Yarra Ranges Shire Council
Yarra Ranges Council received a complaint from a parent at Mount Dandenong Primary School about the crossing supervisor giving high-fives to children as they are being driven past the supervisor on Farndons Road, Mount Dandenong.
The safety of children is of paramount importance for all Council staff, contractors and volunteers.
As part of Council’s commitment to protecting the safety of children, all staff, contractors and volunteers who come into contact with children must have a valid Working With Children check.
In addition to this, school crossing supervisors must comply with the Victorian Child Safe Standards that details guidance on appropriate behaviour and conduct when working with children, young people and their families.
Council’s internal policies and the Victorian Standards clearly states that unacceptable behaviours include:
- Exhibiting behaviours with children and young people which may be construed as unnecessarily physical.
- Initiating unnecessary physical contact with children or young people.
Council has reminded the contractor who is currently supervising children at the Mount Dandenong Primary School of expectations of the role regarding interactions with children.
If the high-five is undertaken in accordance with Council’s Code of Conduct, considering the safety and supervision of all children on the crossing, the traffic on the road and is initiated by the child, then they are not universally banned.
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