Mynd Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy

At Mynd and Me we are committed to keeping all children safe and protecting the wellbeing of each child and/or young person. All staff and management are understanding of the roles and responsibility given to them when supporting a child/young person. Our policy has been made and reviewed alongside the National principles and are imbedded in all areas of Mynd and Me.

This policy applies to all staff members and/or including volunteers or placements. All staff members apply/review to the Mynd Child Safety Policy when working with children and/or young people.

The responsibilities of all staff members are to understand and review the Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy including:

·       Policies and Procedures

·       Before recruitment, staff are needing to possess a Blue Card (working with children) and a NDIS screen workers card. All staff are informed at interview of this being a part of the recruitment process.

·       Staff will be provided with a profile of the child and/or young person before commencing support with the child/or young person. The employee will be provided with a Code of Conduct, Employee Handbook that outlines all policies and procedures which will need to be reviewed before commencement of employment. All staff members are provided with regular personal development trainings and on-going support from management at Mynd and Me. All staff members are provided with all risk management strategies, policies and the complaints and feedback process. Risk assessments are provided in paper form to complete on shift and is available via employer work platform.

·       All staff members are provided with the contact details of persons, organisations and management to outline external reporting and information sharing. This is to be discussed with management, persons, children involved before external reporting. All employees will receive a code of conduct on work platform, paper and via email.

Paid or unpaid staff will need to understand the policies and procedures, code of conduct and Employee Handbook to ensure they are aware of childrens’ rights and our responsibilities to keep them safe.

Definitions below:

-            Child or children is any young person that is under the age of 17 years old

-            Child harm or abuse is defined as any act—or failure to act—by a parent, caregiver, or person in a position of trust that results in actual or potential harm to a child’s health, survival, development, or dignity. "Abuse" refers to the actions, while "harm" is the detrimental impact on the child. There are 5 primary categories outlined blow:

1.       Physical harm or abuse

2.       Sexual harm or abuse

3.       Emotional or Psychological Abuse

4.       Child Neglect

5.       Exposure to family violence

-            Mandatory Reporting is the legal obligation for designated professionals to report known or suspected cases of abuse, neglect, or harm to relevant authorities.

-            Cultural safety is an environment that is spiritually, socially, and emotionally safe for people, where their identity and lived experiences are respected and never challenged. It goes beyond basic cultural awareness by actively addressing power imbalances, eliminating discrimination, and fostering environments where individuals feel empowered and valued.

Mynd an Me references and links externally to The United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child, Relevant commonwealth (state or territory) such as legislative requirements for working with children checks and mandatory reporting. Relevant policies or standards such as the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations and National Standards for out-of-home care. Relevant local government policies and regulations that directly affect child and/or young persons.

Mynd and Me references and links to internal policies and procedures such as The Code of Conduct, Feedback and Complaints procedures, risk management strategy and process, policies and procedures on information sharing and external reporting.

This policy came into affect Tuesday the 19th of May 2026, staff members including volunteers or any unpaid staff member can get more information and assistance by contacting the Founder of Mynd and Me – Amy Dillon. This policy is be reviewed in 12 months from the date of commencement with regular discussions at quarterly staff meetings to review and regularly update policies and procedures affecting children and/or young persons.

Child Safety and Wellbeing Code of Conduct

At Mynd and Me we are committed to ensuring that children are safe, know and understand the wellbeing of children and create a space where children can feel empowered, we hold this as our highest priority. This Code of Conduct applies to all staff members including management, volunteers (paid and/or unpaid workers) and employees of Mynd and Me.

Acceptable Behaviours include but are limited to:

-           Respect and inclusion : Treat all children with respect, equity and dignity regardless of their background, culture or abilities.

-           Participation: Listen to children, encourage them to voice their concerns, and involve them in decisions that affect them.

-           Transparency: Keep interactions open and visible to others whenever possible.

-           Professional Boundaries: Maintain appropriate personal and professional boundaries in all relationships.

Unacceptable Behaviours include but are not limited to:

-           Abuse and Harm: Do not engage in any activity that physically, emotionally, or sexually harms a child

-           Inappropriate Language: Do not use shaming, humiliating, profane, discriminatory, or threatening language.

-           Isolation: Avoid being alone and unsupervised with a child unnecessarily.

-           Boundary Violations: Do not engage in grooming behaviours, give excessive gifts, or discuss inappropriate/personal lifestyle details

-           Emotional Invalidation : Avoid dismissing child/or young persons emotions and causing potential shutdown

Recording and Accountability of each staff members are to understand and implement report any suspicions, disclosures, or breaches of the code to designated Child Protection Officers or leadership.

Consequences of not reporting can include: A Worker who breaches this Code may be subject to investigation for misconduct or corrupt conduct which could result in disciplinary action, police involvement and termination of employment.