Sheldon College is unwavering in its commitment to providing a safe, supportive and empowering environment for every child and young person entrusted to our care.
The safety, wellbeing and dignity of children are our highest priorities. We have zero tolerance for child abuse, harm, neglect or exploitation in any form. Every decision, action and interaction within our College is guided by our responsibility to protect children and promote their physical, emotional, social, spiritual and cultural wellbeing.
We are committed to:
Actively preventing child abuse and harm through strong leadership, governance and accountability.
Embedding the Queensland Child-Safe Standards across all aspects of our operations.
- Listening to, respecting and empowering children, ensuring their voices are heard, taken seriously and influence decisions that affect them.
- Providing accessible and child-friendly ways for children to raise concerns and seek support.
- Ensuring that all staff, volunteers and contractors uphold the highest standards of professional conduct and child-safe behaviour.
- Maintaining robust recruitment, training and supervision practices to ensure suitability and capability of those who work with children.
- Creating physical and online environments that minimise risk and promote safety and wellbeing.
- Responding promptly, transparently and appropriately to concerns, disclosures and complaints.
Sheldon College recognises and upholds the Universal Principle of cultural safety. We are committed to providing an environment where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children feel culturally safe, welcomed, valued, respected and included. We acknowledge that cultural safety is fundamental to child safety, and we actively seek feedback from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and communities to strengthen our practice.
We extend this commitment to all members of our College community. Sheldon College fosters a culture of inclusion where every child, regardless of their cultural background, identity, ability, gender, language, faith, or life experience, feels safe, seen, and supported to achieve the extraordinary. We recognise and celebrate diversity as a strength and are committed to embedding inclusive practices that respond to the varied needs of all learners.
Our approach is underpinned by respect, equity, and a deep understanding that inclusion requires intentional action. We promote student voice, partner with families, and ensure that our policies, practices, and learning environments are responsive, accessible, and culturally informed. Through this, we create a community where every child experiences a genuine sense of belonging, connection, and wellbeing.
We respect the rights of children as articulated in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Children at Sheldon College have the right to feel safe, to be heard, to participate in decisions affecting them and to receive support without discrimination.
Child safety at Sheldon College is a shared responsibility embedded in our culture. Every member of our community plays a vital role in upholding this commitment.
We will continuously review and strengthen our policies, procedures and practices to ensure we remain a child-safe organisation and a place where every child can achieve the extraordinary in a secure and respectful environment.
Related Resources:
- Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy
- Child Safety and Wellbeing - Raising and Responding to Concerns Policy
- Child Safety and Wellbeing - Staff Code of Conduct
- Child Protection Policy
- Complaints Policy