Independent Schools Championship (ISC) is committed to promoting and protecting the interests and safety of children. We have zero tolerance for child abuse. ISC is thereby committed to complying with the Child Safe Standards (Standards) introduced by the Queensland Government, which set out the compulsory minimum standards for organisations that provide services for children and young people (or are used by children and young people), to help protect them from harm.

Everyone working at ISC is responsible for the care and protection of children and reporting information about child abuse.

Children’s Participation

ISC supports the active participation of children in all sports, activities and services we offer.

We provide a range of ways to allow children to provide feedback or raise concerns. We listen to their views, respect what they say and involve them when we make decisions, especially about matters that will directly affect them.

Recruitment

ISC will maintain a rigorous and consistent recruitment, screening and selection process.

New staff will only be hired after an extensive interview, Working with Children Check received, appropriate qualification sought, and references check.

Complaints Management and Reporting

ISC promotes a child focused complaints system and encourages children to speak up.

ISC will not tolerate incidents of discrimination, harassment, bullying or child abuse.

Staff feel supported to raise concerns about child safety and our children feel safe to raise concerns about themselves and their friends.

All staff are responsible for reporting child safety concerns to their supervisor or ISC’s child safety officer as soon as possible after receiving such information or forming a belief that a child is at risk.

In situations where the supervisor or child safety officer is suspected of involvement in the activity, or if the person having the suspicion does not believe that the matter is being appropriately addressed or dealt with, the matter should be reported to the next highest level of supervision.

ISC’s child safety officer can be contacted by email at harry@isc-qld.com or by phone on 0491 104 577.

All complaints are to be recorded.

Other Legislation and Industry Standards

• Child Protection Act 1999 (Qld)

• Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 (Qld)

• Working with Children (Risk Management and Screening) Act 2000

• Child Safe Organisation Act 2024

Guidelines for Employees

1. Physical contact

Physical contact with a child and young person should only be to:

• Develop sport skills

• Prevent or respond to an injury in an emergency

• Prevent or respond to an injury as part of normal role, and/or

• Meet the specific requirements of the sport.

All physical contact by ISC staff with a child and young person should:

• be appropriate for the development of a sport skill

• be congratulated or comforted in public, not in an isolated setting

• not be initiated by ISC staff, except in accordance with this Policy and the above dot points

• be aware of their proximity to children and young people at all times

• follow the above dot points when demonstrating techniques related to specific activities. However, ISC staff also need to ensure they do not compromise the quality of an activity due to concern over having their actions misconstrued. At all times ISC staff should act diligently and conscientiously in their duties, including undertaking activities and demonstrating techniques to children and young people, and

• where possible, and subject to the nature of the activity and environmental conditions, work with children and young people in groups, rather than on a one on one basis.

1. Demonstrating technique and/or developing skills

Where possible, ISC staff are to demonstrate techniques and/or develop skills relating to a particular activity only in full view of other persons and not in private. The following guidelines are to be followed:

• Prior to touching a child or young person: ISC staff are to give a verbal explanation of how, where, when and why so that the child or young person and other persons can hear.

• Ask the child or young person for permission: After the verbal explanation, ISC staff are to ask the child or young person if touching for the purpose of carrying out the activity is ok. If permission is granted, the demonstration is to continue.