Child Safety Code of Conduct - Have your say

The Screen Producers Association and MEAA Equity are in discussions to develop a Child Safety Code of Conduct.

From January 1, 2017, under Victorian law, all people working in a workplace where there are children present (as distinct from just those working directly with children) will need to comply with a Child Safety Code. MEAA would like to see a Child Safety Code apply nationally. Please give us your feedback on the draft Code below and whether you agree to a national commitment. Send your comments to zoe.angus@meaa.org as soon as possible.

 DRAFT Child Safety Code of Conduct

This Code of Conduct outlines appropriate standards of behaviour by adults towards children. It aims to protect children and reduce any opportunities for abuse or harm to occur. It also helps staff by providing them with guidance on how to best support children and how to avoid or better manage difficult situations. All staff are required to comply.

All [Company] staff are responsible for promoting the safety and wellbeing of children and young people by:
•adhering to our Child Safe Code of Conduct
•taking all reasonable steps to protect children from abuse
•treating everyone with respect, including listening to and valuing their ideas and opinions
•welcoming all children and their families and carers and being inclusive
•respecting cultural, religious and political differences and acting in a culturally sensitive way
•modelling appropriate adult behaviour and setting clear boundaries about appropriate behaviour between you and any child
•listening to children and responding to them, and their views and concerns, appropriately
•reporting and acting quickly, fairly and transparently to any breaches of this Code of Conduct, or to any complaints or concerns made or raised by the children or regarding the children
•complying with our guidelines on physical contact with children
•working with children in an open and transparent way – other adults should always know about the work you are doing with children
•respecting the privacy of children and their families, and only disclosing information to people who have a need to know.
[Company] staff must NOT:
•seek to use children in any way to meet the needs of adults
•ignore of disregard any concerns, suspicions or disclosures of child abuse
•use prejudice, oppressive behaviour or language with children
•subject children to any form of corporal punishment, social isolation, immobilisation, sexual suggestion, offence or misconduct
•engage in rough physical games
•communicate with children in ways that are likely to humiliate, frighten or distress them
•discriminate on the basis of age, gender, race, culture, vulnerability or sexuality
•initiate unnecessary physical contact with children or do things of a personal nature that children can do for themselves, such as toileting or changing clothes
•develop ‘special’ relationships with specific children or show favouritism through the provision of gifts or inappropriate attention
•exchange personal contact details such as phone number, social networking site or email addresses with children
•have unauthorised contact with children and young people online or by phone.
I have read this Code of Conduct and agree to abide by it at all times.