This year, Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) has launched a new child-safe campaign and website called MACS Care. The purpose of this is to assist schools in continuing to build a child safety culture and maintain compliance with the Victorian Child Safe Standards.

The MACS Care website includes a number of resources and templates to guide schools throughout the year as they focus on all 11 standards each month.

This month, we will be focussing on Child Safe Standard 3: Children and young people are empowered about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.

Student agency is empowering young people to have a say in matters that impact them, particularly when it comes to their safety, learning and wellbeing. It involves school actively listening and encouraging students to express their ideas in a safe way. Students are supported about knowing their rights and feel part of the processes when it comes to decision making. When young people feel empowered about school matters, they feel confident to speak about their concerns, ultimately developing a sense of belonging and a stronger emotional wellbeing.

I encourage you to read the Newsletter Child Safe Standard 3, which will give you a better understanding of what our College does to ensure our students are safe, and the processes involved in making Catholic Regional College Caroline Springs a child safe school.