Victoria’s Reportable Conduct Scheme

In addition to the Child Safe Standards, there are other pieces of legislation that play a role

to help keep Victorian children safe from abuse. In accordance with the Reportable Conduct Scheme (‘the Scheme’), operational from 1st July 2017, the Principal of Northside Christian College will ensure that the College has systems in place for all employees to meet obligations under the Scheme.

In order for Northside Christian College to comply with the Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005 (Vic) and the Reportable Conduct Scheme created under the Act, the College developed and approved the Reportable Conduct Policy (Policy No. 49).

The VRQA (2017) have highlighted that “Under the Scheme, a head of an organisation is required to notify the Commission for Children and Young People (CCYP) of all allegations of reportable conduct by employees and volunteers.”

Reportable conduct is: • a sexual offence (even prior to criminal proceedings commencing), sexual misconduct or physical violence committed against, with or in the presence of a child • behaviour causing significant emotional or psychological harm • significant neglect of a child.

A reportable allegation means information that leads a person to form a reasonable belief that a worker or volunteer has committed: • reportable conduct or • misconduct that may include reportable conduct.

The Commission for Children and Young People (2017) summarised the Scheme as follows: • The Scheme requires some organisations to respond to allegations of child abuse (and other child-related misconduct) made against their workers and volunteers, and to notify us of any allegations • It enables the Commission for Children and Young People to independently oversee those responses • The Scheme facilitates information sharing between organisations, their regulators, Victoria Police, the Department of Justice and Regulation’s Working With Children Check Unit and the Commission for Children and Young People.

Northside Christian College has developed a Reportable Conduct Policy (Policy No. 49) to assist in ensuring systems in place for all employees to meet obligations under the Scheme.

For more information on Victoria’s Reportable Conduct Scheme, please refer to:

https://ccyp.vic.gov.au/child-safety/resources/reportable-conduct-scheme-information-sheets/.

The Commission for Children and Young People have published a wide range of information sheets to assist organisations in understanding and implementing the Reportable Conduct Scheme.

•Information sheet 1: About the Reportable Conduct Scheme • Information sheet 2: What is reportable conduct? • Information sheet 3: Responsibilities of the head of an organisation • Information sheet 4: Investigation overview • Information sheet 5: Other reporting obligations • Information sheet 6: Child Safe Standards and Reportable Conduct Scheme • Information sheet 7: Reporting to the Commission • Information sheet 8: Investigation findings • Information sheet 9: Sexual misconduct • Information sheet 10: Physical violence • Information sheet 11: Significant neglect • Information sheet 12: Historical allegations • Information sheet 13: Workers and volunteers • Information sheet 14: Commission own motion investigations • Information sheet 15: Identifying the head of an organisation • Information sheet 16: Reviews of Reportable Conduct Scheme and Child Safe Standards decisions made by the Commission • Information sheet 17: Reporting past harm or abuse as an adult • Information sheet 18: Behaviour that causes significant emotional and psychological harm

For more information on the information sheets, please refer to:

https://ccyp.vic.gov.au/resources/reportable-conduct-scheme/reportable-conduct-scheme-informationsheets#TOC-19