Child Safety at Think Play Say

Purpose

All children who attend Think Play Say have the right to feel safe, protected and included. This policy outlines the child safe practices we have in place to minimise risks to child safety, and sets out what is required from all staff, volunteers and others who interact with our organisation.

Our commitment to child safety

At Think Play Say we commit to the safety and wellbeing of every child in our care. Our Statement of Commitment to Child Safety is available on this page and displayed at reception. Our services and activities are inclusive of all children, including children with diverse needs.

Scope

This policy applies to all staff and volunteers when taking part in any activities, services and events that involve children.

Responsibilities

Everyone in our organisation is expected to:

• Uphold our commitment to child safety

• Follow the behaviours set out in our Child Safe Code of Conduct

• Meet requirements across all child safe policies and procedures

• Take part in regular reviews of our child safe documents

• Report all breaches of our policies or any allegations of child harm or abuse

• Complete all required child safe training

Contact the Director with any child safety questions or concerns.

Active participation of children, families and communities

• All child-related policies and procedures are easily accessible on our website and at reception

• Children, parents and carers from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to provide feedback on our policies

• We provide opportunities for children to tell us what makes them feel safe, supported and included

Definitions of harm and abuse

Psychological abuse (emotional abuse) Bullying, threatening and abusive language, intimidation, shaming and name calling, ignoring and isolating a child, and exposure to domestic and family violence.

Physical abuse Physical punishment such as pushing, shoving, punching, slapping and kicking resulting in injury, burns, choking or bruising.

Sexual abuse The sexual touching of a child, grooming, and production, distribution or possession of child abuse material.

Grooming A process where a person manipulates a child or group of children to establish a position of trust so they can later sexually abuse the child.

Misconduct Inappropriate behaviour that may not be as severe as abuse but could indicate that abuse is occurring — for example, showing a child something inappropriate on a phone or having inappropriate conversations with a child.

Lack of appropriate care (neglect) Not providing adequate and proper supervision, nourishment, hygiene support, clothing, shelter, education or medical care.

What this policy covers

Children attending appointments Carers are required to be present in or near the session as agreed. Children are not to leave the clinic without a guardian. Clinicians have a duty of care to hand children over to carer supervision at the end of every session. Carers who are concerned their child may leave the clinic without permission should notify the clinician in advance. Carers are responsible for personal care support (e.g. toileting) while attending the clinic.

Social media and online communication Staff must never communicate privately with children online or via social media. Any necessary online communication must include the child's parent or carer.

Photography and images Photos and videos of children may only be taken with written consent from parents or carers. Consent may be withdrawn at any time. Client faces must not be used on social media — images should be cropped or blurred. Staff must not photograph children on personal devices.

Physical contact Physical contact with children should be kept to a minimum. All staff are expected to maintain healthy physical boundaries. Physical restraint is the carer's responsibility wherever possible. Clinicians will only intervene physically in situations where it is completely unavoidable to ensure immediate client safety.

Gifts and benefits Staff must never give gifts or benefits to a child without direct permission from the child's parents or carers.

Secondary employment Staff must declare any secondary employment and ensure there are no conflicts of interest. Staff may not provide services to children in our care outside the organisation unless a pre-existing family relationship is declared to and documented by the Director.

Out of hours contact Staff must inform the Director of any out-of-hours contact with children in our care. Professional boundaries must be maintained at all times.

Illness and injury management Injuries must be reported promptly. The first aid kit is located at reception. First aid should be administered in a safe space within sight of other adults. All injuries are documented in BrightHR.

Reporting

Our Child Safe Reporting Policy sets out all requirements and procedures for complaints, allegations, disclosures and external reporting obligations — see the Reporting tab on this page.

To report a concern directly: Maroochydore Child Safety Service Centre — (07) 5376 9500 13 CHILD (13 24 53) — 24 hours

Relevant legislation

Child Protection Act 1999 (QLD) | Working with Children (Risk Management and Screening) Act 2000 (QLD) | Human Rights Act 2019 (QLD) | Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) | National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 (Cth)

Review

Reviewed by Christine Calnan Osborne, April 2026. Next review April 2027.

Child Safe Code of Conduct

Commitment to child safety

At Think Play Say, we are committed to supporting the safety of all children, with a zero-tolerance approach to abuse. This includes a culture where preventing and reporting abuse is encouraged and supported.

All staff and volunteers are responsible for promoting the safety, wellbeing and empowerment of children. This includes understanding and responding to children’s diverse needs and cultural considerations.

Our Child Safe Code of Conduct sets out how we expect adults in our organisation to behave around children to help prevent harm and abuse in our physical spaces and online. Our Child Safe Code of Conduct identifies:

· ‘I will’ child safe behaviours that we consider acceptable

· ‘I won’t’ behaviours that we consider unacceptable.

Engaging in unacceptable behaviour is a breach of our Child Safe Code of Conduct and may result in disciplinary action. 

Different types of child harm and abuse

Child abuse takes many forms. It can include psychological, physical and sexual abuse, grooming, misconduct and lack of appropriate care as defined below.

Psychological abuse (also known as emotional abuse)This includes bullying, threatening and abusive language, intimidation, shaming and name calling, ignoring and isolating a child, and exposure to domestic and family violence.

Physical abuseThis includes physical punishment, such as pushing, shoving, punching, slapping and kicking, resulting in injury, burns, choking or bruising.

Sexual abuseThis includes the sexual touching of a child, grooming, and production, distribution or possession of child abuse material.

GroomingThis is a process where a person manipulates a child or group of children and sometimes those looking after them, including parents, carers, teachers and leaders. They do this to establish a position of ‘trust’ so they can then later sexually abuse the child.

MisconductThis is inappropriate behaviour that may not be as severe as abuse, but could indicate that abuse is occurring and would often be in breach of an organisation’s Child Safe Code of Conduct. This could include showing a child something inappropriate on a phone, having inappropriate conversations with a child or an adult sitting with a child on their lap.

Lack of appropriate care (neglect)This includes not providing adequate and proper supervision, nourishment, clothing, shelter, education or medical care.

Acceptable and unacceptable behaviours in our organisation

The list of acceptable and unacceptable behaviours below are in relation to interactions of staff and volunteers with children who interact with our organisation’s services, locations or activities.

I will:

·   treat all children with respect

·   uphold the rights of the child and always prioritise their needs

·   make sure the needs of all children remain the paramount focus of any decision-making

·   listen to and value the ideas and opinions of all children, and respond to them appropriately

·   welcome all children and their families and carers, and ask them to participate in decisions around child safety

·   actively promote safe and inclusive practices for all children, including those with diverse needs, circumstances and backgrounds, including children with disability  

·   adhere to the organisation’s child safe policies, procedures and practices

·   participate in all compulsory child safe training

·   include a child’s parent or carer in any direct online communication or correspondence.

·   when transporting a child at work, take all reasonable steps to ensure at least two adults are travelling with the child at all times or put in place a suitable arrangement between my organisation and the parents or carers of the child. If the child is alone, they must sit in the back seat of the vehicle.

·   let the organisation know about any out-of-hours contact with any children in the care of our organisation or who interact with our services, and make sure there is a valid reason for this contact and parents or carers are also aware of this contact.

·   take all reasonable steps to protect children from harm and abuse, and report and act on any concerns or allegations - see reporting section

·   report any conflicts of interest such as a relationship with a child that is outside the organisation

·   raise concerns with the leadership team if risks to child safety are identified

·   take a child seriously if they disclose harm or abuse and follow the correct procedures for responding to a disclosure

·   make sure breaches of the Child Safe Code of Conduct and any instances of concerning behaviour from adults are reported immediately

·   respect the privacy of children, and their families, and keep all information about child protection concerns confidential.

I won’t:

·   condone or participate in unsafe, harmful or abusive behaviour towards children, including psychological, physical and sexual abuse, grooming, misconduct or lack of appropriate care

·   ignore or disregard any concerns, suspicions or disclosures of child abuse

·   exaggerate or trivialise child abuse issues

·   persistently criticise or denigrate a child

·   use hurtful, discriminatory or offensive behaviour or language with children

·   verbally assault a child, or create a climate of fear

·   deliberately prevent a child from forming friendships

·   engage in unwarranted and inappropriate touching involving a child

·   be alone with a child without supervision or adequate risk management in place

·   have contact after hours with children

·   encourage a child to communicate with me in a private setting, including online or on social media

·   give personal gifts or benefits of any kind to a child unless direct permission has been given from the parent or carer

·   share details of sexual experiences with a child

·   use sexual language or gestures in the presence of children

·   show sexual, violent or other inappropriate images to a child

·   take videos or images of children interacting with the organisation or under the care of the organisation on a personal device without permission from the organisation without permission from the carer

·   share videos or images of children on social media without consent from the carer

·   fail to report information to police or other relevant authorities if I know or suspect a child has been harmed or abused (see reporting obligations below).

Concerning behaviours

Concerning behaviours are behaviours that on their own may not constitute a breach of our Child Safe Code of Conduct but when viewed together may indicate unacceptable or grooming behaviour.

These include:

·   Showing favour to one child over others

·   Providing service to children without prior consent and documented agreement from the organisation (working outside the organisation is only allowed in exceptional circumstances when the child and their family or carer is known and has a pre-existing relationship with the staff member or volunteer outside the organisation)

·   Participating in the lives of children outside the service without a valid reason

·   Crossing professional and ethical boundaries with the children in our care

·   Spending time alone with children outside of professional obligations

·   Being ‘child centric’, which means showing a preference for hanging out with children rather than adults.

Internal and external reporting obligations

You must follow all internal and external reporting obligations set out in our organisation’s Child Safe Reporting tab.

Criminal offences for not acting to protect children

Some breaches of this code of conduct may need to be reported to QLD Police, he Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs (DCYJMA)

It is a criminal offence for adults not to report to police if they know or believe that a child abuse offence has been committed. In addition, people employed in child-related work may be subject to a criminal offence if they fail to reduce or remove the risk of a child becoming a victim of child abuse.

The adult concerned should reach out to the managing director if they are unsure of what may need to be reported externally. If you have concerns or suspicions about a child safety breach, it is best practice to make a report as soon as possible.

Penalties for staff or volunteers who breach our Child Safe Code of Conduct

Staff or volunteers who breach our Child Safe Code of Conduct but do not commit a criminal offence may still be subject to disciplinary action. This can include increased supervision, appointment to a different role, additional training, suspension or termination from the service at the discretion of the managing director.

Agreement to abide by the terms of Child Safe Code of Conduct

I have read and agree to abide by the terms of this Child Safe Code of Conduct

Name of staff member or volunteer

Enter staff member or volunteer name

Role in organisation

Enter staff member or volunteer role

Signature and date

Select date

Date document reviewed

Enter review date

Next review date

Note

Include a date when the policy will be reviewed and who is responsible for the review, noting that if there are any critical incidents the policy will be reviewed immediately

April 2027

If there are any critical incidents, the document will be reviewed immediately.

Signature of responsible officer

April 2026

Child Safe Reporting Policy

Think Play Say

At Think Play Say, keeping children safe is everyone's responsibility. When in doubt — report. It is always better to report a concern than to stay silent.

Purpose

This policy sets out how Think Play Say handles child safe reporting and complaints. Everyone at Think Play Say must:

• Know what to report, who to report to, and how to report

• Report any concerns about the safety or welfare of a child immediately

• Ensure the safety and wellbeing of the child is the priority in every decision

Our reporting practices are reviewed annually and updated to make sure they remain effective and comply with Queensland legislation.

Who this applies to

This policy applies to all Think Play Say staff, allied health assistants, students on placement, contractors, volunteers, and the Director.

Definitions of harm and abuse

Psychological abuse (emotional abuse) Bullying, threatening and abusive language, intimidation, shaming and name calling, ignoring and isolating a child, and exposure to domestic and family violence.

Physical abuse Physical punishment such as pushing, shoving, punching, slapping, kicking and unauthorised use of restraint resulting in injury, burns, choking or bruising.

Sexual abuse The sexual touching or sexual assault of a child, grooming, and production, distribution or possession of child abuse material.

Grooming A process where a person manipulates a child or group of children — and sometimes those looking after them — to establish a position of trust so they can later sexually abuse the child.

Misconduct Inappropriate behaviour that may not be as severe as abuse but could indicate that abuse is occurring. Examples include showing a child something inappropriate on a phone, having inappropriate conversations with a child, or an adult sitting with a child on their lap.

Lack of appropriate care (neglect) Not providing adequate and proper supervision, nourishment, clothing, shelter, education or medical care.

Mandatory reporting — Queensland

All staff at Think Play Say are mandatory reporters under the Child Protection Act 1999 (QLD).

As speech pathologists and allied health professionals delivering services to children, all clinical staff — and any other staff who become aware of a concern — must report to the Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs (DCYJMA) if they:

• Know a child has been harmed

• Reasonably suspect a child is at risk of being harmed

• Know or reasonably suspect a child has been sexually abused

This obligation applies regardless of role — speech pathologists, allied health assistants, admin staff, students and contractors.

What to report

All of the following must be reported — first internally to the Director, and externally where required:

• Criminal conduct involving a child

• Disclosures or reports of abuse from a child, family member, or other person

• Reasonable suspicion that a child is at risk of significant harm

• Behaviour by any adult that breaches our Child Safe Code of Conduct

• Any incident, allegation or concern that makes you uncomfortable

If in doubt — report it. It is better to report a concern that turns out to be unfounded than to not report something that needed action.

How to make an external report — Queensland

Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs (DCYJMA)

Contact DCYJMA if you know or reasonably suspect a child is at risk of harm:

Phone: 13 CHILD (13 24 53) — available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Maroochydore Child Safety Service Centre Phone: (07) 5376 9500 Postal address: PO Box 213, Maroochydore QLD 4558

Online report: https://secure.communities.qld.gov.au/cpguide/engine.aspx Use the Child Protection Guide decision-making tool to help determine if a report is required.

Queensland Police

Report to QLD Police immediately if you believe a criminal offence has been committed against a child — including sexual assault, serious physical assault, or grooming:

Emergency: 000 General enquiries: 131 444

Do NOT take any action that could compromise a police investigation. Report criminal matters to police as the first step — before taking internal action.

How to make an internal report

Step-by-step process

1. Stay calm. Ensure the immediate safety of the child.

2. If a child discloses abuse — listen, believe, and do not investigate yourself. Record their exact words as soon as possible.

3. Report immediately to the Director (Christine Calnan Osborne). If the concern involves the Director, contact DCYJMA directly on 13 CHILD (13 24 53).

4. Complete an Incident Report in BrightHR within 24 hours.

5. The Director conducts a risk assessment to ensure the safety of all people involved.

6. External reporting obligations are assessed and met if required (see above).

7. The child and family are supported throughout the process.

8. The incident is reviewed and child safe documents are updated if necessary.

Child Safe Officer

Christine Calnan Osborne (Director) Email: admin@thinkplaysay.com.au

If the concern involves the Director, contact DCYJMA directly on 13 CHILD (13 24 53).

Reporting by children, families and community members

Children, young people, their families, advocates and community members who interact with our services are encouraged to report concerns to us directly. We will support anyone who makes a report.

Children and families can:

• Speak directly to their clinician

• Ask to speak to Christine Calnan Osborne (Director)

• Contact DCYJMA on 13 CHILD (13 24 53)

• Contact QLD Police on 000 (emergency) or 131 444

How complaints are handled

Once an allegation or complaint has been made:

1. Steps are taken immediately to identify and address any risks to the child's safety

2. The incident is recorded in BrightHR

3. External reporting obligations are assessed and met if required

4. An investigation is conducted — everyone involved is kept informed

5. Ongoing support is offered to the child or young person as needed

6. The incident is reviewed and our child safe documents are updated if necessary

Risk management after an allegation

It is the responsibility of the Director (Christine Calnan Osborne) to conduct a risk assessment after receiving an allegation, to ensure the safety of all people involved and maintain the integrity of any potential investigation. If the allegation involves the Director, an external authority should be contacted directly.

Confidentiality and procedural fairness

• All reports are treated confidentially — information is only shared with those who need to know

• The person being reported will be notified when any disciplinary process is to occur

• We follow our obligations under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and Australian Privacy Principles

• All reporting forms are stored securely in BrightHR and accessed only by those responsible for the investigation

• A person who makes a report in good faith will not be penalised — even if the concern is not substantiated

Unacceptable behaviours

Our Child Safe Code of Conduct sets out the full list of unacceptable behaviours around children and young people. Any behaviour that breaches the Code of Conduct must be reported internally, and externally where required.

How we communicate this policy

• Information sessions are held with staff covering child safe documents and reporting obligations

• Reporting information is included in staff induction and displayed at reception

• This policy is available on our website at thinkplaysay.com.au

• A link to this policy is included in the intake email sent to all new clients

• Annual reminders are sent to all staff

Relevant Queensland legislation

• Child Protection Act 1999 (QLD)

• Working with Children (Risk Management and Screening) Act 2000 (QLD)

• Human Rights Act 2019 (QLD)

• Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and Australian Privacy Principles

• National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 (Cth)

Child Safe Reporting Policy

Christine Calnan Osborne

April 2027