Story Dogs - Child Safe Organisation

Story Dogs makes reading fun but takes the safety of the children we help very seriously .

Our Commitment:

Story Dogs is committed to promoting and protecting the interests and safety of children. 

Everyone involved with Story Dogs is responsible for the care and protection of children and reporting information about child abuse.

Context:

Story Dogs works closely with schools, we are only on schools grounds by the permission of the school Principal. As such the children are in the care of the school at all times. Story Dogs acknowledges that is has a strong duty of care to the children when they are engaging with Story Dogs staff or volunteers. Story Dogs volunteers see children on a one on one basis each week for approximately 20 minutes per child. It is expected a bond or relationship will form between the child, volunteer and dog. However, this relationship should always be positive and fun and never become personal.

Risk Minimisation:

As part of Story Dogs commitment to the protection of children against abuse we have put in place a number of measures to minimise the risk. These are:-

• All staff and volunteers of Story Dogs must have a current Working with Children/Vulnerable People Check issued from the State they are working/volunteering in.
• All staff and volunteers of Story Dogs will be made aware of their responsibilities in relation to child protection. Specifically the Story Dogs Code of Conduct, Story Dogs Child Protection Policy and the Story Dogs Child Protection Volunteer Information and Procedures. 
• Story Dogs Coordinators are to support volunteer Dog Teams in all matters related to child protection. 
• The Story Dogs Board will support coordinators, volunteers and other staff members in all matters related to child protection. 
• Story Dogs volunteers have only the first name and no other information on the children we see. All permission forms and other information is held by the school. Reading levels collected are not linked to any specific children but are reported to Story Dogs by the school with only the child’s first name used. 
• The location of the reading sessions within the school are chosen so as to ensure volunteers are not alone and out of sight with the child. Reading sessions are to be in sight of school staff at all times.

If you have concerns about child safety or witness any inappropriate behaviour—including bullying, rough contact, predatory behaviour, or inappropriate language—you are encouraged to report it immediately. Your input helps us maintain a safe and respectful environment for all children and families.

Please raise it by: Contacting our child safety officer: Janine Sigley (Managing Director)

Email: janine@storydogs.org.au

Phone: 0411 536 355 

For any crimes please call the Police on 000.