Our Commitment to Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable young people

INLLEN is dedicated to protecting all children and vulnerable young people who participate in our community and youth programs. We strictly enforce a policy of zero tolerance for any form of child abuse, harm, neglect, racism, or discrimination. We recognize our legal and moral duty to provide a safe, inclusive environment where every young person is respected, protected, and empowered.

Our operations strictly align with the Victorian Child Safe Standards under the Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005 (Vic).

Our Core Commitments under the Victorian Framework

Aboriginal Cultural Safety: We actively maintain a culturally safe environment where the unique identities, heritage, and rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are respected and valued (Standard 1).
Youth Empowerment: We ensure children and young people understand their rights, feel safe to speak up, and are actively involved in decisions that shape our community programs (Standard 3).
Family & Community Engagement: We keep families and our local community informed and involved in our safeguarding strategies and child safety initiatives (Standard 4).
Equity and Diversity: We champion equity and provide tailored support for vulnerable youth, including children with disabilities, those from culturally diverse backgrounds, and LGBTQIA+ youth (Standard 5).
Safe Recruitment & Screening: We ensure all staff and volunteers undergo rigorous vetting, including compulsory, validated Working with Children Checks (WWCC) and thorough background screenings (Standard 6).
Continuous Training: We mandate ongoing child safety education so our workers can confidently identify, mitigate, and report risks (Standard 8).
Physical and Online Safety: We proactively assess and reduce risks of harm across all our physical community venues and digital technology platforms (Standard 9).

Accountability, Reporting, and Regulation

We maintain a transparent, child-focused complaints process and hold a shared responsibility to act when safety is compromised. If any youth or community member raises a concern, we will:

Take all disclosures seriously and handle them with immediate care and confidentiality.
Fulfill all mandatory reporting obligations, immediately notifying Victoria Police, Child Protection, or relevant emergency services if a child is at risk of immediate harm.
Cooperate fully with Victoria's oversight bodies, ensuring total compliance with reporting procedures managed under the Social Services Regulator (SSR).
Adhere strictly to the Reportable Conduct Scheme, ensuring any allegations against staff or volunteers are investigated and reported systematically to the state regulator.

INLLEN Cultural Safety Commitment Statement

1. Our Commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children

INLLEN proudly acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we operate. We recognise that the spiritual and cultural connections of First Nations people to country, water, and community are vital to the wellbeing and safety of Aboriginal children and young people.

We are explicitly committed to establishing and maintaining an environment where the diverse and unique identities and experiences of Aboriginal children are deeply respected, valued, and celebrated. We actively support and encourage the right of every First Nations child to express their culture and enjoy their cultural rights freely without fear of judgment.

2. Zero Tolerance for Racism

We declare a strict zero-tolerance stance against racism and discrimination in any form. We are dedicated to ensuring that:

Identification: Any structural, behavioural, or casual racism within our organisation is swiftly identified.
Confrontation: All forms of racial prejudice or microaggressions are directly confronted and challenged.
Consequences: Immediate, appropriate administrative and disciplinary actions are taken against anyone who perpetuates racism.
Reporting: Clear, safe, and child-focused reporting pathways are provided for children and families to voice concerns regarding safety and discrimination.

3. Inclusion of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Communities

We value the rich diversity of all children from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. We commit to creating inclusive programs where multi-faith and multicultural identities are welcomed, family traditions are respected, and language barriers are proactively minimised so that every child feels a secure sense of belonging.

4. Key Actions to Embed Cultural Safety

To ensure this commitment is met with consistent, lived action rather than remaining just "words on a page," we pledge to:

Train Staff: Equip all employees and volunteers with ongoing cultural awareness training to understand the intersection of cultural safety and overall child safety.
Elevate Voices: Partner with local Aboriginal communities, Elders, and CALD families to guide our organizational policies and curriculum decisions.
Adapt Environments: Integrate visible representations of Indigenous cultures and diverse global heritages into our physical and digital learning spaces.
Review Practice: Conduct annual reflective assessments of our inclusion practices using evidence-based frameworks to continually improve our workplace culture.

INLLEN Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Racism Policy Statement

1. Our Commitment

INLLEN has zero tolerance for racism, discrimination, and bigotry in any form. We are committed to fostering a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment where every child and young person is respected, valued, and empowered. Discrimination or racist behaviour directly compromises a child’s safety, well-being, and willingness to speak up. We recognize that upholding equity is fundamental to preventing child abuse and harm.

2. Cultural Safety for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children

In accordance with Child Safe Standard 1, our organisation proactively supports the cultural safety of First Nations children by ensuring that:

Cultural Rights: Children are actively encouraged and supported to express their culture, languages, and unique identities.
Participation: We actively facilitate the inclusion and participation of First Nations children, their families, and their communities in our decision-making processes.
Acknowledge Strengths: All staff, volunteers, and leaders are equipped to understand, respect, and appreciate the historic strengths and importance of Aboriginal culture.
Confronting Racism: Any incident of racism towards First Nations children will be immediately identified, confronted, reported, and managed with serious consequences.

3. Promoting Equity and Celebrating Diversity

In accordance with Child Safe Standard 5, we adapt our practices to meet the diverse backgrounds, characteristics, and experiences of all children. We stand firmly against any unfair treatment, criticism, or exclusion targeting a child or their family based on:

Race, ethnicity, or cultural background
Language and nationality
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander identity
Gender identity, expression, or sexual orientation (LGBTIQA+)
Physical, intellectual, or sensory disabilities
Religious or spiritual beliefs
Living arrangements (such as out-of-home, kinship, or foster care)

4. Prohibited Behaviours

All board members, staff, volunteers, contractors, and visitors are strictly forbidden from engaging in or condoning:

Racist language, offensive jokes, racial slurs, or exclusionary behaviour.
Prejudiced actions or discriminatory language in the presence of or directed at children.
Implicit bias in policies, procedures, or delivery of services that restricts equal access.
Harassment or intimidation targeting a child’s protected personal attributes.

5. Reporting and Accountability

Immediate Reporting: Any child, parent, staff member, or volunteer who witnesses or experiences discrimination or racism is encouraged to report it immediately to our designated Child Safety Officer.
Child-Focused Response: All complaints will be handled via our Child-Focused Complaints Handling Process, prioritizing the child's emotional safety and wellbeing.
Consequences: Proven breaches of this policy by staff or volunteers will result in disciplinary procedures, up to and including termination of employment or contract, and reporting to relevant authorities where required.

Our Commitment to Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable young people

Our Core Commitments under the Victorian Framework

Accountability, Reporting, and Regulation

INLLEN Cultural Safety Commitment Statement

INLLEN Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Racism Policy Statement

Related policies and documents