Child Safeguarding and Wellbeing
One of the PMSA’s key roles is to support our schools to ensure the safety and wellbeing of students, staff and volunteers are always first priority. The PMSA is genuinely committed to contemporary practice and culture, extending beyond compliance requirements and works with schools to manage risks.
Our commitment to child wellbeing
In 2018, the PMSA proudly commemorated 100 years in education. We take pride in this long history and the ability to leverage the successes and learnings of our past.
Our history also shows a dedication of past students and aspirational leaders to continue to achieve the PMSA vision to ‘build caring school communities, by providing world-class teaching and learning environments of excellence, permeated by Christian faith and actions.’
Our schools today provide outstanding academic and pastoral care programs that underpin student wellbeing programs, shape effective relationship development skills and support the development of life skills.
Safeguarding systems
The PMSA fully supports the significant work initiated through the Royal Commission in giving a voice to those who have experienced abuse, identifying systemic shortcomings, causes of such abuse and recommending remedial action now and into the future.
The knowledge gained from regulatory systems such as the Royal Commission has underpinned the PMSA’s improved frameworks, supports and programs that we now provide to our past and present students. The PMSA and our schools have transitioned from historical ‘protection’ programs to integrated contemporary frameworks central to student voice and value, wellbeing and safeguarding.
In addition to our participation in the National Redress Scheme, the PMSA has established the Risk, Child Safeguarding and Assurance Committee which works to support the PMSA Board in overseeing Child Protection and Royal Commission response frameworks, manage related risk and promote our genuine commitment to contemporary practice and culture, extending beyond compliance requirements.
We believe that the care for the children and young people in our schools is an outward expression and evidence of our Christian faith and our commitment to achieving a vision of collected and committed action, of intolerance to any threat of harm towards children and young people and which actively seeks to prevent the occurrence of any such threat.
Statement of Commitment to Child Safety and Wellbeing
Protecting and advocating for the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people in our care is at the heart of everything we do. Every child and young person deserves to be and feel safe, respected and supported – everywhere, every day.
We are committed to:
- Leading and governing a child safe culture with diligence, ensuring that everyone shares the responsibility to keep children and young people safe and well.
- Creating welcoming and nurturing environments where everyone belongs.
- Listening to children and young people, valuing their voices and involving them in decisions that affect them.
- Standing against all forms of abuse, neglect and harm. Always.
- Valuing and celebrating the cultural diversity, identity and background of every child and young person, ensuring our practices are culturally safe and responsive.
- Providing an environment that promotes and upholds the right to cultural safety of students who are Aboriginal persons or Torres Strait Islander persons.
- Making sure our staff and volunteers are rigorously selected, well-trained, caring and ready to act if something isn’t right.
- Always looking for ways to do better, learn and grow as a community.