What do the Standards mean in a practical way for organisations supporting children with disability? Organisations must develop a culture which: Encourages children to a say” “have Listens and responds to children’s views Promotes and advocates children’s rights and safety and Encourages everyone in the organisation the Board, management, ‐ permanent & casual staff and volunteers to ask, we doing the best we – “Are can to keep children with disability safe in every action we take?” For most organisations, thinking about children with disability being at risk is a confronting and challenging issue because it is a very distressing subject. Children being at risk challenges some of the core values and long established practices of our organisations, and organisations have not been as safe as they need to be. Making changes to how we work can feel hard but this is also a valuable – opportunity to create safe places for children. It is important to address this issue in a thoughtful and respectful way and on a repeated basis. We suggest that organisations use the Standards as a lens to look at Child Safety. Let’s ask ourselves well is our organisation doing in each of these areas to make sure it is a “How safe environment for the children & young people with disability that attend our organisation?” can we involve children & people in making our organisations safe “How for them?” can we do in our organisations to make sure our work is informed by “What standards what needs to change? and; – “ can we tell its working and making a difference for children?” “How It can be very useful for organisations to look at each Standard and reflect: does each Standard mean for our organisation?” “What does it mean for the children & young people with disability that attend “What our organisation?” can we do in our organisations to make sure our work is informed by “What these standards? How can we tell its working and making a difference for children?” And; can we involve children & young people in making our organisations “How safe for them?”
What do the Standards mean in a practical way for organisations supporting children with disability? Organisations must develop a culture which: Encourages children to “have a say” Listens and responds to children’s views Promotes and advocates children’s rights and safety and Encourages everyone in the organisation ‐ the Board, management, permanent & casual staff and volunteers – to ask, “Are we doing the best we can to keep children with disability safe in every action we take?” For most organisations, thinking about children with disability being at risk is a confronting and challenging issue because it is a very distressing subject. Children being at risk challenges some of the core values and long established practices of our organisations, and organisations have not been as safe as they need to be. Making changes to how we work can feel hard – but this is also a valuable opportunity to create safe places for children. It is important to address this issue in a thoughtful and respectful way and on a repeated basis. We suggest that organisations use the Standards as a lens to look at Child Safety. Let’s ask ourselves “How well is our organisation doing in each of these areas to make sure it is a safe environment for the children & young people with disability that attend our organisation?” “How can we involve children & people in making our organisations safe for them?” “What can we do in our organisations to make sure our work is informed by standards – what needs to change? “ and; “How can we tell its working and making a difference for children?” It can be very useful for organisations to look at each Standard and reflect: “What does each Standard mean for our organisation?” “What does it mean for the children & young people with disability that attend our organisation?” “What can we do in our organisations to make sure our work is informed by these standards? How can we tell its working and making a difference for children?” And; “How can we involve children & young people in making our organisations safe for them?”
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