Team Member Commitment to the Safety and Wellbeing of Children, Young People and People with Disability
Our vision is that people choose what creates their best future.
Creating safe, inclusive and respectful environments is fundamental to achieving this vision.
Every Connect team member has a responsibility to protect and promote the safety, wellbeing and rights of children and people with disability.
Our Commitment
We believe that safeguarding children (under the age of 18) and people with disability is both a responsibility and a privilege.
We commit to:
- Always place the safety, wellbeing and rights of children and people with disability at the centre of my decisions and actions.
- Never tolerate abuse, neglect, exploitation or harm. I will report concerns, disclosures or allegations immediately through the appropriate channels.
- Take every concern seriously and respond consistently in line with organisational policies, procedures and legal obligations.
- Treat every person with dignity, kindness and respect, recognising their strengths, individuality and right to make choices.
- Promote inclusion, diversity and equity by valuing people of all cultures, backgrounds, abilities, genders, sexualities and beliefs, and by challenging discrimination wherever it occurs.
- Foster cultural safety for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and create culturally safe and inclusive environments for people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
- Speak up, seek advice and act whenever I believe a child, young person or person with disability may be at risk.
- Build safe, positive and trusting relationships where children and people with disability feel heard, respected and empowered to participate in decisions that affect them.
- Listen to and value the voices of children and people with disability, encouraging them to share their views, raise concerns and have their rights respected.
- Be a positive role model by demonstrating respectful, ethical and professional behaviour at all times.
- Advocate for the rights and best interests of children and people with disability, and respectfully challenge behaviours or practices that do not reflect these commitments
