Safe Environments for All

Catholic Education South Australia (CESA) is deeply committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all children in their care. They have implemented a comprehensive child safeguarding framework that includes policies, procedures, and educational programs to protect children from abuse, bullying, harassment, and neglect. At St Therese school, we are committed to complying with this framework and encourage parents to be well-informed and engaged in their children's safety and wellbeing.

Some key components of CESA's child safeguarding efforts include:

• Child Protection Policies: These policies outline the responsibilities of staff and volunteers in maintaining a safe environment for children.
• Keeping Safe Child Protection Curriculum: This curriculum is mandated in all Catholic schools in South Australia and teaches children from age 3 to Year 12 how to recognise abuse, talk to trusted adults, and understand ways to keep themselves safe.
• Professional Learning for Teachers: Teachers participate in ongoing professional development to effectively implement the child protection curriculum.
• Family and Community Resources: CESA encourages parents and carers to be involved in child safety and wellbeing initiatives. They provide resources and support for families to help them stay informed and engaged.

CESA also collaborates with other church agencies, education sectors, and government agencies to ensure a coordinated approach to child safeguarding. For more detailed information, you can visit their Safe Environments for All page https://www.cesa.catholic.edu.au/our-schools/safe-environments-for-all 

Keeping Safe Child Protection Curriculum (KS:CPC) - Here are some key points about the KS:CPC:

• Curriculum Overview: The KS:CPC focuses on teaching children about their right to be safe, recognising abuse, and seeking support.
• Age-Appropriate Learning: The KS:CPC is designed to be age and developmentally appropriate, ensuring that the information is suitable for children at different stages of their development.
• Professional Learning for Teachers: All teachers participate in ongoing professional learning to effectively implement the curriculum and support students in understanding and applying the concepts.
• Family and Community Resources are available to families. These include online safety programs, mental health support, and 24-hour helplines.
  https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents 
  https://www.thinkuknow.org.au/ 
  https://bullyingnoway.gov.au/
• Parent Involvement and Support: Parents are encouraged to be involved in our child safety and wellbeing initiatives and to utilise available resources to support their children's understanding of safety and protection. The 'Bullying No Way' national week of action takes place from 11-15 August 2025. Planning is underway for activities at school to promote this initiative. We are waiting on date confirmation from ThinkUKnow for parent and student sessions this year. Please keep your eye on SZapp for details as they become available. I encourage all parents to attend this information session to assist with keeping everyone safe online. The parent and student sessions are held separately due to age-appropriate content presented.

The Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum (KS:CPC) covers a range of topics designed to help children and young people understand their rights, recognise abuse, and develop strategies to keep themselves safe. The curriculum is organised around two main themes and four focus areas:

Main Themes

1. We all have the right to be safe
2. We can help ourselves to be safe by talking to people we trust

Focus Areas

1. The Right to Be Safe: Understanding personal safety and the right to feel safe.
2. Relationships: Building and maintaining respectful relationships, understanding consent, and recognising healthy and unhealthy relationships.
3. Recognising and Reporting Abuse: Identifying different types of abuse, understanding appropriate and inappropriate touching, and knowing how to report abuse to trusted adults.
4. Protective Strategies: Developing skills and strategies to protect oneself, including seeking help and support from trusted adults.

The curriculum also emphasises the importance of respectful relationships and consent education.

Strategies for parents to reinforce the lessons from the KS:CPC

Open Communication

• Create a Safe Space: Encourage open and honest conversations about safety, boundaries, and relationships. Let your child know they can talk to you about anything without fear of judgement.
• Use Everyday Opportunities: Incorporate discussions about safety and respect into daily activities, such as during mealtimes, car rides, or while watching TV together.

Model Positive Behaviour

• Show Respect: Demonstrate respectful behaviour in your interactions with others. Children learn a lot by observing their parents.
• Set Boundaries: Clearly define and respect personal boundaries within the family. Explain the importance of consent and personal space.

Reinforce Learning

• Ask Questions: Engage your child in discussions about what they’ve learned in school. Ask questions like, “How can we help each other feel safe?”
• Practice Scenarios: Role-play different scenarios with your child to help them practice recognising unsafe situations and responding appropriately.

Provide Resources

• Share Information: Provide age-appropriate books, videos, and other resources that reinforce the concepts of safety, respect, and consent.
• Connect with Support Services: Make your child aware of trusted adults, such as teachers, counsellors, and family friends, who they can talk to if they ever feel unsafe.

Encourage Critical Thinking

• Teach Decision-Making: Encourage your child to think critically about situations and make safe decisions. Discuss different scenarios and the potential consequences of different actions.
• Empower Independence: Foster your child’s independence and self-confidence by allowing them to make choices and learn from their experiences.

By actively engaging in these strategies, parents can support and reinforce the important lessons of the KS:CPC, helping their children develop the skills and knowledge they need to stay safe.

Please do not hesitate to contact your child’s class teacher if you have any questions about the KS:CPC content in your child’s class.

Go well
Dee-anne Peters
Principal