Child Safety in Maribyrnong

Maribyrnong City Council is a child safe organisation committed to child safety and supporting the best interests of children in all its operations. The Council actively promotes the safety, participation and empowerment of all children, with a zero tolerance to child abuse. The Council acknowledges that every child has the right to feel and be safe, especially our most vulnerable.

The Child Safe Standards are a set of 11 standards that aim to create and maintain child safe environments and prevent the sexual, physical, emotional, and psychological abuse, as well as serious neglect, of children under the age of 18 years.

They were introduced in response to recommendations from the Victorian Parliament's Betrayal of Trust inquiry as a response to the wide-ranging abuse and neglect of children by powerful organisations like the Catholic Church, to ensure such atrocities could never happen again.

Our commitment

Council has established the Statement of Commitment to Child Safety, which outlines our commitment to ensuring the safety of children and young people.

The Statement states:

Maribyrnong City Council is a child safe organisation committed to child safety and supporting the best interests of children in all its operations.

Council actively promotes the safety, participation and empowerment of all children, with zero tolerance to child abuse. Council acknowledges that every child has the right to feel and be safe.

As part of our commitment to child safety we will:

Prevent the abuse of children and young people in our care, by identifying risks early and removing and reducing these risks
Take all allegations and concerns about abuse very seriously and respond to them consistently, in line with our policies and procedures
Comply with all legal requirements, including reporting suspicions of abuse to police and/or child protection

We actively work to hear and empower all children, young people and their families, that are involved with our organisation, through regular consultation and participation processes.

We celebrate diversity across our organisation and want the equal participation and cultural, emotional and physical safety of all children and young people in Maribyrnong.

Maribyrnong City Council is responsible for the care and protection of young people who participate in our organisation and for reporting information about abuse, and we take this responsibility seriously

Reporting abuse

If a child or young person is in immediate danger call 000 and ask for the police.

To report concerns about:

Conduct of a Maribyrnong City Council staff member, contractor, volunteer or work experience student towards a child, email childsafety@maribyrnong.vic.gov.au
Child safety concerns or incidents observed in the community can be made by contacting the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing.

What happens next?

Reports regarding Maribyrnong City Council’s conduct are thoroughly reviewed, with relevant matters referred to the Commission for Children and Young People as required under the Victorian Reportable Conduct Scheme.

Support services and resources

Many services are available to support survivors of abuse, as well as concerned family members, friends, and the community.

Lifeline (24 hours)

Lifeline is a suicide prevention service, providing all Australians experiencing a personal crisis with access to 24-hour crisis support.

Open 24 hours

Website: lifeline.org.au
Phone: 131 114

Kids Helpline

Kids Helpline is a free, confidential and private counselling service specifically for children and young people aged 5 to 25 years. You can speak to them over the phone, via email, or even on-line live chat.

Open 24 hours

Website: kidshelpline.com.au
Phone: 1800 551 800

Commission for Children and Young People

The commission promotes improvement in policies and practices affecting the safety and wellbeing of Victorian children and young people. We have a particular focus on vulnerable children and young people.

Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

Website: ccyp.vic.gov.au
Phone: 03 8601 5884

National Redress Scheme

The National Redress Scheme provides support to people who experienced institutional child sexual abuse.

Website: nationalredress.gov.au
Phone: 1800 737 377

SAMSN (Survivors and Mates Support Network)

Support for male survivors of child sexual abuse

Website: samsn.org.au
Phone: 1800 472 676

Blue Knot Foundation

The Blue Knot Foundation empowers recovery and builds resilience for adults impacted by complex trauma.

Website: Blue Knot Foundation

Phone: 1300 657 380 (9am-5pm, Monday-Sunday)

Knowmore Knowmore provides free legal advice and support to survivors of child sexual abuse.

This includes people who have experienced child sexual abuse in non-institutional settings, and people who were sexually abused in an institution or any organisation that was involved with children. Knowmore also works with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people including Stolen Generation survivors, and with young people who are leaving care.
Knowmore’s services include legal advice and assistance, support services, financial counselling, and culturally safe supports for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Website: knowmore

Phone: 1800 605 762 (9am-5pm, Monday-Friday)

QLife

QLife provides Australia-wide anonymous, LGBTI peer support and referral for people wanting to talk about a range of issues including sexuality, identity, gender, bodies, feelings or relationships.

Website: QLife

Phone: 1800 184 527 (3pm-midnight everyday). Web chat available.

13YARN

13YARN provides crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.

Website: 13YARN

Phone: 13 92 76 (24/7)