Child Safety Code of Conduct of Lee Family Trust 

T/a Pilates Central, Flow Catalyst Coach, Melissa Lee Dance Educator 

Code of Conduct Number:

LFT00225

Drafted By: 

Melissa Lee 

Responsible person:

Melissa Lee 

Version:

1.0

Approved on:

08.03.2025

Scheduled review date: 

01.03.2026

 

CODE OF CONDUCT FOR DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, VOLUNTEERS AND CONTRACTORS WORKING WITH CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

All directors, staff, contractors, and volunteers at Lee Family Trust are expected to adhere to this Code.

The Principal and Directors will:

1. Assume responsibility and accountability for the overall welfare and wellbeing of staff and volunteers.

2. Either act as or designate a staff member to serve as a point of contact for information and support regarding child safety for all staff, volunteers, children, young people, and their parents/carers.

All individuals involved in childcare on behalf of Lee Family Trust will:

1. Responsibly manage programs and activities within their purview.

2. Actively uphold a duty of care, including First Nations Cultural care, towards all children participating in these programs and activities.

3. Create and maintain a child-safe environment in the course of their work.

4. Dedicate themselves to fostering and nurturing a First Nations Culturally safe environment for First Nations children.

5. Demonstrate fairness, consideration, and honesty in their interactions with others.

6. Value and respect the ideas and opinions of children and young people.

7. Exemplify positive role models in their conduct with children and young people.

8. Maintain a professional demeanour at all times.

9. Uphold strict and transparent impartiality (avoiding favouritism).

10. Adhere to specific organisational guidelines regarding physical contact with children.

11. Respect the privacy of children and their parents/carers, disclosing information only to those with a legitimate need to know.

1. Adhere to the policies and procedures of Lee Family Trust

2. Contact law enforcement by dialling 000 if a child is in immediate danger of abuse.

No individual at Lee Family Trust, including the Principal, Directors, staff, and any adult responsible for caring for or supervising children, shall:

1. Humiliate, oppress, degrade, or shame children or young people.

2. Discriminate against any child.

3. Engage in activities with a child or young person that could cause physical or emotional harm, either during dance activities or otherwise on Lee Family Trust premises/events.

4. Initiate unnecessary physical contact with a child or young person, or perform personal tasks for them (e.g., dressing) that they can do independently.

5. Be alone with a child or young person unnecessarily or for more than a brief period.

6. Develop a 'special' relationship with a specific child or young person for personal benefit.

7. Display favouritism through gifts, inappropriate attention, or preferential selection for activities/roles.

8. Arrange contact, including online, with children or young people outside of Lee Family Trust's classes, programs, events, and activities.

9. Photograph or video a child or young person without consent from both the child and their parents/carers.

10. Work with children or young people while under the influence of alcohol or illegal substances.

11. Engage in mature or adult discussions in the presence of children.

12. Use inappropriate language around children.

13. Act in ways that contradict the organisation's policies, procedures, or this Code of Conduct.

Consequences of Breaching this Child Safety Code of Conduct
Violating this Code of Conduct will result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment or cessation of engagement with Lee Family Trust.

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Child Safety Policy of Lee Family Trust 

T/a Pilates Central, Flow Catalyst Coach, Melissa Lee Dance Educator 

 

    

Policy Number:

LFT 00125

Drafted By: 

Melissa Lee 

Responsible person:

Melissa Lee 

Version:

1.0

Approved on:

08.03.2025

Scheduled review date: 

01.03.2026

 

Lee Family Trust is dedicated to promoting and safeguarding children's well-being. We believe that every child deserves to experience dance in a secure and inclusive environment. Our organisation maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards child abuse. All children under our care have the right to feel protected from harm, respected, and valued.

 

 

Harm encompasses:

• Physical abuse: intentionally injuring or threatening to injure a child.

• Emotional abuse: any attack on a child's self-esteem or cultural identity - particularly First Nations Cultural identity, e.g., through bullying, threatening, ridiculing, intimidating, shaming, or isolating the child.

• Sexual abuse: any sexual act or sexual threat imposed upon a child.

• Neglect: harming a child by failing to provide basic physical or emotional necessities.

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Every individual working at and for Lee Family Trust bears responsibility for the care and protection of children, for preventing situations that may lead to child abuse, and for reporting any information about child abuse.

 

 

Lee Family Trust considers it vital to enhance our understanding of the roles and values that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples have always held and continue to hold in our communities and cultural lives. Therefore, it is crucial to foster an understanding and environment of 'Cultural Safety' for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in all dance activities.

 

 

This policy is guided by the Child Safe Organisations Bill 2024, which established an integrated child safe organisations system in Queensland that includes:

• Mandatory child safe standards for in-scope organisations, incorporating a 'universal principle' that a child safe entity must provide an environment that promotes and upholds the right to Cultural safety of children who are Aboriginal persons or Torres Strait Islander persons.

• A nationally consistent reportable conduct scheme for certain organisations.

 

PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to:

 

1. Fulfill the 'Child Safe Standards' 

2. Meet the 'Universal Principle' by providing an environment that promotes and upholds the right to Cultural safety of children who are Aboriginal persons or Torres Strait Islander Persons

3. Prevent child abuse and neglect from occurring within Pilates Central 

4. Cultivate an organisational culture of child safety

5. Continuously improve demonstrated organisational understanding of First Nations Cultural Safety

6. Ensure everyone is aware of their responsibilities for identifying potential instances of child abuse and neglect, and for acting (procedures) to prevent such abuse and/or responding to such abuse when it occurs

7. Guide any employees, volunteers, and parents/carers on what to do if they suspect any abuse within or outside of the organisation

8. Provide a clear statement to staff/volunteers/contractors prohibiting any such abuse

9. Assure any employees, and parents/carers (our community) that all suspected abuse will be reported and thoroughly investigated

 

 

POLICY

Lee Family Trust is committed to promoting and protecting the best interests of children involved in its programs.

All children, regardless of their gender, culture, race, religious beliefs, age, ability, sexual orientation, or family or social background, have equal rights to protection from abuse.

 

Lee Family Trust has ZERO tolerance for Child Abuse.

 

Everyone associated with Pilates Central shares responsibility for the care and protection of children in our care and for reporting any suspicions of child abuse.

 

Child protection is a collective responsibility shared among Pilates central all employees, workers, contractors, associates, and members of our community.

 

Lee Family Trust values the perspectives of children and will incorporate their opinions to enhance child safety policies and procedures.

Only Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families can determine what constitutes a comfortable and safe environment for them. Establishing a Culturally Safe space requires dedicated leadership and time to thoughtfully and respectfully develop relationships with First Nations People.

 

Lee Family Trust is committed to supporting and respecting all children, staff, and volunteers. We are dedicated to ensuring the Cultural safety of First Nations children, children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds, and to providing a secure environment for children who are deaf, have disabilities, or are of diverse genders/sexuality.

 

DEFINITIONS 

 

Child means a person below the age of 18 years.

Child protection means any responsibility, measure or activity undertaken to safeguard children from harm.

Child abuse and neglect means all forms of physical abuse, emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse and exploitation, neglect or negligent treatment, commercial (e.g. for financial gain) or other exploitation of a child and includes any action or inaction that results in actual or potential harm to a child. 

Child sexual assault is any act which exposes a child to, or involves a child in, sexual processes beyond his or her understanding or contrary to accepted community standards. It includes child grooming, which refers to actions deliberately undertaken with the aim of befriending and establishing an emotional connection with a child to lower the child’s inhibitions in preparation for sexual activity with the child. 

Reasonable belief is a belief based on reasonable grounds (see below) that child abuse has occurred. Considerations may include the source of the allegation and how it was communicated, the nature of and details of the allegation, and whether there are any other related matters known regarding the alleged perpetrator. 

A reasonable belief is formed if a reasonable person believes:

• the child needs protection, 

• the child has suffered or is likely to suffer “significant harm as a result of physical injury,” or 

• the parents/carers are unable or unwilling to protect the child.

A ‘reasonable belief’ or a ‘belief on reasonable grounds’ is not the same as having proof but is more than mere rumour or speculation.

A ‘reasonable belief’ might be formed if: 

• a child says or expresses they have been physically or sexually abused;

• a child says or expresses they know someone who has been physically or sexually abused (sometimes the child may be talking about themselves);

• someone who knows a child says that the child has been physically or sexually abused;

• professional observations of the child’s behaviour or development leads a professional to form a belief that the child has been physically or sexually abused or is likely to be abused; and/or

• signs of abuse lead to a belief that the child has been physically or sexually abused.

Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander means a person who identifies as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person. 

First Nations Person means a person who identifies as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person. 

Principal means a director or owner of Lee Family Trust This also includes shareholders or silent partners of Lee Family Trust In the case of a company, this includes the Board.

Teacher means any person engaged as an employee or contractor of Lee Family Trust to teach , coach or instruct children or young people.

Employee refers to all full-time, part-time, casual, volunteer, board members, contractors, sub-contractors, students and interns.

Parent/Carer refers to parent, carer, members of the extended family, or in the case of First Nations children, First Nations Community Elders or Leaders with whom the directors, principal, teachers or employees have an established relationship.

 

AUTHORISATION 

 

Signature of Directors

 

Date: 

 

Lee Family Trust 

 

Child Safety Procedures of Lee Family Trust 

T/a Pilates Central, Flow Catalyst Coach, Melissa Lee Dance Educator 

 

 

Document Number:

 

Date of Issue: 

 

Version:

 

Contact: 

 

 

RESPONSIBILITIES 

 

The Principal/directors of Lee Family Trust hold ultimate accountability for the identification and prevention of child abuse and is tasked with ensuring appropriate training is implemented. The Principal/director is also responsible for establishing and maintaining suitable and effective policies and procedures, as well as a Child Safety Code of Conduct [See Appendix 1] to maximize child safety.

The Principal/Director of Lee Family Trust is accountable for:

• Addressing and investigating reports of child abuse, including completing all necessary documentation and records.

• Ensuring all staff are informed of and comply with relevant laws, organizational policies and procedures, First Nations Cultural safety, and Lee Family Trust Child Safety Code of Conduct.

• Ensuring all parents and carers understand their obligation to report suspected child abuse.

• Ensuring all staff are aware of their duty to adhere to the Child Safety Code of Conduct.

• Offering support to staff, and parents/carers in fulfilling their child safety responsibilities.

 

All adults, including those in senior or supervisory positions, must:

• Consistently promote child safety and First Nations Cultural safety.

• Evaluate the risk of child abuse within their area of control and minimize any risk to the greatest extent possible.

• Educate staff about preventing and detecting child abuse.

• Facilitate the reporting of any inappropriate behaviour or suspected abusive activities.

 

All Principals, directors, and instructors should be knowledgeable about the types of abuse that might occur within their area of responsibility and remain vigilant for such conduct.

All Principals, directors, staff and instructors share the responsibility for preventing and detecting child abuse, and must:

• Familiarise themselves with the Child Safe Standards, the Child Safety Code of Conduct, the Employee Handbook – Child Safety, and Lee Family Trust 's policies and procedures.

 

• report any reasonable belief that a child’s safety is at risk to the Principal/Director, a responsible person in Lee Family Trust or relevant authorities (such as the police and/or the state-based child protection service);

• provide an environment that is supportive of all children’s emotional, First Nations Cultural and physical safety.

 

FIRST NATIONS CULTURAL SAFETY 

 

Lee Family Trust recognises the significance of fostering secure environments for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and their families. Cultural safety is most appropriately defined by First Nations People themselves. Each individual, child, and family possesses unique Cultural experiences, traditions, and expectations. The Directors bear the responsibility of spearheading the development of respectful and committed relationships with local First Nations families and Communities. This process will inform our understanding of First Nations Cultural safety within our community and encourage First Nations children to engage in dance activities with confidence.

Any action that undermines, diminishes, or disrespects the Cultural identity of First Nations People constitutes unsafe practice. It is the Principal's/Directors duty to develop and guide an understanding of how to prevent such actions.

 

Embedding Cultural Safety Knowledge and practices into Lee Family Trust’s supports compliance with the ‘Universal Principle’ – to provide an environment that promotes and upholds the right to Cultural safety of children who are Aboriginal persons or Torres Strait Islander persons

Lee Family Trust commits to undertaking ongoing Cultural Capability training and/or participating in activities to build greater understanding of Cultural safety.

 

VALUING ALL CHILDREN 

 

Lee Family Trust cherishes the involvement of ALL children in movement activites. We are dedicated to cultivating an atmosphere devoid of physical, sexual, emotional, and psychological abuse.

Throughout our activities, we will actively promote:

• The Cultural safety and well-being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

• The security of children from diverse cultural or linguistic backgrounds.

• The protection of children who are deaf or have disabilities.

• The safeguarding of children and young people with varied gender identities and sexual orientations.

 

EMPLOYMENT OF NEW PERSONNEL 

 

The Directors implement comprehensive recruitment and training protocols for staff to ensure that no one at Lee Family Trust  poses a risk to children, and that everyone understands how to create a child-safe environment and handle disclosures or suspicions of harm. The recruitment process aims to:

• Safeguard and promote the well-being of all children under Lee Family Trust's care;

• Identify the most suitable and safest individuals who Lee Family Trust's 's values and commitment to child protection;

• Prevent individuals who may pose a risk to children from working Lee Family Trust's 

 

Lee Family Trust mandates that all instructors and staff successfully complete the recruitment and screening process before beginning their engagement.

 

Requirements include:

• Job advertisements that specify qualifications, required skills, expectation of commitment to First Nations Cultural safety, and an organizational culture of child safety and protection.

• Processes (including job advertisements) ensuring employees have valid 'working with children' checks (Blue Card/WWC/WWCC) unless exempt.

• Interview questions and thorough reference checks that assess a candidate's approach to child safety and protection.

• Documented induction/orientation processes and checklists [Employee Handbook – Child Safety - see Appendix 2] referencing Child Safety Policies, Procedures, and the Child Safety Code of Conduct.

• Yearly training and development to ensure individuals clearly understand their roles and responsibilities in protecting children from harm, can confidently recognize indicators of harm, and understand documentation and reporting procedures.

• Regular inclusion of child safety 'shares' in staff meetings and communications.

 

Upon engagement, teachers and staff must review and acknowledge their understanding of this Policy annually.

 

COMPLIANCE AND SAFETY LEGISLATION 

 

The Principal/Director  is accountable for overseeing Blue Card/WWC/WWCC systems at Lee Family Trust and will:

• Verify that all individuals working with children possess a valid Blue Card/WWC/WWCC as per the Working with Children (Risk Management and Screening) Act 2000 (the Act) prior to starting work.

• Safeguard the confidentiality of all information related to Blue Card/WWC/WWCC applications.

• Maintain a comprehensive Blue Card/WWC/WWCC register for all staff and volunteers, including current and known addresses. The register will encompass:

  • Whether a card is required (if not, the reason, e.g., parent exemption applies)

  • Application type (e.g., paid or volunteer)

  • Issue date of the positive notice and Blue Card/WWC/WWCC

  • Blue Card/WWC/WWCC expiration date

  • Renewal date (at least 30 days before expiry to ensure continuity of work for employees and volunteers)

  • Any negative notices issued

  • Changes in personal information, including the date Blue Card/WWC/WWCC Services was notified (failure to report changes in personal details within 14 days is an offense for employees)

• Ensure adherence to relevant current state legislation

 

 

RISK MANAGEMENT

 

Lee Family Trust will incorporate child safety as an integral part of its overall risk management approach, including explicit risk assessment.

 

We recognize that Movement instruction and coaching  is a physical activity often requiring physical contact. We will consistently:

• Request a child's consent before touching or interacting when demonstrating an activity.

• Verify that physical contact is acceptable to a particular child. Even non-intrusive touch may be inappropriate if a child indicates discomfort with being touched.

• Be attentive and responsive to signs that a child is uncomfortable with touch.

• ​

The Principal/Directors, instrcutors, and staff will evaluate the culture of safety and potential risk of harm to children in all circumstances, particularly where there may be an increased risk of harm. For instance:

• During movement  coaching sessions

• In print or social media publications

• Regarding uniforms, costumes, choreography, and music selection

• At concerts, eisteddfods, and community performances

• During open days or events with numerous visitors or people present

• At activities where parents assist

• In activities using potentially hazardous equipment or techniques (ie: Reformer or Cadillac machines)

A risk assessment will be conducted for all major events and reviewed annually.

COMMUNICATION AND SUPPORT 

 

 

The Principal/Director will ensure children, families, teachers, and staff are informed about Lee Family Trust policies, procedures, and strategies for keeping children safe from harm Lee Family Trust encourages feedback regarding child safety policies, procedures, and strategies. Communication and support includes:

• Frequent updates to families and prospective families through newsletters, emails, and information sessions. Engaging in dialogues with First Nations families and Community leaders to enhance understanding of Cultural safety.

• Regularly incorporating aspects of child safety strategies and 'sharing' in staff meetings.

• Equipping Instructors and staff with tools and approaches to discuss child safety with children and involve them in their learning and development in this area.

• Supplying instructors and staff with up-to-date child safety information, including guidance on how to keep themselves safe and what actions to take if they feel unsafe.

• Offering resources and reference materials to instructors, staff, and families if and when required. 

 

EDUCATING CHILDREN

 

Throughout classes, rehearsals, and any other kind of movement instruction, the Principal/Directors, instructors, and staff will educate children about:

 

• Their personal agency and the importance of using their voice.

• The concept of consent, particularly when trying on costumes, using hands for instruction, or engaging in physical contact during movement or physical training.

• Their inherent right to always feel physically and emotionally secure.

• The rights of all First Nations children to experience physical and emotional safety.

• How to assertively say 'no' to anything that makes them feel uncomfortable or unsafe.

• Recognising and expressing their feelings both verbally and non-verbally.

• Identifying when they feel unsafe or uncomfortable.

• Distinguishing between 'fun' scared (appropriate risk-taking) and dangerous scared.

• What actions to take if they feel unsafe - emphasizing that no secret is too awful, no story too terrible, and that they or their friends won't get into trouble for speaking up.

• Who to approach if they have any concerns or worries.

 

SUSPICION OF HARM

 

A suspicion of harm is when someone has a reasonable suspicion that a child has suffered, is suffering, or is at an unacceptable risk of suffering significant harm. 

The Principal, teachers or employees may suspect harm if:

• a child says they have been harmed

• someone else, for example another child, a parent, or an employee, says harm has occurred or is likely to occur.

• a child tells them they know someone who has been harmed (it is possible that they may be referring to themselves).

• they are concerned at significant changes in the behaviour of a child, or the presence of new unexplained and suspicious injuries.

• they see the harm happening.

 

INVESTIGATING A COMPLAINT 

 

If the Principal/Director, an instructor or a staff member has concerns about a child's safety or suspects harm, they will:

• Locate a private, Culturally safe space where the child feels at ease.

• When appropriate, promptly contact the child's parent or carer and offer the child the option to have a carer or community representative present.

• Treat all reports with utmost seriousness and adhere to the procedures outlined in the Employee Handbook – Child Safety.

• Document their own observations along with precise details of any conversations with parents (who might, for instance, explain a noticeable mark on a child).

• Consistently maintain the confidentiality of all involved parties.

 

REPORTING

 

The Principal/Director, instructor, staff member, parent, or carer who has reasonable grounds to suspect abusive activity must promptly inform their supervisor or the Director about their concern.

If a criminal act is alleged, such as physical or sexual abuse, law enforcement will be notified immediately (dial 000), and measures will be taken to ensure the child's safety from any further risk.

Reports of suspected abusive behaviour or misconduct must be communicated to the Director and/or any relevant external regulatory body, such as the police, if required.

In cases where the supervisor or Principal is suspected of involvement in the activity, or if the person raising the suspicion believes the matter is not being adequately addressed, the concern should be escalated to the next level of supervision or an appropriate external authority.

 

RESPONDING 

 

If a teacher or staff member is accused of committing an offense or seriously violating Lee Family Trust's Child Safety Policy or Child Safety Code of Conduct, the individual in question will be suspended pending an investigation.

Should the appropriate child protection service or law enforcement decide to investigate a report, all teachers and staff are required to fully cooperate with the investigation.

Regardless of whether external authorities choose to conduct an investigation, the Director may opt to carry out an internal inquiry. All instructors and staff must fully cooperate with this investigation.

Any such investigation will be conducted in accordance with the principles of natural justice.

The Director  will strive to maintain the confidentiality of any such investigation; however, it may occasionally be necessary to consult other staff members or parents/carers in relation to the investigation.

If an investigation concludes that, on the balance of probabilities, an offense (or a breach of Lee Family Trust's Child Safety Policy or Child Safety Code of Conduct) has occurred, disciplinary action may ensue, up to and including dismissal or termination of involvement with Lee Family Trust. The investigation's findings will also be reported to any relevant external body as required.

 

REVIEWING

 

Annually, and after each reportable incident, we will undertake a comprehensive evaluation to determine whether Lee Family Trust's child protection policies or procedures need adjustment to enhance the safety of children in our care. This assessment will involve input from Directors, Instructors, staff members, children, and parents/carers.

 

RELATED DOCUMENTS

 

This policy must be read in conjunction with 

Lee Family Trust’s Code of Conduct

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