Relationships Australia (SA) is committed to the delivery of safe practices relating to children, thus ensuring that the safety and well-being of the child is paramount in any decisions regarding his or her environment. We take responsibility to provide safe and nurturing environments to children and we work in partnership with children, their families and other important people in their lives and communities to try and achieve this.
Children can be abused in different ways, such as lack of basic care, lack of opportunities to develop, restriction of freedom and social interaction, abandonment, being ostracised or degraded through put-downs, violence and sexual abuse. We recognise the vulnerability of all children and view children from minority groups, those who are homeless, and those with a disability as being particularly vulnerable to these abuses.
All children have a right to:
- Protection from abuse, neglect and exploitation
- Reach their full potential and be free from inequalities
- Care, protection and support from the adults, including workers, in their lives.
It is recognised that Australia is a signatory to The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and Relationships Australia (SA) commits itself to the principles in this Convention.
Relationships Australia (SA) takes all reasonable steps to ensure that it engages the most suitable and appropriate people to work with children, through the application of good practice in the screening and recruitment of employees and volunteers. This includes:
- Short listing and interviewing potential candidates
- Contacting a minimum of 2 referees in addition to contacting previous employers
- Short-listed applicants providing a declaration
- A satisfactory police clearance as per RASA National Police Certificates Policy & Procedures No: HR-11 for all staff
- Department for Families and Communities (DFC) assessment of criminal history for employees working with children
- Staff induction and orientation to Relationship Australia (SA) Child Safe policy and procedures.