The Y’s of Australia are committed to providing opportunities for all children and young people to grow in body mind and spirit and be protected from harm.
At the Y Whittlesea, the safety, welfare and wellbeing of children, young people and vulnerable adults is our highest priority. The right to be able to enjoy a safe environment free from threats, abuse, neglect or exploitation is our service commitment. We work hard to ensure the safeguarding of children and young people is embedded in our culture and at the forefront of everything we do. We know that it is not just about having the right policies and procedures, it is also about being proactive.
The Y has a legal, moral and mission-driven responsibility to protect children and young people from harm and to ensure that any incidents of suspected child abuse are promptly and appropriately managed.
A crucial aspect of Safeguarding Children and Young People is ensuring our staff understand the process for reporting any concerns they have about a child or young person’s wellbeing and that our staff also understand the YMCA expectations in relation to their code of conduct around children and young people.
Programs and services that advocate for children and young people to air their concerns with our services, and be confident in offering feedback, is another important aspect of creating a culture where children and young people’s well-being is safeguarded.
Our Reporting procedure and Practice and Behaviour Guidelines are available here:
Report A Safeguarding Concern
We encourage parents/guardians to report any concerns relating to the safety or wellbeing of their own child(ren) or young person in a Y facility. This can be done:
- By speaking to our staff in person; or
- By contacting the Y Whittlesea on (03) 9407 6200 or whittlesea@ymca.org.au
- By writing to the Y Whittlesea at 25/797 Plenty Rd, South Morang VIC 3752
Our CEO Commitment
As a mum of three young boys, what drew me to join the Y team was its commitment to the safety of children and young people. As a registered child safe organisation, we strongly believe and recognise that all children and young people have the right to develop and reach their potential in an environment that is caring, nurturing and safe.
The Y denounces all forms of abuse and neglect towards children and young people and works actively to provide a safe environment in all of our programs. Any incidents of suspected child abuse will be acted upon immediately and appropriately.
We are committed to keeping children and young people safe, to give them a voice and support them to achieve their full potential. As part of our commitment we continue to work with children and young people to let them guide us on what it means to feel safe and connected. This is encapsulated in everything we do. We are committed to this journey.
Michele Rowse
CEO (Chief Experience Officer)
The Y Whittlesea
Our Board Commitment
The Board of Directors of Y Whittlesea is committed to ensuring that all children and young people can feel safe and be safe at the Y, in their families and in their communities. We commit to all children and young people that they will be safe, happy and empowered within our services and programs.
We have zero tolerance of child abuse, with all allegations and safety concerns treated seriously and consistently with our robust processes. We have a legal and moral obligation to contact authorities when we are worried about a child or young person’s safety, which we follow rigorously.
Our commitment to keeping children and young people safe is done by ensuring the Board, our staff and volunteers are provided with high levels of training and support to help prevent child abuse and identify risks early, therefore removing and reducing them. This is followed up with auditing and surveys to ensure our standards and commitment are improved and maintained.
We commit to keeping children and young people safe by giving them the tools and confidence to speak up and seek support when needed. Safeguarding children and young people is embedded in our culture and remains at the forefront of everything we do.
Meet the National Safeguarding Unit team
View YMCA Australia Safeguarding page for more information.
