Our safeguarding commitment

I believe, deeply and personally, that every person who comes to Y Whittlesea deserves to feel safe and to feel they belong, regardless of their age, background, ability, culture, gender, sexuality, or belief. As a mum of three boys, that belief is what drew me to this work, and it shapes every decision I make in this role.

We will not tolerate abuse, discrimination, or harm in any form. And I want to be clear that safety and inclusion aren’t just policies we adhere to, they are values I hold, and that I expect our entire team to hold alongside me.

What I am most committed to is this: that every person who walks through our doors feels genuinely seen and valued. That diverse voices aren’t just present in our programs but are actively listened to. And that we create the kind of environment where people feel confident enough to speak up, knowing they will be heard and supported.

Safeguarding and inclusion are, to me, two sides of the same coin. You cannot truly keep people safe without also respecting their dignity, their identity, and their rights as human beings.

Michele Rowse
CEO (Chief Experience Officer)
Y Whittlesea

At Y Whittlesea, our Board of Directors are dedicated to creating a place where every person (participants, staff, volunteers, and community members) can feel safe, included, and empowered. We recognise that true safety requires us to actively address the barriers that discrimination, exclusion, and inequality create.

We have zero tolerance for abuse, harassment, or discrimination of any kind. All concerns and allegations will be treated seriously, consistently, and with respect for the rights and dignity of everyone involved.

We commit to embedding diversity, inclusion, and a human rights lens into our culture, governance, and the design of our programs, not as a policy obligation, but as a core expression of who we are. Safeguarding all people is central to everything we do, and we hold ourselves accountable to that standard on behalf of our entire community.

Leith McGregor
President
Y Whittlesea