Protection of vulnerable individuals policy

(a)  maintaining a safe environment for persons in the course of their work;

(b)  ensuring that, if they have reasonable grounds to suspect a person is at risk, they report the suspicions internally and (if required or appropriate) to an external authority; and

(c)  immediately contacting the police if they believe a person is at immediate risk.

(a)  SWF has appropriate and effective policies and processes in place to protect people and that these policies and procedures are implemented;

(b)  SWF complies with all relevant laws (both Australian and, where relevant, overseas laws) relating to safeguarding, including, in respect of children; and

(a) take reasonable steps to protect people, including developing and implementing processes and policies;

(b) manage safeguarding and legal compliance;

(c) ensure that reports are made to external authorities when required or appropriate;

(d) manage reports of abuse, neglect or exploitation;

(e) ensure that all Board members, staff, volunteers, partners, contractors and third parties are aware of relevant laws, policies and procedures, including SWF Code of Conduct;

(f) ensure that all Board members, staff, volunteers, partners, contractors and third parties are aware of their obligations to report suspected incidents of abuse, neglect or exploitation;

(g) provide support for all Board members, staff, volunteers, partners, contractors and third parties in undertaking their responsibilities;

(h) comply with the requirements under State and Territory Reportable Conduct Schemes.

(a) promote a positive culture towards safeguarding;

(b) implement this Policy in their area of responsibility;

(c) ensure that there are appropriate controls in place to prevent, detect and respond to incidents;

(d) facilitate the reporting process when someone has reasonable grounds to suspect; and

(e) ensure potential incidents are handled with accountability and transparency and with a survivor-centric approach.

(a) familiarise themselves with the relevant laws, the Code of Conduct, policies and procedures for safeguarding;

(b) report any incident to the Executive Director and (if required or appropriate) to an external authority when it is reasonable to suspect that a person’s safety or welfare is at risk;

(c) report any suspicion that a person’s safety or welfare may be at risk internally or to an external party; and

(d) provide an environment that is supportive of everyone’s emotional and physical safety.

(a) implement the provisions of this Policy and SWF’s procedures in their dealings with EHGC; and

(b) report any suspicion that an incident may have taken place, is taking place, or could take place to the Executive Director and (if required or appropriate) to an external authority.

(a)  Holistic – SWF will regularly assess the risks to people in its operations and develop proportionate controls to mitigate those risks.

(b)  Survivor-centric – SWF will put survivors at the heart of its approach to safeguarding.

(c)  Lawful – SWF will ensure that it understands and complies with the law in everything it does, in all jurisdictions in which it works.

(a)  having up-to-date and documented risk assessments;

(b)  maintaining a register of SWF’s legal obligations for safeguarding and workplace health and safety in all the jurisdictions in which it operates;

(c)  having an action plan that sets out how it will manage safeguarding;

(d)  having an incident response plan;

(e)  adhering to this Safeguarding Policy and its Code of Conduct;

(f)  doing all reasonable due diligence checks of Board members, staff, volunteers, partners, contractors, and third parties, including interviews, qualification checks and (for people that come or will come into regular or ongoing contact with children in connection with SWF’s programs) have a valid Working with Children Check or overseas equivalent (if available);

(g)  implementing policies, procedures and systems that introduce controls to reduce the likelihood and consequence of incidents;

(h)  conducting awareness-raising for stakeholders on risks, expectations, individual responsibilities, this Policy and reporting procedures;

(i)  maintaining two reporting processes: a confidential reporting process and an overt reporting process;

(j)  monitoring and reviewing the effectiveness and proportionality of its safeguarding approach;

(k)  take steps to increase awareness within SWF of the importance of a safe place for vulnerable persons;

(l)  maintain responsive procedures for fulfilling mandatory reporting obligations; and

(m)  maintain responsive procedures for dealing with complaints and issues as they arise.