新金山中文学校校长信箱 (25/08/2023）Xin Jin Shan Chinese Language and Culture School Principal’s Message

保护儿童免遭虐待的家长须知

各位老师、同学和家长：

大家好！上次我讲了建议安全校园，介绍了儿童安全原则和标准。有家长来跟我反映说这个话题太重要了，周末学校的安全标准能跟日校一样让家长更放心把孩子送来上学。但是，也有家长说对儿童安全方面日校提供的信息不能完全解读。因此，今天特别跟大家讲一讲保护儿童免遭虐待的家长须知。

首先，什么是虐待儿童？虐待儿童可包括身体虐待、性虐待、性诱、情感或心理伤害、忽视或家庭暴力；不一定涉及身体接触或强迫（例如，儿童性虐待可包括以露骨的方式对儿童讲述性话题）；实施者可能会是任何社区成员，包括儿童的家庭成员或学校成员。与虐待儿童相关的创伤会严重影响儿童的身心健康和发展，所以我们都必须对任何形式的疑似虐待行为立即作出反应，这至关重要。

哪些迹象说明儿童遭到了虐待？儿童虐待有一系列身体和行为迹象。最重要的是，如果你注意到任何情况使你合理地认为儿童遭到了虐待或面临虐待风险，就应该采取行动。这些情况可包括（但不限于）：儿童行为的变化（例如自闭、退缩行为，或与年龄不相称的性行为）；遭虐待的身体迹象（例如无法解释的瘀伤、伤痕、营养不良的迹象）；成年人和儿童之间不适当的关系（例如不当的身体接触、无法解释的礼物或电话/电子邮件联系）。

其次，是学校的职责：学校必须如何应对疑似虐待儿童的行为？

维多利亚州学校的所有员工都有责任对任何儿童虐待事件或疑似虐待儿童的行为做出反应，具体如下：

1.对紧急情况作出反应：处理任何紧急健康和安全需求（例如采取急救或联系紧急服务部门）。

2.通知主管部门：向DFFH儿童保护处或维州警察署报告关于儿童遭到了虐待或面临虐待风险的任何合理看法。

3.适当情况下联系家长：一旦主管部门告知是安全和适当的，就联系家长。

在理想情况下，家长对于为儿童提供支持具有核心作用，但如果联系家长可能会阻碍调查或使儿童面临更大的风险，学校就会被告知不要这么做。

4.为所有受虐待影响的儿童提供持续的支持：为所有受虐待影响的儿童提供适当的支持。这很可能会包括专业人员提供的持续心理辅导。 为儿童提供的持续支持将记录在《儿童支持计划》（Student Support Plan） 中。这些行动在《发现和应对维多利亚州学校中所有形式的虐待》（Identifying and Responding to All Forms of Abuse in Victorian Schools）中有更详细的叙述。

学校的员工是否必须举报虐待儿童的行为？

是的——法律要求你孩子所在学校的所有员工报告关于儿童遭到了虐待或面临虐待风险的任何合理看法。有些情况下，学校员工不向主管部门举报虐待儿童的行为可能会构成刑事犯罪。

如果学校有人怀疑我的孩子遭到了虐待，会对孩子采取什么行动？

你孩子所在学校的所有员工都必须向DFFH儿童保护处举报疑似虐待儿童的行为，在有些情况下还必须向维州警察署举报。除非DFFH儿童保护处和/或维州警察署告知不要这么做，否则你孩子的学校会尽快和你联系。在适当情况下，学校会与你合作，确保你的孩子获得支持，这可能包括为他们介绍身心健康专业人员。

不举报疑似虐待行为在什么情况下会构成刑事犯罪？

任何成年人如果认为其他成年人对16岁以下儿童实施了性犯罪而不向警方举报该信息，就可能面临刑事指控。

还有，如何保护我的孩子：我能如何帮助教育和保护我的孩子免遭虐待？

和孩子聊一聊，确保孩子知道任何人都不能威胁、伤害他们，或以让他们感到不适的方式触碰他们。人们在每种关系中都应该相互尊重，任何人都不应该采取使他们感到不安全或害怕的行为。

你孩子所在的学校也会支持孩子了解，他们有权感到安全和受人尊重。维多利亚州公立学校正在教“尊重的关系”（Respectful Relationships）课程，该课程宣传积极的态度和行为，旨在预防家庭暴力。

在向孩子解释安全时，我应该说些什么？

你可以在家中采取一些行动培养孩子对安全和尊重的关系的理解，包括：与孩子坦率地谈论他们的感受和关系；确保他们知道，如果他们对别人对待他们的方式感到担忧，你会聆听并采取行动；使用正确的名称谈论身体部位，并开展与年龄相称的关于触碰和性行为的对话；让孩子知道，成年人绝不应该伤害任何儿童或与任何儿童发生与性相关的行为。

确保儿童在家庭以外或校外的安全

你对于确保你的孩子待在安全的地方具有至关重要的作用。在维多利亚州，所有在工作中接触你的孩子的人，例如教练和音乐教师，都必须有有效的儿童工作审查证明（Working With Children Check）。你应该核查，在放学后和周末接触你孩子的任何员工和志愿者都有有效的儿童工作审查证明。

如果你认为自己可能需要一些帮助来确保你孩子

安全免遭伤害和支持他们的健康发展，你就应该寻求帮助，这很重要。请访问维多利亚州政府的Better Health Channel了解关于寻求支持的信息。浏览：www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au

此外，我可以在哪里获得更多信息和支持？

你可以直接联系DFFH儿童保护处和维州警察署讨论你关于儿童身心健康的任何担忧（参见下页上的联系方式）。

如果你对你孩子或孩子所在学校的其他儿童有任何担忧，请告诉校长或学校的其他员工。你也可以向DFFH儿童保护处和维州警察署提出此事。

如需关于到哪里寻求支持确保儿童安全免遭伤害的更多信息，请访问维多利亚州政府的 Better Health Channel：www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au

你孩子所在的日校在预防和管理虐待儿童的行为方面的职责，请访问：https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/child-safe-standards/policy

24小时服务电话：维多利亚州警察署 000；维州家庭、公平和住房部儿童保护处 131 278；教育和培训部安保服务处 (03) 9589 6266；学生事故和康复处 (03) 9637 2934 或(03) 9637 2487。

总而言之，儿童安全是儿童、家长、老师和学校，以及全社区必须重视和关注的大事，我们有责任保护所有学生的安全，让他们在一个安全的环境下学习、健康成长。

希望这些信息能让大家在保护儿童免遭虐待方面有所帮助。

冬天尚未过去，请大家多保重！周末校园见！

胡培康

校长

新金山中文学校是一所教育部认可的旨在保护儿童安全的社区语言学校，如果您对我校的有关儿童安全相关政策有任何疑问或建议，请登陆我校网站 https://xjs.vic.edu.au/child-safety/或致电98881688进行查询，也可发邮件至[email protected]

Xin Jin Shan Chinese Language and Culture School

Principal’s Message

Dear teachers, students and parents,

Last week, we talked about the campus safety and child safe standards. Parents claimed it was so important and they would feel more comfortable if the child safety standards in weekend schools are the same as those in mainstream schools. Some parents said they couldn’t full understand the relevant policies provided by the mainstream schools. Therefore, I would like to share with you some information parents and carers should be aware regarding protecting children from abuse.

WHAT IS CHILD ABUSE? Child abuse:

•     can include physical abuse, sexual abuse, grooming, emotional or physiological harm, neglect or family violence

•     does not have to involve physical contact or force (eg, child sexual abuse can include talking to a child in a sexually explicit way)

•     can be committed by any member of the community, including someone within a child’s family or someone within the school setting.

What are the signs that a child has been abused? There are a range of physical and behavioural indicators of child abuse. Most importantly you should act if you notice anything that causes you to form a reasonable belief that a child has been, or is at risk of being abused, including (but not limited to):

•     a change in a child’s behaviour (e.g. withdrawal, regressive behaviour, or non-age appropriate sexual behaviours)

•     physical indicators of abuse (e.g. unexplained bruises, welts, signs of malnutrition)

•     an inappropriate relationship between an adult and a child (e.g. inappropriate physical contact, unexplained gifts or phone/email contact).

HOW MUST SCHOOLS RESPOND TO SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE?

All staff in Victorian schools are obligated to respond to any incident or suspicion of child abuse as outlined below:

1.    Respond to the emergency: address any immediate health and safety needs (eg. administer first aid or contact emergency services).

2.    Inform authorities: report any reasonable belief that a child has been or is at risk of being abused to the DFFH Child Protection or Victoria Police.

3.    Contact parents/carers when appropriate: contact parents/carers once authorities advise that it is safe and appropriate to do so. Ideally parents/carers will play a central role in providing support for their children, however schools will be instructed not to contact parents/carers in circumstances where this may impede an investigation or place the child at greater risk.

4.    Provide ongoing support for all children impacted by the abuse: provide appropriate support for all children impacted by abuse. This will likely include ongoing counselling from professionals. The child’s ongoing support will be documented in a Student Support Plan. These actions are outlined in further detail in Identifying and Responding to All Forms of Abuse in Victorian Schools.

ARE THE STAFF AT MY CHILD’S SCHOOL REQUIRED TO REPORT CHILD ABUSE?

Yes – all school staff are required by law to report any reasonable belief that a child has been abused or is at risk of abuse. In some circumstances, it may be a criminal offence for school staff to fail to report child abuse to the authorities.

WHAT HAPPENS TO MY CHILD IF SOMEONE AT THE SCHOOL SUSPECTS THAT MY CHILD HAS BEEN ABUSED?

All staff members of the school are required to report suspected child abuse to DFFS Child Protection and, in some circumstances, to Victoria Police. The school will contact you as soon as possible unless they have been advised not to do so by DFFH Child Protection and/or Victoria Police.  Where appropriate the school will work with you to ensure that your child is provided with support, which may include referring them to wellbeing professionals.

WHEN IS IT A CRIMINAL OFFENCE TO NOT REPORT SUSPECT ABUSE?

Any adult may face criminal charges if they believe that another adult has committed a sexual offence against a child under 16 years of age and does not report this information to the police.

WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP EDUCATE AND PROTECT MY CHILD FROM ABUSE?

Have a chat to your child and make sure that he or she knows that no one is allowed to threaten, hurt or touch them in a way that makes them feel uncomfortable. Every relationship should be respectful and no one should behave in a way that makes them feel unsafe or afraid.

Your child’s school will also be supporting your child in learning about their rights to be safe and respected. Victorian government schools are teaching the Respectful Relationships program which promotes positive attitudes and behaviours and is aimed at preventing family violence.

WHAT SHOULD I TALK ABOUT WHEN I EXPLAIN SAFETY TO MY CHILD?

There are some things you can do at home to build your child’s understanding of safe and respectful relationships including:

•   talking openly with your child about their feelings and relationships

•   being sure that they understand you will listen and act if they are concerns about how anyone is treating them

•   using the correct names for body parts and having age-appropriate conversations about touching and sexual activity.

•   letting your child know that adults should never harm or act in a sexual way with any child.

KEEPING CHILDREN SAFE OUTSIDE OF THE HOME OR SCHOOL 

You play a critical role in ensuring that your children are spending time in safe places.

In Victoria all people who are working with your children such as coaches and music teachers need to have a current Working With Children Check.

You may like to check that any staff and volunteers spending time with your child after school hours and on weekend have a valid Working With Children Check.

If you think that you may need some help to keep your children safe from harm and support their healthy development, it is important you find some help. Visit the Victorian Government’s Better Health Channel for information on seeking support: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au

WHERE CAN I GO FOR MORE INFORMATION AND SUPPORT?

You can contact DFFH Child Protection and Victoria Police directly to discuss any concerns you may have for the wellbeing of a child (see contact details on the next page)

If you have any concerns about your child or another child at your child’s school talk to the principal or another staff member at the school about your concerns. You can also raise this matter with DFFH Child Protection and the Victoria Police.

For further information on where to go for support to keep your children safe from harm visit the Victorian Government’s Better Health Channel: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au 

24 HOUR SERVICES:

Victoria Police                                                                                                000

Department of Families, Fairness and Housing           1300 360 391 or 13 12 78

Child Protection

Department of Education and Training                                                      (03) 9589 6266

Security Services Unit

Student Incident and Recovery Unit                        (03) 9637 2934 or (03) 9637 2487

Child safety issue is the first priority for all the children, parents, teachers and schools. All children deserve to grow up feeling safe, supported and loved in school environment.

I hope this information help you understand how to protect our children from abuse.

Winter is not yet leaving. Please keep warm and see you on campus this weekend.

Yours sincerely,

Kevin Hu, Principal

Xin Jin Shan Chinese Language and Culture School is a DET-accredited Child Safe community language school. If you have any concern and suggestions regarding the school’s child safe policy, please feel free to visit  https://xjs.vic.edu.au/child-safety/ or call us at 9888 1688 or email us at [email protected].