Child Safe Code of Conduct

1. Purpose

This Code of Conduct sets out the standards of behaviour expected of everyone engaged by AB First Aid when carrying out work for clients where children or young people may be present. It supports the AB First Aid Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy and the Victorian Child Safe Standards, and establishes clear expectations to protect children and young people from harm.

2. Who this Code applies to

This Code applies to all AB First Aid personnel, including employees, trainers, assessors, contractors, sub-contractors, administrative staff, volunteers, and any personnel engaged under the third party arrangement with Allens Training, whenever they attend a client site or otherwise interact with children in connection with AB First Aid’s services. Compliance with this Code is a condition of engagement.

3. Our commitment

AB First Aid has zero tolerance for child abuse. All personnel are expected to uphold the safety, wellbeing, dignity and rights of children at all times, to treat children with respect, and to model appropriate behaviour. This Code recognises that AB First Aid delivers training to adults but that our personnel work in environments where children are present, and it applies to any contact, planned or incidental, with a child.

4. Expected behaviours

All AB First Aid personnel WILL:

• Treat all children with respect, dignity and courtesy, regardless of their background, identity or ability.
• Uphold the cultural safety of Aboriginal children and children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
• Comply with the client’s sign-in, visitor, supervision and site-access requirements at all times.
• Hold and maintain a valid Working with Children Check and produce it on request.
• Ensure any necessary contact with a child is appropriate to the task, and remain within sight or earshot of other adults wherever possible.
• Listen to children, take any concern a child raises seriously, and respond appropriately.
• Report any concern, suspicion, disclosure or allegation of child abuse or harm immediately, in line with the Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy.
• Recognise and respond to the diverse needs and vulnerabilities of children, including children with disability.
• Maintain professional boundaries and model respectful, appropriate behaviour towards children and adults.

5. Unacceptable behaviours

AB First Aid personnel WILL NEVER:

• Engage in any form of abuse — physical, sexual, emotional or psychological — or neglect of a child.
• Ignore, downplay or fail to report any suspected or disclosed abuse, harm or inappropriate behaviour involving a child.
• Develop a “special” or personal relationship with a child, or engage in grooming behaviour of any kind.
• Be alone with a child in circumstances that cannot be observed, or seek unnecessary or unsupervised contact with a child.
• Use language, gestures or behaviour that is inappropriate, harassing, discriminatory, humiliating, degrading, sexual or threatening towards a child.
• Photograph, film or record a child, or share images of children, without proper authorisation from the client and, where required, parental consent.
• Have any private or personal contact with a child met through AB First Aid work, including via phone, messaging, email or social media.
• Give personal gifts to a child, or exchange personal contact details with a child.
• Attend a school site, or perform any duties involving contact with children, while affected by alcohol or illicit drugs.
• Ignore or breach the child-safety requirements or site rules of the host school.

6. If you have a concern

Otherwise, report any concern, disclosure or suspicion of child abuse or harm — however minor it may seem — to the host school’s child-safety contact and to the AB First Aid Designated Child Safety Officer as soon as possible.

You do not need to be certain that abuse has occurred to report — a reasonable belief or concern is enough. AB First Aid supports everyone who reports in good faith and will not tolerate any retribution against them. Mandatory reporting and Reportable Conduct Scheme obligations will be met in accordance with the Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy.

7. Breaches of this Code

A breach of this Code will be treated seriously and may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment or engagement, removal from AB First Aid work at Victorian schools, and referral to Victoria Police, Child Protection or the relevant regulator where appropriate. Suspected criminal conduct will be reported to the appropriate authorities.

8. Contact

For any questions regarding this Code of Conduct, please contact our Designated Child Safety Officer:

Brendan Daynes
Director, AB First Aid
(03) 8364-8984
brendan@abfirstaid.com.au

This Code should be read together with the AB First Aid Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy.