Every child who comes into contact with CONVI has the right to feel safe, to be treated with dignity and respect, and to have their concerns taken seriously. CONVI recognises that children with disability are at heightened risk of abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
1. The 11 Victorian Child Safe Standards
Standard 1
A culturally safe environment for Aboriginal children and young people
Standard 2
Child safety embedded in organisational leadership, governance, and culture
Standard 3
Children and young people are empowered about their rights and participate in decisions
Standard 4
Families and communities are informed and involved in promoting child safety
Standard 5
Equity is upheld and diverse needs are taken into account
Standard 6
People working with children are suitable and supported to reflect child safety values
Standard 7
Processes for complaints and concerns are child-focused
Standard 8
Staff and volunteers are equipped with knowledge and skills to keep children safe
Standard 9
Physical and online environments minimise the opportunity for abuse or harm
Standard 10
Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is regularly reviewed and improved
Standard 11
Policies and procedures document how the organisation is safe for children
2. Screening Requirements
Working with Children Check (WWCC)
Every CONVI staff member, contractor, or volunteer who has direct contact with a child participant must hold a current Working with Children Check (employee card) issued by the Victorian Department of Justice. The WWCC must be current at all times, verified before any worker begins direct contact, and renewed before expiry. CONVI provides 30-day and 7-day advance alerts.
Delivering any support to a child participant without a current WWCC is a serious breach of this policy and Victorian law. There are no exceptions.
NDIS Worker Screening Check
All CONVI workers must also hold a current NDIS Worker Screening Check — a separate requirement from the WWCC that must be maintained concurrently.
3. Code of Conduct for Working with Children
All CONVI workers interacting with children must:
- Treat every child with dignity, respect, and sensitivity to their individual needs
- Communicate with children in age-appropriate language
- Maintain clear professional boundaries at all times
- Avoid physical contact that is not necessary, consented, or culturally appropriate
- Never be alone with a child in a closed, private environment without a parent, carer, or second worker present (where practicable)
- Never share personal contact details with a child participant
- Never communicate privately with a child via social media or personal messaging apps
- Never photograph or film a child without explicit written consent
- Report immediately any behaviour by another worker that raises child safety concerns
4. Recognising & Responding to Child Safety Concerns
Signs of Abuse or Neglect
- Unexplained physical injuries or marks
- Significant changes in behaviour or emotional state
- Expressions of fear, withdrawal, or distress in relation to a specific person or environment
- Disclosures — direct or indirect — of abuse or harm
- Neglect of basic needs (hygiene, nutrition, clothing)
If a Child Discloses Abuse
- Listen calmly and without interrupting
- Acknowledge what the child has shared without making promises you cannot keep
- Do not investigate further, seek detailed information, or express disbelief
- Notify the Director immediately (same day)
- Document what was said, in the child's words, as accurately as possible
- If there is immediate danger, call 000
Never promise a child that you will keep what they have told you a secret. A child disclosing abuse requires that the information be shared with appropriate people.
5. Mandatory Reporting Obligation
Under the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 (Vic), workers providing health, disability, or education services to children are mandatory reporters. If a worker forms a reasonable belief that a child has suffered or is at risk of suffering child abuse, they must report to:
Child Protection — Department of Families, Fairness and Housing
Phone: 131 278 (business hours) | 13 12 78 (after hours)
This obligation is personal. It cannot be delegated. A worker is not required to tell their employer before making a report, though they should notify the Director as soon as practicable.
6. Family & Carer Involvement
CONVI actively involves parents, carers, and nominees in decisions about how supports are delivered. Families receive clear information about what workers will do in sessions, how to raise a concern or make a complaint, their child's rights, and CONVI's communication standards.
7. Safe Physical & Online Environments
- Sessions with children are scheduled with parental/carer awareness of location, duration, and worker
- Support workers do not transport children without explicit written consent
- CONVI does not use informal communication channels with child participants or their families
- Any change to a child's scheduled arrangement is communicated to the family before it occurs
POL-06 | v1.0 | May 2026 | Convi Pty Ltd (ACN 677 127 703) as Trustee for Attard Family Australia Trust | ABN 60 342 025 267