Tanya Pearson Academy Child Safe Policy

Tanya Pearson Academy Child Safe Policy

1. Our commitment

Tanya Pearson Academy, operated by Australian Dance Arts Pty Ltd (ABN 18 621 838 051), is committed to the safety, wellbeing and empowerment of every child in our care. We have zero tolerance for child abuse and harm of any kind.

This policy sets out how we prevent harm, how we respond to concerns, and what we expect of everyone who works with our students. It applies the NSW Child Safe Standards under the Children’s Guardian Act 2019 (NSW).

Our Child Safe Contact is the Executive Director, Gregor Thieler management@tanyapearsonacademy.com.au).

2. Who and what this policy covers

This policy applies to directors, employees, contractors, guest teachers, choreographers, volunteers and anyone engaged by the Academy (together, “staff”).

It applies to all Academy activities, on or off premises, including classes, private lessons, rehearsals, performances, competitions, workshops, tours, online classes and messaging.

3. Definitions

Term Meaning
Child Any person under 18 years of age.
Child abuse Physical, sexual, emotional or psychological abuse, or neglect, of a child.
Grooming Behaviour by an adult to build trust with a child or family in order to abuse the child. Examples: special attention or gifts, private messaging, secret-keeping, unnecessary one-on-one time.
Harm Any detrimental effect on a child’s physical, psychological or emotional wellbeing, including from bullying by other children.
Child safe concern Any worry, disclosure, allegation or observation that a child may be at risk of harm.

 

 

 

4. How we keep children safe

Screening

  • Every person in child-related work must hold a current NSW Working With Children Check (WWCC), verified with the Office of the Children’s Guardian before their first class or activity. This includes the directors.
  • The Academy keeps a WWCC register of all staff and volunteers, with number, verification date and expiry.
  • Reference checks and child safe questions form part of every recruitment.
  • Volunteers who rely on a WWCC exemption are recorded in the register with the exemption claimed.

Conduct

All staff acknowledge and follow the Professional Guidelines and Code of Ethics. In addition, staff must:

  • use physical contact only for teaching correction, explain it first, and stop if the student is uncomfortable
  • hold private lessons only in a studio with the door open or glass visible, or with another adult nearby
  • never enter change rooms while students are changing, except in an emergency
  • never contact students privately by phone, text or social media; lesson arrangements include the parent
  • never give gifts to individual students, transport students, or meet students outside Academy activities without parent and management approval
  • never photograph or film students without Academy and parent approval, and never on a personal device unless approved

Environment

  • Drop-off and pick-up procedures apply to all students, with a security guard at peak periods.
  • The Visitor Entry Policy controls who enters the premises and restricted areas, including change rooms.
  • The Anti-bullying Action Plan and Student Code of Ethics address harm between students.

 

5. Reporting a concern

Any staff member who has a child safe concern must act the same day.

  1. If a child is in immediate danger, call Police on 000 first.
  2. Report to the Child Safe Contact (Gregor Thieler, (02) 9062 3241) or, if unavailable or involved, to Creative Director Xanthe Geeves.
  3. Write it down on an incident form the same day: what was seen or said, in the child’s own words, date, time, place, and names of anyone present.
  4. Report externally where required. If there is reasonable concern that a child is at risk of significant harm, contact the Child Protection Helpline on 132 111. Non-urgent crimes go to the Police Assistance Line on 131 444.

Anyone may report directly to Police or the Child Protection Helpline at any time. No staff member needs management approval to do so, and no one will be disadvantaged for making a report in good faith. This overrides any communication approval rule in other Academy policies.

If a concern involves a director, report it directly to Police, the Child Protection Helpline or the Office of the Children’s Guardian.

6. How the Academy responds

When a concern is reported, the Child Safe Contact will:

  1. make sure the child is safe and supported
  2. report to Police or the Child Protection Helpline where the threshold is met
  3. inform the child’s parents, unless Police or the Helpline advise otherwise
  4. where a staff member is involved, stand them down from contact with students while the matter is assessed
  5. record the concern, actions taken and outcome
  6. keep information confidential and share it only with those who need to know

The Academy will cooperate fully with Police, the Department of Communities and Justice and the Office of the Children’s Guardian.

7. Students and families

  • Students are told, in age-appropriate language, that they can speak to any teacher, reception or the directors if something makes them feel unsafe or uncomfortable.
  • Parents can raise a concern with the Child Safe Contact by phone or at management@tanyapearsonacademy.com.au.
  • This policy is available to families on the Academy website and on request.
  • Every concern raised by a student or family is taken seriously and responded to.

8. Training, records and review

  • Every staff member must read this policy and the Code of Ethics and confirm in writing that they will comply, before their first class and again at the start of each year. The Academy keeps these confirmations as its training record.
  • Incident forms, concern records and the WWCC register are kept securely by management and are not destroyed.
  • This policy is reviewed every year, and after any serious incident.

Related documents: Professional Guidelines and Code of Ethics, Student Code of Ethics, Anti-bullying Action Plan, Visitor Entry Policy, Drop-off and Pick-up Procedures, Evacuation and Lockdown Procedures, Employment Agreement, Terms and Conditions.