1

STUDENT PROTECTION POLICY

Villanova College is committed to providing a caring educational environment where each Villanova student is safe.

Every human being is created in the image of God and has inherent dignity. Personal Integrity is both a right and a

responsibility. Respect in relationships is essential to Christian community.

Policy

Villanova College is committed to fostering a safe and caring environment within which Villanova students

experience a proper sense of their own dignity and the dignity of others; safety in relationships; as well as security

and support in addressing any situation in which they are at risk of or suffer inappropriate behaviour, harm, sexual

abuse or likely sexual abuse.

Principles

All staff members and adult volunteers of Villanova College have a responsibility to care for each Villanova

student, to promote his welfare and to protect him from any kind of inappropriate behaviour, harm or sexual

abuse.

Each Villanova student has a right to safety in relationships as part of his total education and therefore

should be protected against inappropriate behaviour, harm, sexual abuse or likely sexual abuse caused by

school staff, volunteers, other Villanova students and other persons within and beyond the immediate school

community.

All persons involved in situations where inappropriate behaviour, harm, sexual abuse or likely sexual abuse

to a Villanova student is suspected or disclosed, must be treated with sensitivity, dignity and respect (as far

as possible, subject to legislative and other legal requirements).

Implications:

The College is committed to the prevention of inappropriate behaviour, harm, sexual abuse or likely sexual abuse

by:

Developing strategies which will fulfil the letter and the spirit of the Working with Children (Risk

Management and Screening) Act 2000 and the Child Protection Act 1999

Abiding by the relevant provisions in the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006

Abiding by the precepts and directions found in Towards Healing 2010

Endorsement: Approved by College Board - 22 October, 2003

Approved by College Board - 17 September, 2014

Policy Reviews: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 (September), 2013 (January), 2014 (September), 2015

(September), 2017 (February)

Next Review: 2017

STUDENT PROTECTION PROCEDURES

Implementation

1. Villanova students should experience a sense of safety and feel able to disclose, to an appropriate adult, any

instance of inappropriate behaviour, harm, sexual abuse or likely sexual abuse in accordance with the

student reporting process outlined below.

2. Where a Villanova College staff member has reasonable grounds for suspecting that a Villanova student has

suffered inappropriate behaviour, harm, sexual abuse or likely sexual abuse or is at risk of same, the College

staff member will act to report the matter in accordance with staff reporting processes outlined below.

3. Appropriate pastoral care will be offered to all persons involved in situations where inappropriate behaviour,

harm, sexual abuse or likely sexual abuse is suspected by a staff member or disclosed to a staff member.

4. Villanova College will take the staff training steps outlined below to ensure that staff members and

volunteers have a clear sense of their responsibilities in this area, and of the procedures to be followed if

they become aware of or suspect inappropriate behaviour, harm, sexual abuse or likely sexual abuse to

Villanova students in accordance with the staff reporting processes outlined below.

5. Villanova College will take student/parent training steps outlined below to ensure that Villanova students

and their parents/guardians are made aware of the policies and procedures that operate at Villanova College

with respect to student protection matters.

6. Should an allegation be made against a member of staff, a volunteer, or any other person the rights of that

person will be respected (as far as is possible, subject to legislative and other legal requirements), even

where prudence demands that precautionary measures have to be taken in the interests of Villanova students.

7. Villanova College will cooperate with and give appropriate support to the Queensland Police Service and

the Department of Child Safety where they carry out their responsibilities to protect Villanova students from

inappropriate behaviour, harm, sexual abuse or likely sexual abuse.

Definitions

"Harm" is defined in section 9 of the Child Protection Act 1999 (the ‘CPA’) as:

1. Harm, to a child, is any detrimental effect of a significant nature on the child’s physical, psychological or

emotional wellbeing.

2. It is immaterial how the harm is caused.

3. Harm can be caused by-

a. Physical, psychological or emotional abuse or neglect; or

b. Sexual abuse or exploitation.

4. Harm can be caused by-

a. A single act, omission or circumstance; or

b. A series or combination of acts, omissions or circumstances.

Abuse may be physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse or neglect. Abuse can be defined as an action such as:

hitting; punching; fondling; and exposure to domestic violence or scapegoating; or it can be inaction such as the

failure to provide medical care; or failure to provide appropriate stimulation.

Harm means damage or injury caused by abuse to a child’s body, to a child’s emotional state or to a child’s

psychological state. Harm is the effect or impact on the child of the abuse.

"Inappropriate Behaviour" is any behaviour by a staff member or adult volunteer or any other person that a

Villanova student considers inappropriate.

"Sexual Abuse" is defined under the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 s 364 and includes sexual behaviour

involving the relevant person and another person in the following circumstances-

a. The other person bribes, coerces, exploits, threatens or is violent toward the relevant person;

b. The relevant person has less power than the other person;

c. There is a significant disparity between the relevant person and the other person in intellectual capacity or

maturity.

Sexual abuse can take many forms, from sexual jokes, innuendo and conversation, inappropriate unethical use of

internet, e.g. pedophile networks and procuring a child or youth over the internet, and showing pornographic

materials to a child or youth, to sexual touching and invasive sexual acts. It includes exposure, fondling, voyeurism

and exhibitionism as well as sexual intercourse, incest and child prostitution.

It takes place between a child, youth or a person with a disability and a person who is older, or has power, authority

or control over the child or youth. This authority allows the older person to use force, trickery, emotional bribery or

blackmail or other emotional pressure. It could also involve secrecy, misuse of power and distortion of adult-child

relationships.

A child 16 years and under cannot legally consent to sexual acts and such activity is a criminal offence even if the

child has, or appears to have, consented. Young people over sixteen can be subject to sexual abuse in a situation of

power and improper use of authority, and forced consent is not an excuse in these cases either. This policy therefore

applies to protect a person over the age of 18 if that person is a student as defined in this paragraph.

"Student" is any child or other person enrolled at Villanova College.

References

Towards Healing, 2010 - Australian Catholic Bishops Conference & Australian Conference of Leaders of Religious

Institutes’

Towards Healing outlines principles and procedures for responding to complaints of sexual abuse made against

personnel of the Catholic Church in Australia. The National Committee for Professional Standards, which was

established by the Australian Bishops’ conference and the Australian Conference of Leaders of Religious Institutes,

produced the document. A Professional Standards Resource Group exists in each State to ensure that investigations

proceed for any allegation reported to it.

Education (Accreditation of Non-State Schools) Act (Qld) 2001

Education (General Provisions) Act (Qld) 2006

Education (Queensland College of Teachers) Act (Qld) 2005

Working with Children (Risk Management and Screening) Act 2000

Child Protection Act 1999 (Qld)

Student Protection Policy 2011, Catholic Education Council, Archdiocese of Brisbane

Non-compliance procedure

Under the Education (Accreditation of Non-State Schools) Regulation 2001 (Regulation 10(7)), Villanova College

has a written complaints procedure to address allegations of non-compliance with student protection processes.

Information about the Disputes and Complaints against Members of the Villanova College Community Policy is

available from the College.

STUDENT REPORTING PROCESS

1. If a Villanova College student has been sexually abused or been subjected to harm or inappropriate behaviour by

a staff member or adult volunteer of Villanova College, or by another Villanova student or by anyone else, then

that Villanova student should tell one of the College's Student Protection Officers (see below) or any other staff

member.

STUDENT PROTECTION OFFICERS

Mr Mark Stower-Principal

Mr Steven Bremner- Deputy Principal

Mr Matthew Levander - Head of Senior School

Mr Greg O’Neill-Head of Middle School

Mr Stephen Rouhliadeff-Head of Junior School

Mr Tass Sakellariou- College Psychologist

Mr Adrian Hellwig- College Counsellor

Mrs Julianne Shaw - Teacher

2. The Student Protection Officer or staff member must act immediately in accordance with this policy.

STAFF TRAINING STEPS

1. The Principal (or his delegate) shall annually: -

1.1. Ensure that a copy of this Policy is provided to each staff member and each adult volunteer of Villanova

College and that their attention is drawn to reporting requirements

1.2. Post a copy of the policy on the staff intranet.

1.3. Provide to each staff member and each adult volunteer of Villanova College information about the signs and

indicators of sexual abuse.

VILLANOVA COLLEGE PARENT/STUDENT TRAINING STEPS

2. The Principal (or his delegate) shall: -

2.1. devise documents that outline this policy in language adapted to: -

2.1.1. parents (Parent Policy Outline); and

2.1.2. students (Student Policy Outline).

2.2. send a copy of the Parent Policy Outline home with a school newsletter in each year and draw the attention of

parents to reporting processes, including the names of the College Student Protection Officers and their

contact details.

2.3. post a copy of the Student Policy Outline on the student intranet and draw the attention of Villanova

students to the reporting processes, including the names of the College Student Protection Officers and

their contact details.

2.4. publish a copy of the Student Policy Outline in the student diary and draw the attention of Villanova

students to the reporting processes, including the names of the College Student Protection Officers and

their contact details.

2.5. ensure that in each year new students and their families receive a copy of the Parent Policy Outline and the

Student Policy Outline before commencing as Villanova students and draw the attention of Villanova

students to the reporting processes, including the names of the College Student Protection Officers and

their contact details

2.6. provide to parents information about the signs and indicators of sexual abuse.

2.7. post a full copy of this policy on the College website in a section accessible to parents and Villanova

students.

STUDENT PROTECTION REPORT TO QUEENSLAND POLICE SERVICE

AND/OR DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITIES, CHILD SAFETY AND DISABILITY SERVICES

TYPE OF REPORT

Mandatory Report of Sexual Abuse/Likely Sexual Abuse to the Queensland Police Service

Mandatory Report of a Reportable Suspicion to the Department of Child Safety (Sexual Abuse /Physical

Abuse)

Report of a reasonable suspicion that a child may be in need of protection caused by emotional abuse or

neglect to the Department of Child Safety

Report of significant physical harm/risk of significant harm of a student by another student to Queensland

Police Service

THE QLD CHILD PROTECTION GUIDE WAS USED TO SUPPORT THE DECISION TO SUBMIT THIS

REPORT

Yes No

PART A: FIRST PERSON REPORT (RECORD OF CONCERN)

SCHOOL DETAILS

School Name:

School Address: School Suburb:

School Telephone:

Name of Principal:

DETAILS OF THE SUBJECT CHILD

Please note: If you have more than one subject child (who is not a sibling), a separate student protection report will

have to be completed.

Legal Name: First Name: Surname:

Preferred Name:

Date of Birth: Year Level:

Indigenous Status:

Main Language: Interpreter Required (y/n):

Disability (y/n): Disability Details:

Verified (y/n):

Residential Address(es):

Current Location of the Child:

Are there additional subject children in relation to this matter?

Please note: If you have more than one subject child (who is not a sibling), a separate student protection report will

have to be completed. If the additional subject children are siblings, indicate below.

Yes No

PARENT/GUARDIAN/CARER OF THE CHILD

Legal Name: Preferred Name:

Gender: Date of Birth:

Relationship to Child:

Lives with the Affected Child (y/n):

Contact Telephone Number(s):

Residential Address (es):

Indigenous Status:

Main Language: Interpreter Required (y/n):

Disability (y/n): Disability Details:

ADDITIONAL PARENT/GUARDIAN/CARER OF THE CHILD

Legal Name: Preferred Name:

Gender: Date of Birth:

Relationship to Child:

Lives with the Affected Child (y/n):

Contact Telephone Number(s):

Residential Address(es):

Indigenous Status:

Main Language: Interpreter Required (y/n):

Disability (y/n): Disability Details:

SIBLINGS/OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS

Please type name, DOB and relationship to the subject child for each family member. Please indicate if the siblings

are also considered subject children in relation to this matter. Eg. John Smith (DOB, sibling, also a subject child)

TYPE OF ABUSE

Sexual abuse Likely sexual abuse

Physical abuse/unacceptable risk of physical abuse

Emotional abuse/unacceptable risk of emotional abuse

Neglect/unacceptable risk of neglect

AWARENESS OF CONCERN

Disclosure by student

Information from another student

Information from a relative of the student

Information from another parent at the school

Observations of a staff member

Anonymous report

Other <specify>

DESCRIPTION OF CONCERN

(Please include as much information as possible to facilitate a thorough assessment of safety/harm by QPS and

Child Safety. Include information such as - what happen, who was involved? when did it happen (approx.

date/time)? Where did it happen? )

Has the concern (or similar) occurred previously?

INJURIES TO CHILD

(Please describe any injuries if known, include information such as – location, shape, size, colour. )

Yes No Unknown

Details:

IMMEDIATE SAFETY CONCERNS:

(Please detail any concerns you may have about the subject child’s immediate safety)

Yes No Unknown

Details:

OBSERVATION OF SUBJECT CHILD’S BEHAVIOUR

(Please provide details of the subject child’s current behavioural/emotional presentation where known or relevant.

For example, please indicate whether these behaviours were present prior to the disclosure or observed post

disclosure)

SOURCE(S) OF CONCERN

(Details of person believed to have caused the harm)

Legal Name: Preferred Name:

Gender: Date of Birth:

Contact Telephone Number(s):

SOURCE OF CONCERN BY CATEGORY

Staff member, other employee or volunteer

Parent, carer, family member or other person in the community

Other student enrolled at the school

Self-harm

Is the source of concern a parent: Yes No Unknown

Relationship:

Does this parent have current access to the subject child: Yes No Unknown

FIRST PERSON REPORT (RECORD OF CONCERN) COMPLETED BY

Name: Position:

Contact Telephone Number(s):

Other contact information:

PART B: ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (COMPLETED BY THE PRINCIPAL)

INFORMATION FOR THE SUBJECT CHILD

Family Court Orders: Yes No Unknown

Details:

Child Protection Orders: Yes No Unknown

Details:

Departmental Out of Home Care: Yes No Unknown

Details:

Departmental Intervention: Yes No Unknown

Details:

Previous Student Protection Reports: Yes No Unknown

Details:

RISK FACTORS

(Please provide details of any known risk factors. This includes issues that may impact of the child’s vulnerability –

medical issues, challenging behaviours, social issues and any issues that may impact on the parent’s ability and

willingness to protect the child – substance misuse, domestic violence, mental illness)

Child Risk Factors: Yes No Unknown

Details:

Parent(s) Risk Factors: Yes No Unknown

Details:

PROTECTIVE FACTORS

(Please provide details of any known protective factors such as - any actions parent/s have taken to address the

concerns, involvement of support agencies, family support network)

Yes No Unknown

Details:

OTHER ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (to be completed if the principal has knowledge of any other

relevant information not included above, for example – previous discussion with parents, support offered by the

school and any actions taken by school staff)

PERSON(S) WITH MORE INFORMATION

Name: Position:

Contact Telephone Number(s):

Other contact information:

REPORT SUBMITTED BY (PRINCIPAL’S DETAILS)

Name: Position:

Date: Time:

Contact Telephone Number(s):

Email:

School:

Suburb:

REPORT SUBMITTED VIA PRINCIPAL’S EMAIL TO:

QPS – CPIU

DCCSDS – RIS TEAM

REQUEST BY SCHOOL FOR OUTCOME ADVICE

Villanova College requests that the outcome of the State Authority’s (QPS/Child Safety) assessment of the

reported concerns be communicated to the Principal.

Note to Principals:

1) Please save a copy of this form before submitting

2) All SP reports to QPS/ DCCSDS must be submitted by the Principal (the principal’s signature is not required

as emailing of the report fulfils the principal’s legislative obligations)

3) The Principal must inform the First Person /author of the Record of Concern that the Report has been made.

13

The Education (Accreditation of Non-State Schools) Regulation 2001 Section 10

PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL

Staff Reporting Form

Alleged or suspected INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVOUR towards a

student by a staff member, volunteer or other employee

For an allegation or reasonable suspicion of inappropriate behaviour by a staff member,

volunteer or other employee towards a student

(OTHER THAN SEXUAL ABUSE, HARM OR LIKELY HARM)

To be completed by the staff member who first becomes aware of the allegation or reasonably

suspects the inappropriate behaviour

Please complete the details below and hand to the principal or other Student Protection Contact at the

school. If the allegation is about the Principal, please hand to the Chair of College Council or

Provincial- Augustinian Order of Australia.

School Name:

Principal/Acting Principal Name:

Staff member making this report: Name:

Role:

Phone contact:

Employee against whom the behaviour to a

student is alleged or suspected:

Name:

Role:

Student(s) concerned:

Name:

Year level:

Summary of incident/allegation: Time:

Date:

Details:

Details of the basis for reasonably suspecting

inappropriate behaviour:

Any other relevant information including the

name of anyone else who may have information

about this allegation / reasonable suspicion:

Signature of staff member making this report:

Signature: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Date:

Time:

Name of the person to whom this form has been passed: