CS13 - Diversity, Inclusion and Engagement
| Issue Date | Effective Date | Version |
|---|---|---|
| 14/12/2023 | 01/07/2024 | 1.0 |
Purpose
To provide guidance to owners or operators of aquatic facilities regarding implementation of equity, diversity and inclusion in the care, consideration and safeguarding of children and young people.
Description
The owner or operator of an aquatic facility should work to understand children and young people’s diverse circumstances.
Additional support should be given to children and young people who may require additional supports due to reasons of social, health or economic vulnerability.
Particular attention should be provided to children and young people of, but not limited to the following groups:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders groups
- Those with disabilities
- From culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
- Those who are not able to live at home
- Those from different socio-economic backgrounds
- Those who may identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex. Or prefer to be referred to with particular pronouns.
External framework’s, strategies and resources which may assist in providing further information include:
- Closing the Gap
- Universal Declaration of Human Rights
- United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child – an international agreement on childhood
- United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Importance of training and education
The owner or operator of an aquatic facility should provide cultural competency training and ongoing educational opportunities to staff, volunteers and contractors. This can assist staff in
- Recognising and responding effectively to children and young people with diverse needs.
- Advocating and promoting the correct attitudes and behaviours that respect the human rights of all children and young people.
- Reflecting on how discrimination and exclusion, whether intentional or unintentional, may mitigate against a safe and inclusive culture and environment and develop proactive strategies to address this.
- Assist with consistent and measurable assessment of programs and activities to ensure they are aligning and delivered in line with contemporary community standards.
Access to Information
Children, young people, their parents and carers and even community groups (elders) should have access to information, support and complaints processes or any other related documentation relating to providing a safe, equitable, diverse and inclusive environment for children and young people.
Age-appropriate and easy to understand documents in print or online must be easily accessible and support children to understand their rights, including to safety, information and participation.
Pool rules/ Conditions of entry should be regularly reviewed to ensure that they mitigate risks identified in risk assessments, and must include the risks to all entrants including the risks identified for children and young people.
A public commitment to the cultural safety of Aboriginal children should be developed and available and displayed for public viewing.
Providing information in easily accessible communication channels to members of the public (whether electronically or physically in the aquatic facility) can assist with transparency from the owner or operator on the policies and assists in building trust and confidence in the community and its deliverables.
REFERENCES
- National Principles for Child Safe Organisations (2018) Child Safe Organisations National Principles
- Child Safety and Wellbeing Keeping our kids safe Cultural safety and the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations (June 2021) SNAICC - National Voice for our Children
- NSW Fire and Rescue Accessed July 2022
- Deakin Policy Library Diversity, Equity and inclusion Policy Accessed July 2022
- Closing the Gap
- Universal Declaration of Human Rights
- United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child – an international agreement on childhood
- United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
- Helping all Succeed, Westpac Group Access and Inclusion Plan 2021-2024 (July 2022)
- Short Guide to the Child Safe Standards, Commission for Children and Young People (Victoria)
