This document was current as at 15/09/2026 11:18 AEST time. Updates to content may have been made since this date. Refer to your Policy site for the latest version.
Child Safe Program Child Safe Code of Conduct
Child Safe Code of Conduct Canberra Girls Grammar School (CGGS) is committed to the safety, wellbeing and empowerment of all children and young people in our care. We strive to provide a safe, supportive and compassionate environment where every student is respected, heard and able to thrive. Our commitment aligns with the National Child Safe Standards and reflects our responsibility to promote children’s rights, dignity and agency in all aspects of School life. The CGGS Child Safe Code of Conduct outlines clear and mandatory expectations for how all adults must behave when interacting with students in any School environment. It outlines both acceptable standards of professional and respectful behaviour and explicitly prohibited conduct that must be reported immediately if it occurs. These expectations apply to all physical, digital and off-site environments where School-related activities take place. Any breach of this Code is considered a child safety incident and must be reported internally. Where a breach meets the threshold for external reporting, CGGS will notify the relevant authority within the required timeframe. These agencies may include, but are not limited to, Child and Youth Protection Services (CYPS), the Teacher Quality Institute (TQI), the ACT Ombudsman (Reportable Conduct Scheme), Access Canberra and the Police.
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All adults in the ACT are legally required to report child sexual abuse to ACT Policing under the Crimes Act 1900. Failing to report a reasonable belief of a sexual offence against a child is a criminal offence. This obligation applies to every adult, not only those working in child-related roles. The Child Safe Code of Conduct is reviewed annually to ensure it remains current and effective. It operates alongside the CGGS Child Safe Policy, Staff Code of Conduct and other related policies, which collectively outline expectations for professional boundaries, safe conduct and appropriate relationships between staff and students. The Child Safe Code of Conduct applies to all adults in the School community, including: School Board members. The Principal and the Executive. All staff, including temporary, casual, non-teaching and Boarding House staff. All volunteers. All contractors and service providers. Pre-service teachers and other professionals on placement. Parents/carers and other adult family members of students. Visitors to the School. Some individuals may also be bound by a professional or occupational code of conduct. In the event of any perceived conflict between this Code and an external professional requirement, the individual must prioritise child safety, seek advice from their regulatory body and the Principal and inform the Principal of their intended course of action. Every adult in the CGGS community shares responsibility for creating a child safe environment. All are expected to actively uphold this Code and consistently demonstrate behaviours that protect children from harm, promote their wellbeing and maintain safe and professional boundaries at all times.
At all times you must: Uphold and act in accordance with our Child Safe Policy at all times. Follow the School's published guidelines related to child safety, including the Staff Code of
Conduct. Adopt a proactive approach to child safety and child protection issues. Behave as a positive role model to students. Treat all students with dignity and respect.
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Promote the safety, welfare and wellbeing of students. Provide age-appropriate supervision for all students. Ensure that all students, including children and young people with disabilities are safe, can fully participate and feel empowered. Promote the safety, participation and empowerment for students from diverse cultures and languages, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island backgrounds. Use positive and supportive language when talking to students. Encourage students to express themselves and listen to them respectfully. Step in when students or others are exhibiting bullying behaviour or acting inappropriately towards others. Ensure children are always safe when working with adults, taking particular care to promote safety if it is essential that an individual meeting occurs. Report any breaches of the Child Safe Code of Conduct internally and follow the legal duty to report child abuse or harm to the authorities. Ensure the student involved is safe where an allegation of child abuse or other harm is made. Respect the privacy of students and their families and only share information with those who genuinely need to know. Call the Police on 000 if you have immediate concerns for a student's safety.
Do not: Engage in any form of sexual conduct with a student including making sexually suggestive comments and sharing sexually suggestive material. Engage in unnecessary physical contact or behaviours including assisting with things of a personal nature that a student can do for themselves, such as toileting or changing clothes. Take or publish (including online) photos, movies or recordings of students on personal devices. Take or publish (including online) photos, movies or recordings of students without explicit parent/carer and School authority consent either within School, at School function or at social events. Engage in any form of physical violence towards a student including inappropriately rough physical play. Engage in any form of behaviour that has the potential to cause a student serious emotional or psychological harm including shouting, throwing objects to gain attention or any act with the potential to frighten a student. Ignore or disregard any suspected, alleged or disclosed child abuse or other harm.
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Engage in prejudicial or oppressive behaviour or use inappropriate language with students or express personal views on cultures, race, gender, politics or sexuality in the presence of students or discriminate against any student based on culture, race, ethnicity, sexuality or disability. Engage in undisclosed private meetings with a student that is not your own child. Use physical means to discipline or control a student. Develop a relationship with any student that could be seen as or amount to favouritism or ‘grooming’ behaviour. Ignore behaviours by other adults towards students when they appear to be overly familiar or inappropriate. Post online, without the School’s approval, any information about a student that may identify them such as their full name, age, email address, telephone number, home address, school or details of a club or group they may attend.
Agreement to the Child Safe Code of Conduct The School provides a copy of the Child Safe Code of Conduct to all staff, relevant volunteers and contractors prior to commencing work at the School. The School also communicates our Child Safe practices through regular training for staff, volunteers, and contractors. All staff, contractors and volunteers must sign an agreement to adhere to the Child Safe Code of
Conduct prior to commencing work at the School. The Child Safe Code of Conduct forms part of the contract between the School and any contractors who will have direct contact with students. Therefore, all such persons are deemed to have agreed to adhere to the Child Safe Code of Conduct on signing their contract or on commencing work at the School.
Consequences for breaching the Child Safe Code of Conduct Staff, including the School Executive and Principal, volunteers and contractors who breach the Child
Safe Code of Conduct could be subject to disciplinary actions that may result in a range of measures including (depending on the severity of the breach): Further professional development or programs counselling increased supervision the restriction of duties
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appointment to an alternate role reporting to relevant external agencies suspension or termination of employment, contract or engagement in the case of serious breaches. Where any other member of the School community breaches any obligation, duty or responsibility within the Child Safe Code of Conduct, the School will take appropriate action.
Staff Our Child Protection modules on CompliSpace includes information for staff, volunteers and contractors on how to identify key indicators of abuse or other harm and how to report child safety incidents or concerns internally. It also contains detailed procedures with respect to the reporting of child safety incidents or concerns to the relevant authorities.
Students The School provides students with information about and encourages them to use multiple pathways to report child safety incidents or raise concerns about, or at the School, including breaches of the Child Safe Code of Conduct. These include informal and formal ways, and through external child advocacy or child safety organisations where appropriate.
Parents, carers, family members or other community members Parents, carers, family members or other community members who witness or suspect that there has been a breach of the Child Safe Code of Conduct, or have concerns that a child or young person associated with the School may be subject to abuse or harm from a member of staff, a volunteer or a contractor, should contact the Principal or either of the School’s Deputy Principals by phoning 02 6202 6400. If the concern relates to the Principal, they should contact the Board Chair by emailing chair@cggs.act.edu.au. Communications will be treated confidentially on a ‘need to know basis’.
Report any concerns
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Whenever there are concerns that a child or young person is in immediate danger or at immediate risk of abuse, contact the Police on 000.
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