Drive Smart Driving School is committed to operating as a Child Safe Environment driving school. We have included here information for parents and caregivers relating to Child safe environments.
Drive Smart Instructors have Child Safe Clearances to work with children.
Child Safe – Parents and Caregivers Information
As published by Families SA, Government of South Australia, Department for Education and Child Development July 2012.
Children access many services in our community and actively participate in a range of activities and programs. As a parent or caregiver you provide these opportunities and ensure your child gets from place to place safely.
This information sheet suggests some things you should consider when making decisions about services, activities or programs that can offer safe and positive environments for your child.
Is the service, activity or program meeting its obligations under the Children’s Protection Act 1993?
Organisations that provide health, welfare, education, sporting or recreational, spiritual or religious, residential or child-care services wholly or partly for children are required to develop policies and procedures to establish and maintain a child safe environment.
Establishing child safe policies encourages organisations to consider the safety and well-being of children who are accessing their services and to implement strategies to minimise any risk of harm.
It also encourages organisations to build an environment which is both child safe and child friendly, where children feel
respected, valued and encouraged to reach their full potential.
What information should the organisation be able to provide to you?
You could ask to see:
- A Child Safe Policy
- Codes of Conduct for adults and children
- Information about recruitment processes for staff and volunteers
- Reporting procedures for complaints/grievances.
What else can you do?
Ask other parents and children how they feel about the service, program or activity.
Teach your child about feeling safe and what they can do if they don’t feel safe or comfortable.
Most importantly, ask your child what they think and observe their behaviour before, during and after attending the service, program or activity.
“Whilst the majority of organisations are safe for your child, we know that children can sometimes be subjected to bullying, isolation, teasing and harassment, verbal, emotional, physical and sexual abuse. These risks for your child are minimised when organisations are proactive and do not take safety for granted.”
(Childwise, 2004)
What can you do if you have concerns?
If you are not satisfied that the organisation provides a safe environment for your child, take a proactive approach. You can:
Speak to the person providing the service
Speak to someone in a management role about any issues that may be impacting on the organisation’s ability to provide a safe and positive environment for children and young people.
What can you do if you suspect on reasonable grounds that your child or another child has been harmed or is at risk of serious harm?
Contact the Child Abuse Report Line (CARL) on 131478
Further information
Information about Child Safe Environments is available from Families SA
Web: www.families.sa.gov.au/childsafe.
Email: decdchildsafe@sa.gov.au.
Phone: 8463 6468
Checklist
- Can the organisation provide you with a copy of its child safe policies and procedures?
- Does the organisation have a code of conduct?
- Does the organisation encourage children and parents/caregivers to be involved in decision making?
- Is your child happy when engaging with the organisation?
- Does the organisation welcome parents and caregivers at any time and encourage them to be involved?
- Does the organisation have clear staff and volunteer recruitment procedures, including staff screening and criminal history assessments (where required)?
- Do you and your child know who to speak to if you have any concerns about the services you receive?
Call or email us
You can give us a call. You can send us an Email.
Or contact your local Drive Smart Instructor direct.
Tell us about your driving needs. We are here to help.
Please understand that we have a No Phones Policy during all training sessions. Leave a message. We will get back to you.
