Safeguarding our Students

Whitsunday Anglican School supports the rights of children and strives to ensure the safety and wellbeing of its students. Whitsunday Anglican School is therefore committed to responding to allegations of harm resulting from the conduct or actions of any person.

Statement of Commitment – Working with Children in Anglican Education

Anglican Schools and Education & Care Services (including Whitsunday Anglican School) are committed to providing environments where children and young people receive the highest standard of care, where their rights are supported, and they have the opportunity to thrive and be fruitful. Such environments nurture and safeguard the intelligence, dignity, safety and wellbeing of each child or young person, by placing them at the centre of thought, values and actions.

As reflected in our Ethos, our vocation is education, driven by a vision of humanity, shaped by the image of God made visible in Jesus, present in every human being.

• Every child: made in the image and likeness of God.
• Every child: loveable and loved, unique and unrepeatable.
• Outstanding education for the flourishing of people and the good of community.

Our faith is lived. We are hospitable and welcoming communities, who embody compassion, kindness, fairness, justice and love, and where exceptional pastoral care is practised.

Working and serving the best interests of children and young people is in everyone’s best interest. This is achieved through sustaining living and learning environments that are safe, supportive and stimulating. Specifically, we:

• place emphasis on genuine engagement with children and young people;
• create conditions that reduce the likelihood of harm to children and young people;
• create conditions that increase the likelihood of identifying harm; and
• respond to any concerns, disclosures, allegations or suspicions.

This commitment is sought to be consistently reflected through the decisions and behaviour of all persons within the School or Service, who are guided by effective governance, policies, tools and processes. This fosters a child safe culture, where acting in children and young people’s best interests is at the heart of what we do.

Student Protection Officers

Policies

Whilst Whitsunday Anglican School is not a member of the Anglican Church of Southern Queensland, it applies the principles and policies developed by the Anglican Schools Commission (ASC) as a matter of good practice.

To ensure the applicability of these policies to the School’s governance structure, any matters for the attention of the Archbishop of the Diocese of Brisbane regarding child safety matters should instead be directed to the Board Chair of Whitsunday Anglican School at chairman@was.qld.edu.au.