Child Safety And
Well-Being At OCTEC

For Children and Young People

Here are our top 5 things you need to know:

1. OCTEC is committed to your safety and well-being and we show that in the way we deliver our programs.
2. We’ll provide you with plain English information about what we do and how we do it.
3. We’ll give you opportunities to have a say in the decisions that affect you.
4. We’ll tell you how to make a complaint if you’re not happy with our services.
5. We have a responsibility to report any suspected child abuse and neglect.

In terms of complaints you have a few options:

• Talk to the OCTEC consultant/staff member who works with you.
• If you don’t want to do that, e.g. because they’re the one you want to complain about, talk to any other OCTEC staff member in the office.
• If you don’t feel comfortable talking to anyone, send us an email – complaints@octec.org.au.
• Or you can ask for a complaint form and fill it out.

Any of the above will get things started. Our priority is to get any situation sorted ASAP so that you can continue with the program and get the most out of it as you possibly can.

For Parents and Guardians

Here are our top 5 things you need to know:

1. OCTEC is committed to the safety and well-being of your child/teenager and we show that in the way we deliver our programs.
2. We’ll provide you and your child/teenager with plain English information about what we do and how we do it.
3. We’ll give your child/teenager opportunities to have a say in the decisions that affect them.
4. We’ll tell you and your child/teenager how to make a complaint if you’re not happy with our services.
5. We have a responsibility to report any suspected child abuse and neglect.

In terms of complaints you have a few options:

• Talk to the OCTEC consultant/staff member who works with you.
• If you don’t want to do that, e.g. because they’re the one you want to complain about, talk to any other OCTEC staff member in the office.
• If you don’t feel comfortable talking to anyone, send us an email – complaints@octec.org.au.
• Or you can ask for a complaint form and fill it out.

Any of the above will get things started. Our priority is to get any situation sorted ASAP so that you can continue with the program and get the most out of it as you possibly can.

For Those Wanting More Information

Why Child Safety and Well-being is important to OCTEC

Some of OCTEC’s customers and clients are children/teenagers and are potentially more vulnerable to abuse, exploitation or neglect as a result. We have a responsibility to protect those in our care from sexual, physical and emotional abuse and neglect.

As an employer of trainers, consultants and other staff who work with children/teenagers, OCTEC has a responsibility to ensure that people with a record of child-related offences are not employed, or do not continue to be employed when discovered; and to provide information to relevant staff about suspected child abuse reporting procedures.

Our Commitment to You

The OCTEC Board and the staff of OCTEC are committed to the protection, safety and wellbeing of the children and young people who participate in our programs. This commitment is demonstrated by creating a culture, adopting strategies and taking action to promote child wellbeing and prevent harm to children and young people.

As a child-safe organisation, OCTEC actively works to:

• Create an environment where children’s safety and well-being is the centre of thought, values and actions.
• Emphasise genuine engagement with children and young people.
• Create conditions that reduce the likelihood of harm to children and young people.
• Respond to any concerns, disclosures, allegations or suspicions of harm.

What Our Commitment Means in Practice

Information

OCTEC believes that one of the foundations of child safety and wellbeing is accessible information about what services you will receive from us, how to get involved in decisions that impact on you, how to make suggestions to improve what we do, and how to make a complaint if you’re not happy with the services you receive.

OCTEC believes that Information empowers people, but to have the full effect, information has to be accessible. That means it has to be easy to find and it has to be written in plain English, not filled with industry jargon. Participants in each of OCTEC’s programs receive accessible information that is specific to that program. And if anything is not clear, please ask. We want you to get the most out of the programs we deliver and to feel safe and cared for when doing so.

Decision Making

One of the benefits of being armed with information, is that you’re in a better place to have a say in the decisions that impact on you. As a participant in an OCTEC program, you will be given opportunities to participate in decision-making, whether that’s about the activities you do, the type of training you undertake, or the jobs you apply for. We have a role in providing options and recommending directions, but you also have a part to play by telling us about your goals and preferences.

Making Suggestions for Improvement and Complaint

At OCTEC, we’re committed to quality service provision, but we acknowledge we’re not perfect. There will always be ways to do things better and occasionally our service provision may fall short of the high standards we set ourselves. Suggestions and complaints are a normal part of doing business, and we welcome them. Opportunities for making suggestions include regular informal requests for input and feedback, participant satisfaction surveys during or after programs, and focus group discussions. You can also ask for one of our Help Us Do It Better forms which are prominently displayed at all our sites. In terms of complaints, check out the options in the For Children and Young People and For Parents and Guardians boxes.

Reporting

In the course of delivering our programs, OCTEC staff may come to suspect that one of our program participants is suffering abuse or neglect. Or we might hear that someone close to one of our program participants is in that situation. If we believe that a child is in immediate danger or in a life-threatening situation, we will contact the Police immediately on 000. Otherwise, we will follow our responsibilities for voluntary and mandatory reporting, and report our concerns to the relevant state or territory government body.

Where to Go for More Information

• Australian Human Rights Commission – National Principles for Child Safe Organisations
• Child Safe Organisations – Tools, Resources, Learning Hub and Support
• Australian Institute of Family Studies – Australian child protection legislation
• NSW Health website – About child protection and well-being
• NSW Communities & Justice website – Legislation covering child protection and child well-being services in NSW
• NSW Communities & Justice website – Reporting a child at risk
• Victoria Health and Human Services – Child Safe Standards
• Victoria Health and Human Services – Families & Children, Child Protection, Reporting child abuse
• Queensland Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women – Protecting children
• ACT Community Services – Child and Youth Protection Services