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Child Protection Code of Conduct for Homestay Families

 

INTRODUCTION

Caring for children and young people under the age of 18 years brings additional responsibilities for Homestay Families. If you are planning to become a Homestay, then you and your extended family must adhere to this Code of Conduct, which is designed to ensure the promotion of the safety and well-being of children and young people. Please read the Child Protection Code of Conduct for Homestay Families carefully and ensure that everyone in your family reads and understands the obligations contained in the Code of Conduct.

The Code of Conduct should be read in conjunction with the attached:

Please note that it is your responsibility to become acquainted and comply with the responsibilities contained in these documents.

WHAT IS ABUSE AND NEGLECT?

Abuse and neglect of a child or young people include the infliction of sexual, physical, or emotional abuse or injury. Children and young people should be free from these types of behavior. There are serious legal consequences for those who abuse or neglect children or young people.

Children and young people who are suffering or have suffered abuse or neglect tend to demonstrate patterns of behaviour that indicate they are unhappy, disengaged, and experiencing social isolation.

You have a responsibility for the well-being of children living in your house and therefore you must not ignore these patterns of behavior if you become aware of them.

MANDATORY REPORTING

Under the Child Protection Act, you are required to report child abuse or neglect if you have reasonable suspicion. Please be aware that making a notification about suspected abuse is a serious action that can have significant consequences on children, young people, parents, homestay families, and school staff.

The decision to make a report should be carefully considered in light of the information at hand.

It is recommended that you first speak to the relevant school staff such as the International Student Coordinator (ISC) about suspected abuse or neglect.

If a child or young person discloses to you instances of abuse or neglect, please follow the following recommendations:

  • Respect their privacy. Do not share the information disclosed to you with anyone except qualified school staff, i.e. school ISC, councilor.
  • Be an active listener, show patience
  • Take notes of your conversation
  • Contact the school’s ISC at soon as you can
  • Avoid asking for a detailed account of events
  • Do not show shock or doubt what is being disclosed to you
  • Do not offer assurances such as ‘all is going to be ok’, ‘the perpetrator will be punished’ as these are actions you can’t control or carry out.

DUTY OF CARE

In your role as a Homestay provider, you must provide a family and joyful experience to international students. You must act in an appropriate manner guided by this Code of Conduct and your duty of care towards a child or young person. In addition to behaving adequately in all your interactions with children or young people, your duty of care also includes reporting inappropriate behavior of others (i.e. family members) towards children or young people under your care.

The following are examples of inappropriate behavior:

  • Sharing personal information or making inappropriate comments about a child or young person under your care (including via social media)
  • Engaging or eliciting conversation of adult topics or sexual nature
  • Using nicknames or pet names that can humiliate or vilify
  • Allowing access to sexual material
  • Unwarranted or unwanted physical contact (unless needed for urgent medical treatment or to prevent an imminent threat or harm)
  • Physical punishment
  • Interfering with a correspondence which is of personal nature
  • Entering a private space unannounced (i.e. student’s bedroom)
  • Taking photographs or audio recording without consent
  • Uploading or publishing unauthorised images or videos.

SOCIAL MEDIA

The use of social media can attract some significant risks. It is, therefore, important that you use social media wisely by avoiding publish/mak any comments about students, their parents, or their cultural heritage or other homestay providers that can be considered defamatory or discriminatory.

AGREEMENT

I have read the following documents:

Having read these documents, I understand that Happy Homestay Adelaide is committed to maintaining a safe and welcoming environment for children and young people.

I agree to uphold the Child Protection Policy and Code of Conduct and to follow the guidelines and procedures outlined. I will work to contribute positively to the growth and development of the children and young people HHA provides services to.

AGREEMENT

I have read the following documents:
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