Child Safety Commitment, Policy and Code of Conduct

Mornington Peninsula Shire is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. We have zero tolerance of child abuse and ensure policies and procedures and robust training are in place to protect children from abuse and respond to any risks, allegations or safety concerns.

We want all children and young people to be and feel safe, welcome and included in our services and empowered to achieve their dreams, goals and aspirations for a bright future.

We take steps to ensure the voices of our children, young people and families are heard and we are proud to celebrate the diversity of our community.

We are unapologetically proactive in closing the gap for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people and supporting them to express their culture and enjoy their cultural rights.

We welcome and value the participation of all children and young people, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, children with disabilities, children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, those that are unable to live at home and our LGBTIQA+ community.

We are proud to be a Child Safe Organisation.

If you have a concern about the safety of a child or would like to report a child safety issue, please contact the Child Safe Coordinator.

The Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy is designed to assist Council to prevent and respond to any alleged child abuse or child safety concerns that may occur within Council or any alleged child abuse or child safety concerns which is reported to Council. 

Read the Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy(PDF, 141KB) 

All Council employees, volunteers, contractors, and representatives are required to meet the clear rules and expectations of how adults should interact with children and young people as outlined in the Child Safe Code of Conduct(PDF, 86KB). 

The Victorian Reportable Conduct Scheme focuses on the reporting and investigation of child abuse allegations made against workers and volunteers in certain organisations.

The Commission for Children and Young People must be informed of any allegations of child abuse involving a worker or volunteer, and independently oversees all investigations undertaken by organisations.

Under the Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005 and the Child Wellbeing and Safety Regulations 2017 the Reportable Conduct Scheme does not apply to Mornington Peninsula Shire.

For further information on the Victorian Child Safe Standards and the Reportable Conduct Scheme please refer to the Commission for Children and Young People.