child safety and wellbeing policy

1. Purpose and Scope

This policy outlines our commitment to creating a safe and supportive environment for all children and young people. It applies to all staff, volunteers, contractors, and visitors at Fox in a Box. We prioritise child safety above all other business objectives.

2. Our Commitment to Child Safety

We have zero tolerance for child abuse and harm. We are committed to:

• Providing a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment for all children.
• Preventing child abuse by identifying and managing risks early.
• Responding swiftly and supportively to any allegations or concerns of harm.

The Universal Principle: Cultural Safety

We recognize that an organisation is only child-safe if it is culturally safe. We specifically commit to upholding the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children to feel welcome, safe, and respected. We celebrate their culture and ensure our physical and social environments are inclusive of their identity.

3. Empowering Children

We believe children should be seen and heard. We will:

• Inform children of their rights, including the right to feel safe and to speak up.
• Provide a “Child-Friendly Safety Promise” in our briefing area.
• Ensure children know they can stop a game or leave a room at any time if they feel uncomfortable.

4. Professional Boundaries: Interactions with Children

All persons involved with Fox in a Box must adhere to the following behavioural standards:

Acceptable Interactions	Unacceptable Interactions
Using positive, encouraging language.	Using profanity, shaming, or belittling language.
Active CCTV Monitoring.	Initiating or encouraging unnecessary physical contact.
Professional high-fives if initiated by the child.	Contacting children via personal social media or phone.
Intervening calmly if a child is at physical risk.	Physical discipline or “roughhousing.”
Monitoring games via CCTV with a focus on safety.	Storing photos of children on personal devices.

5. Risk Management and Compliance

We have updated our practices to reflect the Child Safe Standards by:

• Blue Card/WWCC Compliance and Recruitment: Where legislation requires, staff must hold a valid Blue Card/WWCC before starting work (“No Card, No Start”).
• Environment Audits: Regular reviews of our physical venue (lighting, puzzles, furniture and CCTV).

6. Responding to Concerns

Any person who suspects a child is at risk of harm must follow our Incident Response Procedure:

• Ensure Immediate Safety: Remove the child from any immediate danger. Call 000 if there is an immediate threat to life or safety.
• Report Internally: Notify the Manager/Owner/Shift Leader immediately.
• Mandatory Reporting: Follow legal requirements to report sexual offending or concerns of harm to the relevant state authority:
  • QLD: Child Safety Services or Queensland Police.
  • SA: Child Abuse Report Line (CARL) or SA Police.
  • WA: Department of Communities or WA Police.
• External Oversight (Allegations against Staff): If an allegation involves a staff member, we will notify the following bodies as required by law:
  • QLD: The Queensland Family and Child Commission (QFCC).
  • WA: The Ombudsman Western Australia.
  • SA: The Department for Child Protection (DCP).

7. Public Availability

This policy is a public document. It is available:

• On our website.
• In hard copy at our reception desk upon request.

Further information is provided below

• Commitment to Children’s Safety and Wellbeing 
• Information for Families 
• Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy 
• Cultural Safety Statement 
• We Value your Feedback