All board members, staff, and volunteers of Operation Stitches must observe child safe principles and expectations for appropriate behaviour by adults towards, and in the company of children, as below. 

• Adhering to Operation Stitches child safety policy at all times and upholding Operation Stitches statement of commitment to child safety at all times
  
  
• Providing a current working with children’s check
  
  
• Working in a group environment and never in a space where they may be  alone
  
  
• Not escorting any child home from the organisation’s activities unless with two or more volunteers
  
  
• Not developing any ‘special’ relationships with children that may be seen as favouritism or amount to ‘grooming’ behaviour including through the provision of gifts (without leadership agreement) … or any inappropriate attention
  
  
• Not exchanging personal information such as an email address or phone number
  
  
• Not having any physical contact with a child or their family outside of Operation Stitches without   the knowledge and/or consent of Operation Stitches staff/management
  
  
• Taking all reasonable steps to protect children from abuse
  
  
• Listening and responding to the views and concerns of children, particularly if they have stated  that they or another child have been abused and/or are worried about their safety or the safety of another child
  
  
• Treating every child with dignity and respect
  
  
• Promoting the cultural safety, participation, and empowerment of children with culturally  and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds
  
  
• Promoting the safety, participation, and empowerment of children with a disability
  
  
• Modelling appropriate adult behaviour in an open and transparent way
  
  
• Respecting the privacy of parents and children by not disclosing personal information to others outside of Operation Stitches
  
  
• Protecting children from abuse during sessions, ensuring that children are safe and protected  from harm as quickly as possible
  
  
• Reporting any allegations of child abuse to Operation Stitches staff /management who  will investigate and forward known abuse to the Victoria Police or Child Protection
  
  
• Complying with all Operation Stitches reporting and/or disclosure obligations, including mandatory reporting and reportable conduct
  
  
• Encouraging children to ‘have a say’ and participate in all relevant organisational activities where possible, especially on issues that are important to them

Staff and volunteers must not:

• Exhibit behaviours or engage in activities with children that may be construed as unnecessarily physical
  
  
• Do things of a personal nature that a child can do for themselves such as toileting or changing clothes
  
  
• Engage in open discussions of a mature or adult nature in the presence of children
  
  
• Use inappropriate language in the presence of children
  
  
• Express or promote personal views on cultures, race or sexuality in the presence of children
  
  
• Discriminate against any child, including on the basis of age, gender, sexuality, race, religion, cultural  or disability ignore or disregard any concerns, suspicions or disclosures of child abuse

By observing these standards, you acknowledge your responsibility to immediately report any breach of this code of conduct to Operation Stitches child safety staff/management. Failure to comply with this code of conduct will be investigated by Operation Stitches and may result in disciplinary action.