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Child Safety Policy

Last Updated: February 16, 2026

1. Our Promise: Our Statement of Commitment

At Codergarten, child safety is our foundation. We believe every student has the right to feel safe, respected, and empowered. We have zero tolerance for child abuse. Our commitment extends to all children, including Aboriginal children, those from diverse backgrounds, and children with disabilities. We are dedicated to providing a child-safe environment where children and young people are safe and feel safe, and their voices are heard about decisions that affect their lives.

2. Celebrating Aboriginal Culture

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the lands where we teach and play. Codergarten is committed to the cultural safety of Aboriginal children. We do this by:

  • Ensuring Aboriginal children feel proud of who they are and their culture.
  • Making our STEAM sessions a welcoming space for First Nations families.
  • Including Aboriginal perspectives in our learning projects where possible.

3. Safe People (Our Standards)

Every adult at Codergarten—whether a teacher, expert, or assistant—is part of our "Support Crew" and is thoroughly vetted:

  • Background Checks: Mandatory and verified Working With Children Checks (WWCC).
  • Ongoing Training: Safety isn't a one-time check. Our team does regular "refresher" training every year to stay up-to-date with the best ways to keep kids safe.
  • Reportable Conduct: If we ever have a serious worry about how an adult is behaving, we have a legal promise to tell the Victorian Commission for Children and Young People (CCYP) immediately.
  • Code of Conduct: We maintain professional boundaries at all times. No staff member is ever permitted to be alone with a student in a non-visible environment.

4. Safe Spaces (Physical & Digital)

We ensure our learning environments are secure:

  • Location Checks: We perform safety walkthroughs of every venue before students arrive to map out any risks and fixes.
  • Online Safety: We use filtered internet, vetted software, and zero private messaging. All digital communication happens through official, parent-accessible channels.
  • Supervision: We maintain a 1:12 educator-to-student ratio to ensure every child is supported and supervised.

5. Speaking Up (For Everyone)

We encourage a culture where everyone—especially students—feels comfortable speaking up:

  • For Kids: If you feel unsafe, worried, or just "not right," tell your teacher or an adult you trust. You don't need a formal reason to talk to us—we are always here to listen and help.
  • For Parents: If you have any concerns, contact our Child Safety Officer (Rushabh Shethia) immediately at 0493 316 046.
  • Our Action: We take every report seriously. All Codergarten educators and volunteers are mandatory reporters under Victorian law. If a staff member forms a reasonable belief that a child is at risk of abuse or neglect, they must report this to the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) or Victoria Police immediately.

6. Growing Together & Governance

We review this policy every year with input from our families and our students. This ensures that as Codergarten grows to new locations, our safety standards grow with us.

Governance: Child Safety is a standing agenda item in all Codergarten organizational governance meetings. We ensure that safety performance and compliance are reviewed at every level of our leadership.

Contact Information

  • Child Safety Officer: Rushabh Shethia (0493 316 046 | [Enable JS to see email] )
  • Escalation / Deputy Contact: If Rushabh is unavailable or is the subject of a concern, contact Yachna Shethia ( [Enable JS to see email] ).