Liverpool Plains Shire Council helps keep our kids safe

Published on 30 June 2022

At the June Ordinary Council meeting, Council agreed to adopt the Child Safe Code of Conduct Policy. The Child Safe Code of Conduct Policy helps mitigate risks to child safety that may arise through adult interactions with children and young people by establishing a clear set of rules and expectations for behaviour.

The National Principles for Child Safe Organisations outline the importance of organisations having effective policies and procedures that document how Council ensures safety for children and young people. The principles further emphasise the importance of embedding child safety and wellbeing in Council’s leadership, governance, and culture. The implementation of Council’s Child Safe Code of Conduct Policy is a key component in meeting these requirements.

Liverpool Plains Shire Council is committed to creating and maintaining an environment that promotes the safety of all children. This includes encouraging a culture where the prevention and reporting of abuse is supported and encouraged. All staff and volunteers are responsible for promoting the safety, wellbeing, and empowerment of children.

Mayor Doug Hawkins OAM said the Child Safe Code of Conduct Policy sets expectations for how adults at Council should behave around children. This is important to help prevent children from being harmed.

“The Code of Conduct also identifies positive child safe behaviours that we encourage all adults to support. It also identifies behaviours that we consider unacceptable. 

“Having clear rules and expectations of how adults are expected to interact with children works to prevent child abuse and encourages reporting. It creates positive expectations for the behaviour of all adults that work at Council,” he concluded.