Child Safety Policies and Procedures

Our commitment: 

Boulder Lab is committed to child safety. All our facilities are designed to be a fun and safe space for children to climb, train, make friends, learn and grow as individuals. It is a place where children can come to feel empowered and enjoy their time, and a place for them to feel comfortable.

Boulder Lab has a zero tolerance policy towards any form of child abuse or untoward behaviour involving children in any of our facilities. Any allegations of child abuse or misconduct will be treated very seriously and consistently in line with our child-safe policies and procedures outlined below. 

If anyone at Boulder Lab has concerns about a child’s safety, we follow the legal and moral obligation to contact the appropriate authorities. 

Boulder Lab is committed to regularly training and educating all staff and board members on child safety protocols and how to act in an instance of suspected child abuse. We are also committed to regularly training and educating all staff and board members on the safety of children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds, as well as providing a safe space for children with both physical and learning disabilities. 

Staff and board members:

  • All staff at Boulder Lab are required to undertake a Child Safety Training Program

  • All staff at Boulder Lab are required to have a current and valid Working With Children Check for the state of Victoria

  • All staff at Boulder Lab are to ensure they use appropriate language (both verbal and body) around children and act in a professional manner

  • All staff at Boulder Lab are required to report any cases of suspected abuse to management and the appropriate authorities in line with the Child Wellbeing and Safety Act

  • All staff at Boulder Lab are required to intervene if they see a customer acting in a way they deem inappropriate towards any child within our facilities. This can include removal of the persons from the premises or calling the appropriate authorities if deemed necessary

  • All staff at Boulder Lab are required to adhere to the Privacy Act, ensuring that all customers personal information is protected regardless of their age, unless there is a significant perceived risk to their life, health, safety or welfare. For more information please visit https://www.vic.gov.au/information-adults-and-children-information-sharing-laws

  • All staff at Boulder Lab who are mandatory reporters (doctor, nurse, teacher, principle, police officer) must comply with their duties if they feel the safety or well-being of a child is at risk. 

  • All staff at Boulder Lab who are in a position of authority within the organisation must, if within their power, remove or reduce any risk of sexual assault against a child within Boulder Lab 

  • Staff are expected to facilitate environments, where possible, for children to be comfortable and empowered to bring up and report on issues

  • All staff at Boulder Lab are required to make the Head of the organisation aware of any allegations of sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, harm or misconduct of any form, including neglect by anyone else involved in the organisation on any level. 

  • Boulder Lab as an organisation is required under Wrongs Amendment (Organisational Child Abuse) Act 2017, to take ‘reasonable precautions’ to prevent any abuse by anyone associated with the organisation. Failure to do so is a breach of duty of care. (For more information please refer to: https://content.legislation.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/135200f9-fda4-3974-b2e9-6fdf41bfe0e2_17-012aa%20authorised.pdf and https://www.justice.vic.gov.au/safer-communities/protecting-children-and-families/betrayal-of-trust-fact-sheet-the-new

  • All staff at Boulder Lab should respect professional boundaries, as well as the boundaries that children set for themselves in relation to physical contact and social interactions both within and outside of Boulder Lab facilities

Customers: 

  • All customers at Boulder Lab are required to act in a manner that is deemed appropriate around children, including using appropriate language (both verbal and body)

  • Any customer of Boulder Lab can be asked by a staff or board member to leave at any time if they are behaving in a manner that is deemed to be inappropriate in the presence of children. This can include both adult customers or other children. 

  • All customers are encouraged to report any instances of inappropriate behaviour they witness around children, or any suspicions of child abuse or misconduct in any form. This can include by other customers or by staff. 

  • All customers should respect the boundaries that children set for themselves in relation to physical contact and social interactions 

Children:

  • All children at Boulder Lab have the right to feel safe and comfortable in the space and in their interactions with all other customers, staff and board members

  • All children at Boulder Lab have the right to report any incidences of feeling unsafe, uncomfortable or belittled in relation to anyone inside a Boulder Lab facility or associated with a Boulder Lab facility

  • All children at Boulder Lab have the right to have their privacy and confidentiality protected unless there is reasonable suspicion that they are currently experiencing, or are at risk of experiencing, abuse (under the The Child information sharing scheme and Family violence information sharing schemes). For more information visit: https://www.vic.gov.au/information-adults-and-children-information-sharing-laws

  • All children have the right to set their own boundaries with staff and other customers 

  • All children are required to behave appropriately towards other children and all people associated with Boulder Lab

Fair procedures in allegations:

  • Whilst the safety and well-being of children of Boulder Lab is the primary concern, we are also committed to ensuring a fair and reasonable process for staff or board members in the unlikely situation that an allegation arises. Any decisions made in assessing incidences and undertaking disciplinary action will be thorough, transparent and evidence based. 

  • Any allegation of child abuse or misconduct will be recorded and securely stored. 

  • Any updates to the steps being taken by the organisation in relation to an allegation would be shared with the child and their family

This policy will be reviewed annually, or if there is a significant incident that occurs