Child Safety

Protection for children and young people is vitally important. We do so with belief that each person is made in the image and likeness of God, and that the inherent dignity of all should be recognised and fostered.

Marist-Sion College and the Diocese of Sale Catholic Education Limited (DOSCEL) holds the care, safety and wellbeing of children and young people as a central and fundamental responsibility of Catholic education. This commitment is drawn from and inherent to the teaching and mission of Jesus Christ, with love, justice and the sanctity of each human person at the heart of the Gospel.

This section of the website provides our Marist-Sion College community with access to various policies which relate to child protection. Parents/guardians/carers are invited to contact the College if they have questions about aspects of our practice in child protection.

Victorian Child Safe Standards

DOSCEL and Marist-Sion College are committed to ensuring compliance with Victorian’s Child Safe Standards under Ministerial Order 1359: Managing the Risk of Child Abuse in Schools and School Boarding Premises.

Prevention and Response

Preventing and responding to child abuse requires a whole of community response to bring about broad cultural change. To this end, the Victorian Child Safe Standards apply to a broad range of organisations that provide services for children, including schools, churches, sporting clubs and youth services.

Ensuring we have child safe communities goes to the heart of our faith and core purpose. Therefore, we are dedicated to upholding the values and practices that create safe learning environments for students.

Reporting and Contacts

There are a number of supports available when responding to incidents, disclosures or suspicions of child abuse. 24 Hour Services available are:

Victoria Police: 000
DFFH Child Protection: 131 278

Where can students go for help?

We encourage any student who feels unsafe to confide in a trusted adult or contact the College’s Child Safety Champions by email: ChildSafety@mscw.vic.edu.au.

Child Safety Champions

Marist-Sion College has appointed the people listed below as the College’s Child Safety Champions. Each Child Safety Champion is available to answer any questions that you may have with respect to our Child Protection and Safety Policy and the Child Protection Program.

Child Safety Champions are selected based on a number of considerations, namely:

their personal attitudes, experiences and beliefs, for example, a person who is non-judgmental, calm, resilient and demonstrates a high degree of integrity and respect for confidentiality;
their role within the College, for example, a person who has seniority and experience working with complex student and family issues at the College and someone who is readily accessible and available to all members of the College community; and
their personal profile within the College, for example, a person who is approachable, who students and staff trust and who is willing and able to respond to issues personally and sensitively.

It is every individual’s responsibility to protect children and make reports regarding their concerns to the appropriate authorities.

If a person requires support in reporting to the authorities, the College’s Child Safety Champions are your first point of contact. They receive special training that allows them to deal with child protection concerns both sensitively and effectively.