Child Safety
Commitment
Launceston Grammar is committed to the safety, wellbeing and protection of all students and children in our care. This commitment includes the provision of a safe and supportive learning environment for all students and requires all employees, volunteers and visitors to model and encourage exemplary behaviour that protects students from harm.
We promote a culture where children feel safe and have a voice in decisions that affect them. The School has the responsibility to ensure that every member of our community understands the responsibility they have and the important role they play to ensure the safety of all children in our care. We take a proactive and preventive role in child safety and support a climate where all people feel safe to report concerns.
The School is committed to following child safe employment procedures.
It is the responsibility of all at Launceston Grammar, from the Board, Principal and Senior Leadership Team to staff and volunteers, to understand the important responsibilities they have to:
- Protect students and children from all forms of abuse, bullying and exploitation by our people;
- Be alert to incidents of child abuse and neglect occurring outside the scope of our operations and services that may have an impact on the students and children to whom we provide a service; and
- Create and maintain a child safe culture that is understood, endorsed and put into action by all the individuals who work for, volunteer or access our programs and services.
We expect all within our organisation, regardless of their role or level of responsibility, to act to safeguard children from such harm by:
- Adopting the practices and behaviour we have set as our standard when carrying out their roles; and
- Reporting any abuse or neglect of which they become aware to our management and/or to external authorities responsible for child protection or to the Police, regardless of whether that abuse is being perpetrated by personnel within our organisation, or by those outside our organisation including those from the child’s family, extended family, their family’s extended network or strangers.
National Redress Scheme
Launceston Church Grammar School has entered the National Redress Scheme as part of our approach to providing acknowledgement and support to people who have experienced child sexual abuse. The Launceston Church Grammar School Board, on behalf of the School, apologises wholeheartedly to any alumni who have been sexually abused while in the care of the School. Child sexual abuse is an abhorrent crime.
The National Redress Scheme was created by the Australian Government in response to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. The Scheme is one available avenue for people who experienced child sexual abuse at Launceston Grammar to seek redress for harm and hurt, and to be provided with acknowledgement and support to assist them move forward in a way that is right for them. The Scheme can provide applicants with counselling, the opportunity for a direct personal response and a redress payment.
As demonstrated by our accreditation with the Australian Childhood Foundation, the School is committed to being a child-safe organisation and caring for all our students, past, present and future. We also recognise that we have a responsibility to learn from the past and to ensure the present and future safety of all students.
With effect from 27 September 2019 the Minister for Families and Social Services made a declaration formalising the inclusion of Launceston Church Grammar School in the National Redress Scheme via the Anglican Representative (National Redress Scheme) Limited (ARNRSL). This means that people who experienced abuse while in the care of Launceston Grammar can apply to the Scheme for redress using an online or paper form. Free and confidential Redress Support Services are available throughout the process to help explain the Scheme and application process. Anyone seeking further information can visit www.nationalredress.gov.au or call the National Redress Scheme line on 1800 737 377.
Please contact the Principal, Mr Dale Bennett if you would like to discuss anything relating to these matters.
