Child Safe Policy

1. Purpose and Scope

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that Ascent Education upholds its legal, moral, and organisational responsibilities to safeguard children and young people. This policy applies to all staff, tutors, volunteers, contractors, students, and visitors engaged with Ascent Education.

This policy is informed by:

• Children’s Guardian Act 2019 (NSW)
  
  
• Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012 (NSW)
  
  
• Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 (NSW)
  
  
• The 10 Child Safe Standards
  
  

2. Our Commitment

Ascent Education has zero tolerance for child abuse and harm. All children have a right to feel safe and be safe. We are committed to:

• Placing the best interests of children at the centre of our decisions.
  
  
• Embedding child safety in governance, leadership, and culture.
  
  
• Empowering children and their families to participate in safety decisions.
  
  

3. Roles and Responsibilities

• Directors/Management: Ensure compliance, allocate resources, and model child-safe leadership.
  
  
• Child Safety Officer: Key contact for child safety concerns.
  
  
• Tutors and Staff: Must follow the Code of Conduct, read all induction materials, and report all concerns.
  
  

4. Code of Conduct

All tutors, staff, and contractors must:

• Act respectfully towards children and families.
  
  
• Maintain professional boundaries.
  
  
• Use inclusive, child-friendly language.
  
  
• Never engage in sexual, abusive, or exploitative behaviour.
  
  
• Never be alone with a child in a private or closed setting without a parent/guardian present.
  
  
• Follow online communication guidelines (no private or unsupervised contact outside approved channels).
  
  

5. Recruitment and Screening

• All tutors and staff must hold a valid Working With Children Check (WWCC).
  
  
• Reference and identity checks are mandatory.
  
  
• Recruitment processes include behavioural questions assessing child safety awareness.
  
  
• New tutors must confirm in writing that they have read and understood Ascent Education’s child safety documents.
  

6. Induction, Information and Support

At induction, Ascent Education provides tutors with a Child Safety Induction Pack. 

This pack contains:

1. Ascent Education Child Safe Policy
   
   
2. Ascent Education Code of Conduct
   
   
3. Ascent Education Statement of Commitment to Child Safety
   
   
4. NSW DCJ Mandatory Reporter Guide (MRG) fact sheet
   
   
5. NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian Working With Children Check fact sheet
   
   
6. Ascent Education’s Internal Reporting Procedure
   
   

Tutors are required to:

• Confirm in writing that they have read and understood the above documents.
  
  
• Acknowledge their obligations under the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 (NSW), including mandatory reporting responsibilities.

Future Training
Ascent Education intends to expand this into ongoing training and refresher modules to strengthen child safety capability.

7. Reporting and Responding

• All tutors and staff are mandatory reporters under NSW law.
  
  
• Immediate risk: Contact NSW Police (000).
  
  
• Concerns of significant harm: Report to DCJ Child Protection Helpline (132 111).
  
  
• All concerns must also be reported internally to the Child Safety Officer.
  
  
• Reports must be documented and stored securely.
  
  
• Children and families involved will be supported throughout.
  
  

8. Child Safety in Tutoring Contexts

In-Home Tutoring (Private Residences)

• Parent/guardian must be present in the home during sessions.
  
  
• Tutors must not be alone with a child behind closed doors.
  
  
• No transport of students unless expressly approved by parents and Ascent Education.
  
  

Libraries / Public Locations

• Sessions must take place in open, visible areas.
  
  
• No secluded rooms unless a parent/guardian is present.
  
  

Online Tutoring (Zoom/Other Platforms)

• Parents should be encouraged to remain nearby during sessions.
  
  
• No tutoring sessions may be recorded without written parental consent.
  
  
• Tutors must dress appropriately and maintain a professional background.
  
  

9. Risk Management

• Risk assessments are conducted for in-home, library, and online tutoring.
  
  
• Controls are implemented for each environment (guardian presence, open visibility, secure platforms).
  
  

10. Empowering Children and Families

• Children are encouraged to raise concerns in safe, accessible ways.
  
  
• Families are provided clear information about child safety.
  
  

11. Record keeping and Privacy

• All records are stored securely and confidentially.
  
  
• Access is restricted to authorised staff.
  
  
• Privacy is maintained under the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (NSW).
  
  

12. Continuous Improvement

• This policy is reviewed annually.
  
  
• Staff feedback and incident analysis inform updates.
  
  
• Changes are communicated to staff, tutors, and families.
  
  

13. References

• Children’s Guardian Act 2019 (NSW)
  
  
• Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012 (NSW)
  
  
• Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 (NSW)
  
  
• NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian – Child Safe Standards

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