Claydreamers Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy

Organisation: Claydreamers Pottery Studio
Proprietor: Linda De Toma
Location: Victoria, Australia

1. Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy

Claydreamers is committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and nurturing environment where children and young people can learn, create, and thrive.

We uphold the 11 Child Safe Standards (Victoria) and will:
– Promote the safety, participation, and empowerment of all children.
– Value diversity, including the unique strengths and needs of Aboriginal children, children with disability, children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and LGBTQIA+ children.
– Take a zero-tolerance approach to child abuse.
– Ensure all staff, volunteers, contractors, and visitors understand their legal and ethical obligations regarding child safety.
– Continuously review and improve our child safety practices.

2. Child Safe Practice Documentation

Recruitment and Screening

– All staff and volunteers who work with children must hold a valid Working With Children Check (WWCC).
– Reference checks and interviews will include child safety questions.

Training and Induction

– Staff and volunteers receive induction on child safety, behaviour expectations, and mandatory reporting obligations.
– Ongoing professional development in child wellbeing will be provided.

Studio Environment

– Children will always be supervised when using equipment, or tools.
– A two-adult rule will be observed where practicable.
– Spaces will be arranged to allow visibility and prevent isolated one-to-one interactions.

Reporting and Responding

– Concerns about child safety will be taken seriously and responded to promptly.
– All staff must follow the Child Protection and Reporting Obligations (Vic), including reporting to Child Protection, Victoria Police, or the Commission for Children and Young People when necessary.

3. Code of Conduct for Working with Children

All staff, volunteers, contractors, and visitors must:

✅ Treat all children with dignity, respect, and fairness.
✅ Listen to and value children’s ideas and concerns.
✅ Use positive language and encouragement.
✅ Maintain professional boundaries at all times.
✅ Report any suspicion of child abuse or unsafe conduct immediately.
✅ Obtain parent/guardian consent for photography of children, or transporting children.

They must NOT:

❌ Engage in rough play, bullying, or discriminatory behaviour.
❌ Use physical punishment or inappropriate language.
❌ Develop personal, online, or private relationships with children outside the studio.
❌ Be alone with a child in an isolated or concealed space.

4. Child Safe Risk Register

Risk Area	Potential Risk	Mitigation Strategies	Responsible Person
Use of tools (knives, sharp instruments)	Cuts, injury	Safety induction, supervision, age-appropriate tools	Studio instructor
One-to-one contact	Grooming, abuse risk	Open-door policy, visibility in spaces, two-adult rule	All staff
Excursions/workshops	Child lost or unsupervised	Attendance roll, supervision ratio, emergency contact list	Lead teacher
Online communication	Inappropriate contact	Use only official studio accounts, parental consent for online sharing	Studio owner
Disability access needs	Exclusion, harm	Individual risk assessments, adjustments, consult parents	Studio owner

Review and Accountability

– This policy will be reviewed annually or after any incident.
– Children and families will be invited to provide feedback.
– The proprietor, Linda De Toma, is accountable for policy implementation and compliance.

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Linda De Toma, Proprietor – Claydreamers and The Throwing Room