• Section 1 - Purpose
• Section 2 - Application
• Section 3 - Roles and Responsibilities
• Section 4 - QUT Statement of Commitment
• Section 5 - Promoting Child Protection
• Section 6 - Responding to Disclosure and Reporting a Suspicion of Harm
• Section 7 - Standards of Behaviour Towards Children
• Section 8 - Photography and Social Media
• Section 9 - Research Involving Children
• Section 10 - International Students
• Section 11 - Regulated Child Related Work
• Section 12 - Definitions

Section 1 - Purpose

(1) The purpose of this Policy is:

1. to outline QUT’s commitment to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people;
2. to outline our approach to preventing harm to children in the course of providing activities or services; and
3. to establish processes for responding to and reporting disclosures or suspicions of harm.

Section 2 - Application

(2) This Policy applies to all members of the university community including all staff, committee members, students, visitors, and volunteers when interacting with children or young people in their QUT capacity.

Section 3 - Roles and Responsibilities

Section 4 - QUT Statement of Commitment

(3) QUT is an inclusive and safe environment in which all staff contribute to the development, learning, and wellbeing of children and young people.

(4) QUT is committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people who interact with members of the university community and will:

1. take a proactive approach to the prevention of harm to children by identifying possible exposures and risks early and removing and/or reducing any risks to children or young people;
2. take prompt and appropriate action in response to any allegation or suspicion of child harm;
3. provide appropriate guidelines, processes, and support services for the reporting and handling of disclosures and suspicions of harm;
4. promote best practices in relation to child safety; and
5. promote a culture of child safety and respect.

Section 5 - Promoting Child Protection

(5) All members of the university community are responsible for promoting a culture of safety and wellbeing for children and young people by:

1. treating children and young people with respect;
2. complying with all relevant laws, regulations, policies, processes and guidelines;
3. reporting instances of suspected harm to a child or young person following QUT reporting processes and other mandatory reporting obligations where applicable;
4. complying with any child safety training, registration or accreditation requirements which may be relevant to their university duties or activities;
5. undertaking risk assessments when planning interactions with children or young people in accordance with the QUT Risk Management Framework; and
6. developing relevant strategies to mitigate or manage the risks identified.

(6) Where appropriate, the university will ensure that information is presented to children and young people in an age appropriate manner.

Section 6 - Responding to Disclosure and Reporting a Suspicion of Harm

(7) All members of the university community have a responsibility to respond to a disclosure or suspicion of harm to a child by following QUT reporting processes and other mandatory reporting obligations where applicable.

(8) The University’s Child Protection Coordinator is the principal point of contact for child protection matters, and is responsible for facilitating processes for responding to and reporting suspicions of harm to a child or young person.

(9) The University’s Child Protection Coordinator is the Director, Office of the Vice-President (Administration) and University Registrar.

Section 7 - Standards of Behaviour Towards Children

(10) Members of our community are often in positions of trust and influence in the community including with children and young people. QUT expects that all members of the university community will act in a manner to ensure the safety, wellbeing and protection of children in any interactions they may have as part of their role at QUT.  

(11) When interacting with children or young people, all members of the University community must never engage in inappropriate actions or behaviours, including:

1. using language or behaviour towards children that is harassing, abusive, sexually provocative, demeaning or culturally inappropriate;
2. causing harm to a child or young person in any way including physical, psychological or emotional harm;
3. sexually abusing, exploiting or harassing children in any way;
4. engaging in unauthorised personal contact with children, including sexual or other inappropriate touching or invasive acts, or through social networking sites;
5. using physical force including beating, shaking, hitting, burning, biting, grabbing, throwing or strangling; or
6. developing special relationships that could be seen as favouritism.

Section 8 - Photography and Social Media

(12) All members of the University community are required to ensure that photography (and related multi media such as sound and video), and social media are used appropriately and in accordance with the:

1. Information Privacy Policy and supporting Privacy Protocols (QUT staff access only);
2. Acceptable Use of Information and Communications Technology Resources Policy;
3. QUT Social Media Guidelines for Learning and Teaching, where applicable; and
4. relevant human research ethics standards, where applicable.

(13) The QUT Privacy Protocol 1: Use of photographic images and video recordings, outlines QUT’s requirements regarding consent to take photographic images or recordings including photographic images of children.

(14) Organisational areas using photography and related multi media, and social media, in connection with children or young people are responsible for establishing and implementing guidelines or processes to ensure the use of technology and social media is not detrimental to the child or harmful to the child’s safety.

Section 9 - Research Involving Children

(15) A member of the university community undertaking research involving children or young people is required to obtain approval from the University Human Research Ethics Committee in accordance with the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research  and comply with University policy and other legislation for safety of children and young people. Where research may have a likelihood of causing an inconvenience, discomfort or harm to a child the UHREC ensures that adequate management strategies for addressing risk of harm are in place to mitigate and/or manage the risk and that the benefits of participating outweigh or justify the risks before approval to proceed is given.   

(16) The research may also be required to adhere to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Child Protection Policy 2017.

Section 10 - International Students

(17) QUT is committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of international students under the age of 18 and will endeavour to provide a safe environment so that the student can successfully pursue their academic and personal development. The university will ensure appropriate accommodation, support and general welfare arrangements for the safety and wellbeing of these students.

Section 11 - Regulated Child Related Work

(18) Where QUT staff or students engage in regulated child-related work, for example when providing a QUT service or activity within a school or health facility, or undertaking research that involves persons under the age of 18, QUT will  promote the protection of children by:

1. ensuring awareness of and compliance with relevant working with children legislation
2. ensuring relevant procedures and processes are in place to ensure working with children clearances are identified, attained and renewed where required; and
3. early identification of any new or existing activities or services that pose an exposure or risk to child protection and removing and/or reducing the exposure or risk through appropriate controls and mitigations.

Section 12 - Definitions