3.4 Safeguarding children and young people
DECYP is committed to safeguarding the rights of children and young people to have an education, to be heard, and to be kept safe from harm. Child safety is everyone’s responsibility, including volunteers with Libraries Tasmania. Refer to the DECYP Safeguarding Framework page for more information.
Volunteers are expected to contribute to a child-safe organisational culture and must undertake the required mandatory safeguarding training (refer to 3.2.3 above). They must report any concerns for a child and young person’s safety and wellbeing to the Strong Families and Safe Kids Advice and Referral Line.
Volunteer behaviour that poses a risk to the safety and wellbeing of children will be reported to Tasmania Police.
3.4.1 Registration to Work with Vulnerable People
All Libraries Tasmania volunteers must have and maintain a current Tasmanian RWVP as per the Registration to Work with Vulnerable People Policy, except volunteers who are:
- Under 16 years of age.
- Accompanied by a carer through a disability plan, in which case the carer must hold a current RWVP, and the volunteer must undertake allocated tasks under the carer’s supervision.
Libraries Tasmania will reimburse volunteer RWVP fees as follows.
- New volunteers – will be reimbursed after they have completed four volunteering sessions (including the induction session) and with proof of payment. A volunteering session is an agreed period where a volunteer undertakes allocated tasks (usually at least two hours of activity).
- Existing volunteers – will be reimbursed for the annual RWVP registration fee with proof of payment.
3.4.2 Mandatory reporting
All Libraries Tasmania staff including volunteers are mandatory reporters under the Children, Young Persons and Their Families Act 1997 (Tas). Volunteers must report any incidents, disclosures or concerns for a child or young person’s safety, including child sexual abuse.
All volunteers will be made aware of their legal obligations and DECYP’s commitment for safeguarding children and young people. Although volunteers may not work directly with children in the course of undertaking volunteer duties, they must read and follow the DECYP Safeguarding Framework and any relevant policies and procedures contained in the Framework.