Who We Are
Child Safety
St John Ambulance Australia Ltd (St John) is committed to safety and wellbeing of all children and young people (children) who participate in St John activities, programs, events or services (programs). We want children to be safe, supported, nurtured and empowered while involved in our programs, and we will take a preventative, proactive and participatory approach to child safety.
Statement of Commitment to Child Safety
St John has zero tolerance for child abuse. We take all allegations and concerns around abuse very seriously. We will always strive to ensure that children do not experience neglect, abuse, harm or exploitation during their involvement with St John.
St John is committed to providing a child safe environment where children are safe and feel safe, have a positive experience, and their voices are heard. We will always listen to children and value what they say, support them when their safety or wellbeing is threatened, empower them to participate in decisions which affect their lives and address any concerns that they raise.
St John values the input of parents, guardians or carers. We will listen to and communicate regularly with parents, guardians or carers of children engaged with St John. We will endeavour to support families and communities in promoting the healthy and safe development of children. We will communicate honestly, transparently and openly with parents, guardians or carers about their child and the safety or wellbeing of their child, except where not permitted to do so by law.
St John will pay particular attention to the cultural safety of Aboriginal children and children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds, as well as the safety of children with a disability. We respect cultural diversity and differences in child rearing practices, within a context of child safety.
We will strive to engage only the most suitable people to work in our organisation. We will undertake all legislated screening and ensure that high quality employee and volunteer supervision occurs. All members of St John have a responsibility to understand the important and specific role they play individually and collectively in ensuring the wellbeing and safety of children. We believe that, when engaged in programs in which children participate, all members have a role to play in ensuring that the safety and wellbeing of children is at the forefront of all they do and in every decision they make.
St John fosters a culture of openness where any person can safely disclose risks of harm to children without fear of repercussions, victimisation or retaliation. We have policies and procedures aimed at protecting those people who speak out about abuse.
St John will provide members with education on child safety. We will ensure that education on appropriate and acceptable conduct and behaviour towards children is included in our training.
St John will provide a range of resources targeted at children engaged in our youth program, empowering them to speak out if they are worried or feeling unsafe. We will ensure that these resources are age-appropriate and include people or places children can seek help from if they are feeling worried or unsafe.
St John will ask for consent from parents, guardians or carers before seeking or providing information about their child except where information is requested from police, regulatory authorities or statutory child safety agencies should a concern about the safety or wellbeing of a child exist.
St John will cooperate with relevant agencies across Australia in working to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children. We have policies, procedures and training in place that support our members to make prompt decisions about child safety, report allegations or suspicions of abuse promptly, and share information appropriately and lawfully. We also have legal and moral obligations to contact the authorities when we are worried about the safety or wellbeing of a child.
If you believe a child is at immediate risk of harm phone triple zero (000).
External Audit and Accreditation
St John takes child safety very seriously and we have put in place a number of measures to safeguard children from harm.
As part of our commitment, since 19 July 2019, the Australian Office of St John has maintained external audit and accreditation of child safeguarding policies and practices. This is presently achieved with national Child Wise Accreditation. If you are seeking information about child safe organisation accreditation in a St John organisation in an Australian state or territory, please head to the relevant St John organisation’s website or contact their state or territory head office.
National Redress scheme
The National Redress Scheme provides acknowledgement and support to people who experienced institutional child sexual abuse.
It was created in response to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. The Scheme started on 1 July 2018 and will run for 10 years.
For more information on the National Redress Scheme or to make an application, visit www.nationalredress.gov.au or call 1800 737 377.
St John Ambulance Australia Ltd. has joined the National Redress Scheme. St John Ambulance in Australia has a federated structure and is made up of nine separate organisations across the country.
Information about participation in the National Redress Scheme on this website relates to the Australian Office of St John in Australia (St John Ambulance Australia Ltd.) only.
If you are seeking information about the participation of another St John organisation in the National Redress Scheme, please head to the relevant St John organisation’s website or call 1300 ST JOHN (360 455).
