Participant Support Procedures > Failure to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse is a Criminal Offence
Authorised by Chief Executive Officer
Issue Date: 14 April 2016
The Victorian Government in 2015 introduced as a criminal offence, the failure to protect children from sexual abuse.
People in a position of authority can be charged with the offence if they know there is a substantial risk that an adult associated with their organisation (such as an employee, contractor, volunteer or visitor) poses a risk of sexual abuse to a child under the care, authority or supervision of the organisation and they fail to take all reasonable steps to remove or reduce that risk
Kyeema’s procedure in this situation is to remove the person from contact with children and initiate an investigation with the assistance of Victoria Police. Communication between all relevant managers and team leaders must take place to ensure the person is not rostered anywhere until investigation has taken place. The staff member is to be stood down on pay until a decision is made as to whether he/she is cleared to work.
Responding to Allegations of Abuse, Neglect & Exploitation Policy