This code of conduct is to help enforce clear expectations for appropriate behaviour with children within our organisation, to help protect children from abuse.

Our organisation is committed to child safety.

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We want children to be safe, happy and supported. We support and respect all children, as well as our staff and volunteers.

We have zero tolerance of child abuse, and all allegations and safety concerns will be treated very seriously and consistently with our robust policies and procedures and documented.

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We have legal and moral obligations to contact authorities when we are worried about a child’s safety, which we follow rigorously. Our organisation is committed to preventing child abuse and identifying risks early, and removing

and reducing these risks.

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- Failure to disclose: Reporting child sexual / Physical / Verbal abuse is a community wide responsibility.

All adults who have a reasonable belief that an adult has committed a sexual or agressive offence against a child under 16 have an obligation to report that information to the police.

- Failure to protect: People of authority in our organisation will commit an offence if they know of a substantial risk of child abuse and have the power or responsibility to reduce or remove the risk, but negligently fail to do so.

- Any personnel who are mandatory reporters must comply with their duties. (doctors, nurses, midwives, teachers (including early childhood teachers), principals and police) must report to child protection if they believe on reasonable grounds that a child is in need of protection from physical injury or sexual abuse.

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Code of Conduct

All staff, contractors and volunteers of Perth Dance Festival are required to observe child safe principles and expectations for appropriate

behaviour towards and in the company of children, supporting the safety, participation, wellbeing and empowerment of children by:

- Adhering to Perth Dance Festival child safe policy / upholding The Perth Dance Festival  statement of commitment to child safety at all times

- Taking all reasonable steps to protect children from abuse

- Treating everyone with respect

- Listening and responding to the views and concerns of children, particularly if they are telling you that they or another child has been abused and/or are worried about their safety or the safety of another

- Promoting the cultural safety, participation and empowerment of Aboriginal children (for example, by never questioning an Aboriginal child’s self identification)

- Promoting the cultural safety, participation and empowerment of children with culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds (for example, by having a zero tolerance of discrimination)

- Promoting the safety, participation and empowerment of children with a disability (for example, during personal care activities)

- Ensuring as far as practicable that adults are not left alone with a child

- Reporting any allegations of child abuse to Perth Dance Festival Child Safety Officers, Marko Panzic / Peter Lennon and ensure any / all

allegations to be reported to the police or child protection

- Reporting any child safety concerns to Perth Dance Festival Child Safety Officers, Marko Panzic / Peter Lennon

- If an allegation of child abuse is made, ensure as quickly as possible that the child(ren) are safe

- Encourage children to ‘have a say’ and participate in all relevant organisational activities where possible, especially on issues that are

important to them.

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Staff, Instructors and volunteers must not:

- Develop any ‘special’ relationships with children that could be seen as favouritism (for example, the offering of gifts or special treatment for specific children  Put children at risk of abuse (for example, by locking doors)

- Do things of a personal nature that a child can do for themselves, such as toileting or changing clothes

- Engage in open discussions of a mature or adult nature in the presence of children (for example, personal social activities)

- Use inappropriate language in the presence of children or Express personal views on cultures, race or sexuality in the presence of children

- Discriminate against any child, including because of culture, race, ethnicity or disability

- Have contact with a child or their family outside of our organisation without our child safety officer’s knowledge and/or consent (for example, no babysitting). Accidental contact, such as seeing people in the street, is appropriate.

- Have any online contact with a child or their family (unless necessary, for example providing families with e-newsletters). Sending DMs to a child’s instagram is NOT appropriate.

- Ignore or disregard any suspected or disclosed child abuse.

By observing these standards you acknowledge your responsibility to immediately report any breach of this code to Perth Dance Festival Child Safety Officer / director Marko Panzic (perthdancefest@gmail.com) Any inappropriate behaviour will be reported through appropriate channels,including the Department of Health and Human Services and Police, depending on the severity and urgency of the matter.

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If you believe a child is at immediate risk of abuse:

Phone the Police on 000 and/ or

The Child Protection Helpline:

133 627 for Mandatory Reporters and 132 111 for members of the general

public