Rise Up Education

Child Safety Code of Conduct

Policy Owner: Director – Rise Up Education
Approved by: Kathy Norton
Applies to: Employees, contractors, tutors, volunteers and any person representing Rise Up Education
Review: Reviewed regularly to ensure compliance with current child safety legislation and best practice

Updated - June 2026

1. Purpose

Rise Up Education is committed to providing a safe, respectful, inclusive and supportive learning environment where every child and young person feels valued, heard and protected.

We believe that every student has the right to learn in an environment free from abuse, neglect, discrimination, bullying, harassment and harm.

This Child Safety Code of Conduct outlines the behaviours and responsibilities expected of all Rise Up Education staff, contractors and volunteers when working with children and young people.

Child safety is everyone’s responsibility. All members of the Rise Up Education community are expected to actively contribute to a culture where student wellbeing, safety and dignity are prioritised at all times.

2. Our Commitment to Child Safety

Rise Up Education is committed to:

Zero tolerance of child abuse, neglect or harm in any form.
Promoting the physical, emotional and psychological safety of all students.
Listening to and respecting the voices, views and concerns of children and young people.
Providing an inclusive learning environment where all students are treated with dignity and fairness.
Protecting the privacy and confidentiality of students and families.
Ensuring all staff understand their responsibilities regarding child safety and reporting obligations.
Maintaining professional boundaries between staff and students.
Providing a safe learning environment across both face-to-face and online tutoring settings.

3. Responsibilities of Staff, Contractors and Volunteers

All Rise Up Education representatives are responsible for:

Taking reasonable steps to protect children from abuse, neglect and harm.
Following all child protection legislation, mandatory reporting requirements and Rise Up Education policies.
Acting immediately when concerns about a child's safety or wellbeing arise.
Reporting suspected abuse, disclosures, incidents, hazards or safety concerns to the Director of Rise Up Education.
Maintaining professional, respectful and appropriate relationships with students.
Supporting students to feel confident raising concerns or asking for help.
Participating in relevant training and professional development to maintain high-quality teaching and child-safe practices.

4. Expected Behaviours

All staff, contractors and volunteers will:

Create Safe and Respectful Relationships

Treat every student with kindness, patience, respect and fairness.
Recognise and respect each student's individual needs, strengths and circumstances.
Encourage students to participate actively in their learning.
Listen carefully when students express concerns, worries or ideas.
Support students to feel safe, confident and capable.

Promote Inclusion and Diversity

Rise Up Education is committed to a learning environment free from discrimination, harassment, bullying and victimisation.

Staff will:

Respect students from all cultural backgrounds, abilities, family circumstances, religions, genders and identities.
Support the participation and inclusion of students with disability or additional learning needs.
Make reasonable adjustments where appropriate to support student access and success.
Ensure every student is treated with dignity and respect.

Maintain Professional Standards

Staff will:

Maintain appropriate professional boundaries at all times.
Protect student privacy and confidentiality.
Use professional judgement when communicating with students and families.
Provide feedback and support in a constructive and respectful manner.
Continue developing their professional skills through relevant training and professional learning.

5. Safe Learning Environment Practices

Rise Up Education is committed to maintaining safe learning environments.

Staff will:

Ensure tutoring spaces are safe, clean and appropriate for learning.
Follow workplace health and safety procedures.
Report hazards, incidents, injuries or risks immediately.
Use equipment that is safe, maintained and suitable for its purpose.
Take reasonable care for their own safety and the safety of others.
Follow emergency procedures where required.

For face-to-face tutoring:

Learning spaces should remain visible and appropriate for professional teaching.
Doors should remain open where practical.
Students should not be placed in situations where they are unnecessarily isolated with an adult.
Younger students must only leave with their parent, carer or authorised adult.
Staff should be aware of safety risks around student arrival and departure.

For online tutoring:

Sessions must occur through approved platforms.
Communication must remain professional and education-focused.
Staff must maintain appropriate online boundaries with students and families.
Personal social media contact with students is not permitted.

6. Professional Boundaries

Rise Up Education values positive relationships between educators and students; however, these relationships must always remain professional.

Staff must not:

Develop inappropriate personal relationships with students.
Show favouritism through gifts, special treatment or excessive attention.
Contact students outside approved educational purposes.
Communicate with students through personal social media accounts.
Engage in conversations or behaviours that are inappropriate for a professional learning environment.
Use student information for any purpose outside their educational support.

7. Unacceptable Behaviours

Staff, contractors and volunteers must never:

Ignore or dismiss concerns about child safety.
Engage in any form of abuse, neglect, exploitation or grooming behaviour.
Use inappropriate physical contact with students.
Put students at unnecessary risk through unsafe practices.
Use threatening, humiliating, discriminatory or offensive language.
Engage in bullying, harassment or victimisation.
Discuss inappropriate adult topics in front of students.
Express personal opinions about sensitive topics in ways that may negatively impact students.
Discriminate against students based on age, disability, race, culture, gender, sexuality, religion or background.
Photograph or record students without appropriate consent.
Work with students while affected by alcohol or illegal drugs.

8. Reporting Child Safety Concerns

All concerns relating to child safety must be taken seriously.

Staff must report:

A disclosure made by a student.
Suspected abuse or neglect.
Unsafe situations.
Breaches of this Code of Conduct.
Concerns about another staff member’s behaviour.

Reports should be made promptly to the Director of Rise Up Education.

All concerns will be managed respectfully, confidentially and in accordance with legal obligations.

Students and families are encouraged to raise concerns without fear of negative consequences.

9. Commitment to Continuous Improvement

Rise Up Education is committed to continuously improving our child safety practices.

We will:

Review policies and procedures regularly.
Support staff training and professional development.
Seek feedback from students, families and staff.
Maintain a culture where safety, respect and learning remain at the centre of everything we do.

Final Statement

At Rise Up Education, every child has the right to feel safe, respected, supported and empowered.

We are committed to creating a learning environment where students can build confidence, develop skills and achieve their potential while knowing their wellbeing is our priority.