Safeguarding Children and Young People

YMCA Canberra has a commitment to safeguarding children and vulnerable people first and foremost in all of our programs and activities. We have extensive Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy and Procedures which help us to continually embed a safe culture. We have partnered with the Australian Childhood Foundation (ACF) http://www.childhood.org.au to continually improve our child protection processes, systems and monitoring programs and remained compliant since 2007 as a child safe organisation. This partnership ensures our actions comply with key safeguarding standards:

• Commitment to safeguarding children

• Personnel roles and conduct

• Recruitment and screening

• Personnel induction and training

• Involving children and parents

• Child abuse reports and allegations

• Supporting a child-safe culture

A crucial aspect of Safeguarding Children and Young People is ensuring our staff understand the process for reporting any concerns they have about a child or young person’s wellbeing in line with ACT Legislation, Children and Young People Act 2008. http://www.legislation.act.gov.au/a/2008-19/current/pdf/2008-19.pdf

Programs and services advocate for children and young people to air their concerns with our services, and to be confident in offering feedback; which is another important aspect of creating a culture where children and young people’s well-being is safeguarded.

All YMCA Canberra personnel complete appropriate safeguarding children and vulnerable people training and understand their responsibilities to act in the best interests of these people. If you would like further information around YMCA Canberra’s Safeguarding please contact Andrew Claridge, our Human Resources Manager on 02 6232 4285.

Certificate of Accreditation

YMCA safeguarding children policy document final Nov 2017 (external)