My Community Rescue Inc. is committed to creating environments in which children and young people are safe, respected, listened to and protected from abuse, neglect, exploitation, grooming, discrimination and harm.
The safety and wellbeing of a child will take priority over the interests or reputation of MCR or any individual associated with the organisation.
We believe every child has the right to:
feel and be safe;
be treated with dignity and respect;
have their views heard;
participate without discrimination;
have their privacy respected;
receive information in a way they can understand;
raise a concern or complaint;
be protected from abuse, neglect, exploitation and grooming; and
receive support when they disclose a concern.
Our child-safety expectations apply to:
Responsible Persons and committee members;
employees;
contractors;
volunteers;
students and work-experience participants;
fundraising representatives;
partner organisations where relevant;
event participants; and
anyone acting on behalf of MCR.
Anyone representing MCR must:
treat children with dignity, fairness and respect;
maintain appropriate professional and personal boundaries;
use age-appropriate and respectful communication;
listen to children’s concerns;
respond appropriately to disclosures;
avoid favouritism;
protect children’s privacy;
follow MCR’s safeguarding requirements;
comply with applicable screening requirements;
report suspected abuse, grooming, neglect or exploitation; and
act in the best interests of children.
A person must never:
abuse, exploit, groom, threaten or humiliate a child;
engage in inappropriate physical or sexual behaviour;
communicate with a child in an inappropriate or secretive manner;
use a child for personal, financial or promotional benefit;
take or publish unauthorised photographs or recordings;
make inappropriate comments about a child’s body, sexuality or appearance;
discriminate against or bully a child;
give unauthorised gifts or money for the purpose of establishing an inappropriate relationship;
ignore a disclosure or reasonable safeguarding concern; or
retaliate against a child or another person for raising a concern.
MCR will undertake appropriate recruitment, screening and suitability checks for roles involving children or vulnerable people.
Where required, this may include identity checks, references, relevant background screening and Blue Card or other legally required screening.
A person must not undertake duties requiring a particular clearance until that clearance has been obtained and verified.
Where a child tells an MCR representative about abuse, harm or another serious concern, the representative should:
remain calm and listen;
take the child seriously;
not pressure the child for unnecessary details;
not promise absolute secrecy;
reassure the child that the information will be taken seriously;
record what was said as accurately as possible;
immediately address any urgent safety risk;
report the matter through MCR’s safeguarding process; and
ensure any required external report is made.
MCR representatives must not conduct their own detailed investigation where doing so could compromise a child’s safety, evidence or an investigation by an authorised agency.
If a child or another person is in immediate danger, emergency services should be contacted on 000.
MCR’s internal processes must never delay necessary contact with police, child protection authorities or emergency services.
Children may make complaints directly or with assistance from a parent, carer, advocate, support person or another trusted person.
A complaint will not be dismissed because of a child’s age, disability, communication method or circumstances.