INTRODUCTION
ASHM is committed to promoting and protecting the interests and safety of children. We have zero tolerance for child abuse or exploitation. This policy reflects the principles of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Child Protection Policy and aims to meet DFAT’s minimum child protection standards
SCOPE
This policy applies to all ASHM personnel, including:
- Board members, staff, volunteers, and interns
- Contractors and consultants
- Partner organisations and their personnel
- Visitors to project sites.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to:
- Prevent child abuse within ASHM and its projects
- Create an organisational culture of child safety
- Ensure all parties understand their responsibilities for protecting children
- Provide guidance on reporting and responding to child protection concerns
- Comply with DFAT child protection requirements for funded partners.
DEFINITIONS
Child: Any person under the age of 18
Child exploitation and abuse: All forms of physical or mental violence, injury, exploitation or maltreatment of children, including sexual abuse, child labor, trafficking, and neglect.
Child protection: Activities to prevent or stop children being abused or maltreated
POLICY
Policy Principles
- ASHM has zero tolerance for child exploitation and abuse.
- All ASHM personnel are responsible for the care and protection of children and for reporting concerns about child safety.
- ASHM will prevent any person from working with children if they pose an unacceptable risk.
- ASHM will take all allegations of child exploitation and abuse seriously and respond promptly.
- ASHM will conduct child protection risk assessments for all projects and activities
- ASHM will ensure all personnel receive child protection training every two years or earlier based on changes in the risk profile.
- ASHM will implement robust recruitment practices, including criminal record checks andverbal reference checks, for positions that involve working with children, ASHM will require all personnel to sign and comply with a Child Protection Code of Conduct
- ASHM will ensure mechanisms
Child Protection Code of Conduct
ASHM has developed a Child Protection Code of Conduct to provide clear guidance to personnel and associates about ways to minimise risk to children and make clear the standards of behaviour and practice required of them at all times when they are in contact with children. These behaviours are not intended to interfere with safe and protective family behaviour.
All ASHM personnel are required to read and sign the ASHM Child Protection Code of Conduct, which is located at the end of this Policy. ASHM staff are also required to sign the Australian Council For International Development (ACFID) as part of their orientation.
Training
- All personnel will receive child protection training as part of induction.
- Refresher training will be provided every two years.
- Training will cover the Child Protection Policy, Code of Conduct, and reporting procedures.
Partners and Subcontractors
- ASHM will assess the child protection policies and practices of all partners and subcontractors.
- Partners and subcontractors will be required to comply with ASHM ‘s Child Protection Policy
and Code of Conduct. - ASHM will support partners to strengthen their child protection systems where needed
Reporting
Reporting is mandatory for all those under the Scope of the ASHM Child Protection Policy to confidentially report any witnessed, suspected or alleged incidents of child exploitation and abuse, or any breach of the Child Protection Policy or Child Protection Code. This includes immediate reporting to DFAT when DFAT funding is involved. Reports should be made using the process outlined in the flowchart below.
Children and community members with whom ASHM works will be provided with information about how to report any child protection concerns about ASHM personnel members and associates.
Disciplinary action
If it is alleged that a member of staff, contractor, sub-contractor, visitor to a project or a volunteer may have committed an offence or have breached the organisation’s policies or its Code of Conduct the person concerned may be stood down (with pay, where applicable) while an investigation is conducted.
If the investigation concludes that on the balance of probabilities an offence (or a breach of the organisation’s policies or Code of Conduct) has occurred then disciplinary action may follow, up to and including dismissal or cessation of involvement with the organisation. The findings of the investigation will also be reported to any external body as required.
Flowchart
Policy Review
This policy will be reviewed every two years or earlier if there are significant changes in DFAT requirements or following any critical incidents. The next review date is set for March 2027. By implementing this policy and associated procedures, ASHM aims to create a child safe organisation and meet DFAT’s child protection compliance standards.