Information for Families

​​A commitment to the protection of students

Our Catholic Ethos

While promoting and providing a safe and supportive learning environment is an essential function for all schools, we have particularly strong and clear reasons for doing this as Catholic schools.

In Brisbane Catholic Education, the desire to protect children and young people is based upon the belief that each person is made in the image of God and the inherent dignity of all should be recognised and fostered. 

An essential part of our ethos is making our schools places of safety and nurturing communities of care.  This underpins our commitment to the protection of students, and we strive to ensure a culture where it is acknowledged and understood that student protection is everyone's responsibility.

To develop and maintain this culture, it is important to educate our students about personal safety strategies and to place the safety and wellbeing of students at the centre of every action we take.

Student protection is an integral part of student wellbeing and every student has the right to expect that their school will act to protect them from any kind of harm. 

We believe this focus will inspire hope, faith and a positive future for our students.

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 ​BCE Empowering Student Protection

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How can all members of school communities work together to ensure students are protected?

  • The members of each school community work together cooperatively to achieve the best possible outcomes for students.
  • Parents/caregivers are the primary educators and carers of their children and schools work in partnership with them.
  • Schools support parents/caregivers in their efforts to protect their children from harm.
  • School staff collaborate with parents/caregivers to empower students by modelling appropriate behaviour and teaching them personal safety strategies.
  • Brisbane Catholic Education office and school staff participate in student protection professional learning so they understand their legal, policy and pastoral responsibilities and how to respond appropriately to student protection concerns.
  • Each school has nominated staff members to be Student Protection Contacts (SPCs).
  • Students, parents, caregivers and staff members know they can go to an SPC with concerns about something happening within or outside of school.
  • School staff, families and communities work together to make Brisbane Catholic Education schools safe, pastoral environments where students feel able to seek help and staff members recognise, react and respond appropriately to concerns about student safety and wellbeing.

 

Pastoral, policy and legal responsibilities

In fulfilling its pastoral, policy and legal responsibilities, Brisbane Catholic Education and the schools it administers:

  • Comply with Queensland legislation relating to the protection of children
  • Have a student protection policy and processes which reflect the pastoral and legal responsibilities of staff
  • Provide specialist support personnel and resources at both system and school level to protect students
  • Develop and maintain effective working partnerships with relevant government and community agencies in the support and protection of students
  • Adhere to internal and external regulatory and accountability requirements, and
  • Meet current professional requirements of schools in Australia.

 

Enquiries/Contacts

Brisbane Catholic Education's Student Protection Policy and Processes can be accessed online at www.bne.catholic.edu.au.  

For enquiries in relation to Brisbane Catholic Education's Student Protection Processes, please contact your school Principal. 

Alternatively, you may contact Brisbane Catholic Education's Professional Standards and Student Protection team:

GPO Box 1201, Brisbane 4001 | (07) 3033 7409 | studentprotection@bne.catholic.edu.au

 

Further Information

Legislation which underpins student protection in Queensland Catholic Schools

  • Child Protection Act 1999
  • Education (Accreditation of Non-State Schools) Act and Regulation 2017
  • Education (General Provisions) Act 2006
  • Working with Children (Risk Management and Screening) Act 2000
  • Education (Queensland College of Teachers) Act 2005

This legislation can be accessed at www.legislation.qld.gov.au. 

 

Assistance can be accessed on the following telephone numbers:

 

Queensland Police Service

Police – Emergency (free call) - 24 hours 000

Police Link 131444

 

Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs (Child Safety Services)

After Hours Service (free call) 24 hours 1800 177 135

 

Family and Child Connect

13 Family (13 32 64)

 

Domestic and Family Violence Support Services

DVConnect Womensline 24 hours: 1800 811 811

DVConnect Mensline 9am - 12pm: 1800 600 636

Immigrant Women's Support Service: (07) 3846 3490

 

Legal Services

Legal Aid Queensland: 1300 651 188

(Request to speak to someone in the DV Unit)

 

Support Services

Centacare Catholic Support Services: 1300 236 822

Parentline: 1300 30 1300

Kids Helpline (free): 1800 551 800

Sexual Assault Helpline (free): 1800 010 120

Lifeline Crisis Counselling Line - 24 hours: 13 11 14

 

Child protection assistance/resources can be accessed online at:

www.cyjma.qld.gov.au

https://www.dvconnect.org/

www.police.qld.gov.au

www.napcan.org.au

parentline.com.au

Young people's safety | QPS (police.qld.gov.au)

www.esafety.gov.au

 

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