

At Lockyer Valley Regional Council, we believe every child has the right to be safe, feel safe, and be included in decisions relating to them.

We have zero tolerance for child abuse, neglect and harm.

We are committed to implementing and embedding Queensland’s 10 Child Safe Standards across our organisation and to continuously improving our approach to child safety. This commitment applies to councillors, employees, contractors, volunteers and third parties when delivering Council services, programs, activities or events or engaging with children in Council spaces and activities.

We will keep children safe by:

• creating and maintaining physical and online environments across our services, facilities, programs and events that prioritise the safety, wellbeing and inclusion of children and young people and minimise the opportunity for children to be harmed
• providing a safe, inclusive and supportive environment for all children and young people, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children (the Universal Principle) and those from culturally diverse backgrounds or who have disabilities
• empowering children to speak up about any concerns if they feel unsafe and making sure they know who to approach
• listening to children and young people and providing them with an opportunity to participate in decisions that affect them
• partnering with families and community to inform and promote child safety and wellbeing in practice.

As a child safe organisation, we will:

• update our policies and procedures to align with the Child Safe Standards
• build child safety knowledge, skills and compliance into our recruitment and induction processes
• ensure our staff, volunteers, contractors and relevant third parties are educated about their child safety obligations so they can prevent, identify and respond effectively to child safety concerns and complaints
• encourage feedback from children, families, community, staff, volunteers, contractors and relevant third parties to continuously improve our child safe policies, procedures and practices.

We encourage everyone to speak up if they have concerns about child safety. We will respond promptly and appropriately to any concerns or complaints reported to Council in line with legislative and policy obligations. We acknowledge our mandatory reporting obligations under the Reportable Conduct Scheme to ensure independent oversight of allegations.

Council's Child Safety and Wellbeing is available on our website at Policies - Lockyer Valley Regional Council.