Policy: Child protection
Purpose
To set out the principles guiding the University’s approach to child protection.
Overview
The University’s principles for child protection.
Scope
This policy applies across the University.
Policy Statement
Principle - Zero tolerance of child abuse
- The University is committed to the safety and protection of children. This policy and its associated procedure focuses on those who represent the University and who engage with children or young people in a direct and unsupervised capacity.
- Child abuse is not tolerated by the University, nor is possession of, or access to, child pornography.
- The University actively manages the risk of child abuse associated with research and education.
- The University will not knowingly engage, directly or indirectly, anyone who poses a risk to children, nor support any University activity that does not comply with this policy and procedure.
- Development of research and or education proposals or services must document explicitly the impact upon children; and these will be scrutinised by the relevant ethics committee and College Dean (see chapter 4.2 of National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research).
Respect for children
- The University will comply with all legislation relating to child protection. In particular, the University respects the rights and obligations set out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. In particular, the University is committed to upholding children's right to protection, as stated in Article 19 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child whereby each child is entitled to protection from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect, maltreatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse.
Responsibility for child protection
- The University requires the active support and cooperation of the entire University community, whether they are working directly with, or in close proximity to, children.
- In addition, the University expects all businesses operating on its premises, using its services, or receiving its support, to comply with this policy, noting that breaches may directly affect the interests/reputation of ANU.
- ANU people must meet the terms of the child protection policy and procedure, and will be held accountable for complying with these. This will require self-assessment and disclosure as appropriate. Breaches will be dealt with under the relevant staff and student discipline procedures. Similarly, contractors and volunteers will face equivalent sanctions for non-compliance.
- In accordance with Section 66AA of the The Crimes Act 1900 (ACT), it is an offence for any adult to fail to report child sexual offences to a police officer where they reasonably believe a sexual offence has been committed against a child. ANU people are required to immediately report all concerns or allegations of child abuse to police, without delay.
- College Deans and Service Division Directors are required to identify and manage interactions with children in their areas of responsibility and ensure that general or specific training is delivered to staff in accordance with local assessment and consistent with this policy and procedure.
- College Deans and Service Division Directors are responsible for compliance with the policy and procedure in their respective Colleges or Divisions and may be required to report to the Vice-Chancellor and Audit and Risk Management Committee of Council periodically. College Deans and Service Division Directors are invited to incorporate planning and monitoring of this requirement in their College and Division Plans according to risk assessment.
- College Deans and Service Division Directors are accountable for child protection within their areas of responsibility. They may delegate their responsibilities to managers and supervisors. This responsibility includes ensuring that businesses operating on ANU premises, using its services or receiving support implement appropriate child protection procedures.
Information |
Printable version (PDF) |
| Title | Child protection |
| Document Type | Policy |
| Document Number | ANUP_000386 |
| Version | |
| Purpose | To set out the principles guiding the University’s approach to child protection. |
| Audience | Staff, Prospective Staff |
| Category | Administrative |
| Topic/ SubTopic | Staff - Conduct |
| Effective Date | 25 Jul 2019 |
| Next Review Date | 31 Jan 2024 |
| Responsible Officer: | Chief People Officer |
| Approved By: | Vice-Chancellor |
| Contact Area | Safety and Wellbeing |
| Authority: |
The Australian National University Enterprise Agreement 2023-2026 |
| Delegations | 0 |
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Information generated and received by ANU staff in the course of conducting business on behalf of ANU is a record and should be captured by an authorised recordkeeping system. To learn more about University records and recordkeeping practice at ANU,
see ANU recordkeeping
and Policy: Records and archives management.
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