St Mary’s is compliant, consistent and committed to ensuring all children have the right to feel safe and be safe all of the time.
Child safety is central to everything we do. We are committed to creating a secure, respectful, and supportive environment where every student feels protected, valued, and confident to learn. Our practices are guided by the Victorian Child Safe Standards and reflect our strong moral and professional responsibility to safeguard children at all times.
Child safety at St Mary’s is embedded in daily school life through clear policies, strong leadership, and consistent expectations. All staff, volunteers, and visitors are required to follow our Child Safe Code of Conduct, have a structured induction process, ensure professional boundaries, and to complete safeguarding training before working with students. This ensures that every adult in our community understands their role in protecting children.
We believe that empowering students is essential to wellbeing and safety. Children are encouraged to understand their rights, speak up when they feel unsafe, and trust that their voices will be heard. Our classrooms and wellbeing programs promote respect, inclusion, and positive relationships, helping students feel confident and supported.
Families and carers are valued partners in this work. We communicate openly about child safety expectations and work closely with families to ensure consistent support for students. Our inclusive approach also recognises the diverse needs of our community, ensuring all children feel safe, accepted, and respected.
Clear reporting and response procedures ensure that concerns are addressed promptly and professionally. By combining strong policies, trained staff, student voice, and family partnership, St Mary’s maintains a culture where child safety is not just a requirement, but a shared commitment.
At St Mary’s Echuca, protecting children is more than a policy, it is part of who we are.
In particular we;
• promote the cultural safety, participation and empowerment of Aboriginal children.
• promote the cultural safety, participation and empowerment of children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds.
• promote the participation and empowerment of children with disability.
St. Mary’s, Echuca is a child safeguarding school community. We adhere to the following policies and provide them here for your reference;
Child Safeguarding Commitment & Policies