Council is seeking feedback from the community – and in particular young people and their families and carers - on its draft revised Child Safe Policy.

The Policy outlines Council's commitment to the safety and wellbeing of all children by creating and maintaining a Child Safe Organisation.

This ensures that protecting children's safety and wellbeing is embedded in the culture and the everyday thinking and practices of all Councillors, employees, contractors, and volunteers.

Council has a legislative requirement to meet the requirements of the Victorian Government's Child Safe Standards and the Reportable Conduct Scheme, which were put in place in 2016 to protect children and young people from harm and abuse.

Council's first Child Safe Policy was adopted in 2017 and a reviewed Child Safe Policy was adopted in 2020.

In July 2022, 11 new Standards were introduced to replace the existing seven Standards, and the updates made to our current Policy have now brought it in line with these new Standards.

The revised Child Safe Policy has also been developed with publicly available information and in consultation with key internal stakeholders and other Victorian councils.

Once adopted, an Action Plan will be developed to drive Council's work in relation to the Policy.

Printed copies can also be found at Council's Customer Service Centre in Bright, and at libraries and Maternal Child Health offices in Bright, Mount Beauty and Myrtleford.

Submissions close on Tuesday, 21 November 2023.