Child Safeguarding
What is Safeguarding in EREA
The EREA Trustees and Board are ultimately responsible for ensuring that EREA is a safe environment for children and adults at risk.
The Executive Director has delegated the authority for handling safeguarding matters to the EREA Safeguarding Team.
All EREA schools are directly accountable to the Executive Director for their implementation of the relevant jurisdictional and National child safe standards including but not limited to the EREA Child Safeguarding Standards Framework, the National Catholic Safeguarding Standards the NSW Child Safe Standards and the Victorian Child Safe Standards.
The Chair of the Child Safeguarding Committee is the ‘Safeguarding Champion’ for EREA. The Safeguarding Champion is responsible for guiding the Executive Director and EREA Board on:
• the implementation of jurisdictional and national child safe standards
• safeguarding practices for safe cultures, including communication and engagement with stakeholders, and
• best practice accountability and governance structures for safeguarding children and at-risk adults.
The day-to-day safeguarding work is led and managed by Director of Safeguarding and the Manager of Safeguarding and Standards at the EREA National Office.
If you have concerns relating to the safety and wellbeing of a child or young person in our schools or entities,
please contact the Principal in the first instance.
EREA Complaints Handling Policy & Guidelines (Sept 2018)
If you or someone you know has been harmed or adversely affected by an EREA employee or volunteer you can contact our Manager of Safeguarding and Standards
on + 61 3 9426 3200 or email safeguarding@erea.edu.au
The Manager of Safeguarding and Standards will listen to your concerns with respect, maintain your confidentiality and explain the available options to you.
EREA Child Safeguarding Standards Framework
EREA has responded proactively to the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse by developing a set of Child Safeguarding Standards. These standards further enhance EREA’s commitment to ensuring an ongoing culture of safety, protection and care in all of our schools and entities.
The EREA Child Safeguarding Standards ensure accountability for the protection and safety of the children and young people under our care. All EREA schools and entities are held accountable to the Child Safeguarding Standards and will regularly report to EREA on how these standards are being addressed.
The EREA Child Safeguarding Standards Framework is designed to further enhance a culture within each of our schools wherein protecting children and young people from abuse and other harm, and the promotion of child safety, participation, empowerment and wellbeing, are embedded in the everyday thinking and practice of leaders, staff and volunteers.
The purpose and intent of the Standards contained in this Framework are to embed a culture of child safety and wellbeing by demonstrating values in practice, nurturing the wellbeing of all children and young people, respecting their dignity, ensuring their safety and protecting them from abuse and other harm. This we do, at all times, by acting in the best interests of children and young people under our care.
EREA’s Child Safeguarding Standards are closely aligned to those established by Catholic Professional Standards Limited, which are applicable to all Catholic Church entities throughout Australia, especially those relevant to schools.
I am sorry. We are sorry. We commit to a liberated future.
Read the EREA Apology to Victims and Survivors of Sexual Abuse