Commitment to Children and Young People

Chisholm Institute of TAFE is committed to being a child-safe organisation. We promote the holistic safety, wellbeing and empowerment of children and take a position of zero tolerance of child abuse of any kind, in accordance with the Victorian Child Safe Standards, which set the minimum compulsory standards for all organisations in Victoria providing services to children under the age of 18 years.

Chisholm is committed to:

  • the safety, participation and empowerment of all students, including children;
  • the establishment and continuous improvement of child safe policies and procedures;
  • taking all reasonable steps for thorough recruitment due diligence, including the requirement for prospective staff members to provide the Institute with pre-employment Working with Children Check and where relevant National Police Check;
  • regularly training and educating our staff members, contractors and volunteers on the child safe standards, reportable conduct and child abuse risks;
  • preventing child abuse by identifying risks early, and removing and reducing these risks;
  • observing reporting requirements and disciplinary procedures;
  • the timely reporting of concerns about a child’s safety to relevant authorities;
  • promoting the cultural safety, participation and empowerment of students, including children, from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds;
  • promoting a culturally safe environment in which the diverse and unique identities and experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people are respected and valued,with dedicated support provided through the Koorie Student Support team;
  • ensuring that students with a disability, including children, are safe and can participate equally and align to Chisholm’s Belonging & Inclusion Plan 2022 - 2024; including Equitable Learning and Disability Support services;
  • ensuring that LGBTQIA+ students, including children, are safe and can participate equally;
  • ensuring that children who are unable to live at home, or who are in out-of-home care, are safe and can participate equally;
  • the modelling of Child Safe Standards in in the Chisholm community and Chisholm Leadership Group;
  • ensuring our physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing and minimise the opportunity for children and young people to be harmed;
  • providing a mechanism for children, young people and their families and communities to report concerns on Chisholm campuses and online environments.

Chisholm seeks to ensure clear, fair and transparent processes in responding to, and the reporting of, actual or suspected child abuse.  This includes the establishment of:

  • a procedure for the reporting of child abuse;
  • Child Safety Reporting Officers within Chisholm;
  • a Child Safe Risk Register to provide a framework for assessing and minimising risks to children; and
  • a Chisholm risk management systems to incorporate child safety specific controls in order to mitigate risk associated with potential child abuse.

Support for young people at Chisholm

Chisholm’s Student Support team offers a range of free, confidential support services to help young people stay engaged with their studies and achieve their educational goals. The team can also support young people to connect in with specialised help, including members of the LGBTQIA+ community and students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Chisholm services include:

  • Student Success & Wellbeing (general questions/guidance, accommodation, financial, study, scholarship, and social connection)
  • Counselling
  • Equitable Learning and Disability Support
  • Koorie Student Support (for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students)
  • Apprenticeship Support
  • Careers Counselling
  • Library & Learning Services
  • Student Life (including Youth Social Clubs)
  • Student Voice & Student Leadership opportunities

These services can be accessed by calling 1300 244 746- option 4, emailing wellbeing@chisholm.edu.au or visiting a Student Support Hub in Frankston, Dandenong or Berwick campus.

If you are a young person, or the parent/guardian of a young person and have questions or feedback about our support, please email wellbeing@chisholm.edu.au

Remember - if you feel unsafe, worried or need support, act immediately, reach out to a trusted adult, and connect in with Chisholm Student Support. If you need urgent assistance or support, help is available 24/7:

If you or another young person is in immediate risk, please contact police and campus security as a priority.

Child Safe Standards

Chisholm's Child Safe Policy

New Child Safe Standards Information Sheet (PDF. Via Commission for Children and Young People website)

Translated resources about the Child Safe Standards. 

Feedback and queries

If you would like to provide feedback or have a query regarding child safety and wellbeing at Chisholm please email us at: childsafetyandwellbeing@chisholm.edu.au.