Child Safe Policy 

Invoke Support Services – Child Safe Policy

Purpose

All children at Invoke Support Services have a right to feel safe, protected and included.

This policy is part of our organisation’s ongoing commitment to protecting the children in our care from harm and abuse. It:

• Outlines the child safe practices our organisation has put in place to minimise the risks to child safety

• Sets out what is required from staff, including volunteers and others who interact with our organisation, so they know what is expected from them to keep children safe

Our Commitment to Child Safety

At Invoke Support Services, we commit to the safety and wellbeing of every child in our care. Please read our Statement of Commitment to Child Safety, which is available on our website at www.invokesupport.net and is displayed in all our service delivery offices and family-friendly spaces.

Our organisation ensures services and activities are inclusive of all children, including those with diverse needs and backgrounds.

Scope and Audience for This Policy

This policy applies to all staff, volunteers, contractors, and anyone involved with Invoke Support Services in any activity, service, or event involving children and young people.

Responsibilities for Children’s Safety

Everyone in our organisation is expected to carry out the requirements specific to their role to keep children safe. This includes:

• Upholding Invoke Support Services’ commitment to child safety

• Reading, signing and following the Child Safe Code of Conduct

• Meeting requirements under all child safe policies and procedures, including child safe recruitment and risk management

• Participating in regular reviews of our child safe documents

• Reporting all breaches of policy or any allegations of child harm or abuse, and fulfilling external reporting obligations

• Completing mandatory child safe training

Please contact our Child Safety Officer at admin@invokesupports.com with any child-safety related questions or concerns.

Active Participation of Children, Families, and Communities

At Invoke Support Services:

• All child-related policies are accessible via our website and in hard copy at all service locations

• Children, parents, and carers are invited to provide feedback on key documents including our Child Safe Code of Conduct and Child Safe Risk Management Plan

• We actively seek children’s input on what makes them feel safe, supported and included, and ensure their voices are represented in our policy reviews

Definitions of Harm and Abuse

Psychological Abuse: Includes bullying, name-calling, isolation, exposure to domestic violence
Physical Abuse: Includes hitting, slapping, shaking, and any physical harm
Sexual Abuse: Includes inappropriate touching, grooming, or sharing child abuse material
Grooming: Building trust to exploit a child sexually
Misconduct: Inappropriate behaviour that breaches the Code of Conduct
Lack of Care: Failure to provide food, shelter, supervision, or medical care

(Invoke Support Services also adheres to definitions under the Reportable Conduct Scheme as per the Children’s Guardian Act 2019.)

What the Policy Covers

This policy applies to all child-related interactions, including:

• Transporting children: Always two adults if possible; otherwise, child must sit in back seat

• Online and social media communication: No private messaging with children; always include parent or carer

• Photography: Only with parent/carer permission; no personal device usage by staff

• Physical contact: Kept to minimum; maintain professional boundaries

• Gifts and benefits: Not permitted without prior approval

• Secondary employment: Must be declared; any private babysitting must be documented

• Out-of-hours contact: Must be reported and justified

• Illness and injury management: Report to first aid officer; care must be visible and documented

Reporting Requirements

Please refer to our Child Safe Reporting Policy, available at

www.invokesupports.com, for detailed procedures relating to complaints, incidents, or concerns.

If you suspect a child is at risk, it is mandatory to report in line with NSW legislation and our organisational protocols.

Other Related Child Safe Documents

Invoke Support Services has developed the following documents to support our child safe framework:

• Statement of Commitment to Child Safety

• Child Safe Code of Conduct

• Child Safe Recruitment, Induction, and Training Policy

• Child Safe Risk Management Plan

All documents can be accessed via  www.invokesupport.net or requested via email.

Publication, Communication and Engagement

We regularly promote this policy and all child safety documents via:

• Our website and service centre noticeboards

• Community and client newsletters

• Staff and volunteer induction and ongoing training

• Parent and carer communication channels

We welcome feedback from children, families, staff and volunteers to ensure continuous improvement.

Related Legislation and Standards

Invoke Support Services is committed to complying with the following:

• NSW Child Safe Scheme

• Children’s Guardian Act 2019

• Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012

• Child Protection (Working with Children) Regulation 2013

• Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998

Next Review Date

Next scheduled review: June 2026
Responsible party: Child Safety Officer, Invoke Support Services
(Note: This policy will be reviewed earlier in the event of a critical incident.)

This policy was adapted using the template provided by the NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian.
For more child safe resources, visit ocg.nsw.gov.au/our-resources