Grace Christian Church Buderim Child Safety
Safety Statement of Commitment
At Grace Christian Church Buderim we are committed to ensuring the safety, wellbeing, and empowerment of all. We uphold a zero-tolerance approach to harm, misconduct & abuse. Each of us at GCCB have a shared responsibility to create safe, inclusive, supportive and empowering environments for everyone where all - especially children, young and vulnerable people - feel safe to learn, grow, connect & belong. As part of our commitment we will:
Prohibit Misconduct and Promote Safe Conduct
● Strictly prohibit any form of misconduct or abuse against children and young people (A child/young person is any person under the age of 18 years )
● Promote, enforce, and regularly review Codes of Conduct.
Create Inclusive and Safe Environments
● Uphold equity and respect the diverse needs of all children and young people including those from diverse backgrounds and cultures are in our policies, procedures and practices
● Actively manage physical and online environments to minimise risks to children and young people
● Respect the cultural safety of all including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.
Empower Children and Involve Families
● Empower children and young people to participate, be heard, and contribute feedback on programs and decisions that affect them
● Actively involve families in promoting child safety and wellbeing.
Screen, Select, and Support the Right People
● Select appropriate people to work/volunteer with children and young people and screen all individuals as per legislative requirements
● Ensure that staff and volunteers are suitably trained, supported and understand their child safety responsibilities, reinforcing the Code of Conduct and monitor behaviour regularly.
Educate and Equip Our People
● Foster a culture of continuous learning to ensure people remain informed and capable
● Deliver regular training and resources to educate staff and volunteers about safe practices, child protection, child abuse prevention, policies and procedures.
Strengthen Leadership and Governance
● Embed child safety into our organisational leadership, governance frameworks, and culture
● Decisions and operations are guided by a child-focused lens and a commitment to protecting them.
Maintain Clear Procedures and Continuous Improvement
● Provide clear, accessible procedures for raising concerns or complaints, which are child-focused and free from reprisal
● Regularly review, monitor, and improve our policies, procedures, and practices to ensure the highest standards of child safety are maintained.
GCCB takes all breaches of this Safety Statement of Commitment seriously. Any failure to comply with our policies, Codes of Conduct, or child safety expectations will be addressed through a fair and confidential process. This may involve internal investigation, disciplinary action, or referral to external authorities where necessary.
All breaches are reviewed to support ongoing improvement in our child safety practices. No person will be victimised for reporting concerns, and the privacy of all parties will be respected. If any person bound by this commitment reasonably suspects that a child is being harmed by a parent or carer, they are advised to contact the Queensland Police.
We reaffirm that the safety of children and young people is the foundation of our culture and is at the heart of everything we do.
Yours in Faith, Grace Christian Church Buderim