Child Safety Code of Conduct
Purpose
This Code of Conduct outlines the behaviour expected of all paid and unpaid staff, including volunteers, contractors, interns, or trainees of Monkey Baa Theatre Company. It aims to ensure the safety and well-being of children and young people under the age of 18 who engage with Monkey Baa Theatre Company, both in physical and online environments.
Scope
This Code applies to all staff and anyone who represents Monkey Baa Theatre Company, including any adult engaged directly or indirectly by Monkey Baa Theatre Company who may work directly with or around children at any time, including:
employees (permanent and casual);
volunteers;
contractors and sub-contractors;
worker experience students/ interns/ secondments; and
any other individual in the organisation that may deal with children,
(collectively referred to as “staff”).
All staff are required to comply with this Code.
For the purpose of this Code, a child includes children and young people up to the age of 18.
Staff must always respect the rights of children and it is every staff member’s responsibility to contribute to a safe working environment where all children are treated equally and with respect at all times. This applies to all of Monkey Baa Theatre Company venues, company and customer events and any situation outside of the workplace where the staff can be perceived as representing Monkey Baa Theatre Company.
The lists below set out Monkey Baa Theatre Company’s expectations to which all staff are required to adhere, but the particular matters identified should not take away from the broader obligation on staff to ensure the safety of children at Monkey Baa Theatre Company.
General Conduct
All staff will:
Training: Complete mandatory training on child safety and well-being, including first aid and recognising signs of abuse.
Policy Compliance: Follow Monkey Baa Theatre Company’s child safety and well-being policies and procedures at all times.
Respectful Behaviour: Behave respectfully, courteously, and ethically towards children, their families, and other staff.
Listening and Responding: Listen and respond to the views and concerns of children, particularly if they communicate (verbally or non-verbally) that they do not feel safe or well.
Human Rights and Safety: Promote the human rights, safety, and well-being of all children.
Boundaries: Demonstrate appropriate personal and professional boundaries.
Diversity: Consider and respect the diverse backgrounds and needs of children and treat all children with dignity.
Inclusive Environment: Create an environment that is welcoming, culturally safe, and inclusive for all children and their families.
Child Participation: Involve children in making decisions about activities, policies, and processes that concern them wherever possible.
Policy Contribution: Contribute to Monkey Baa Theatre Company’s policies, discussions, learning, and reviews about child safety and well-being.
Risk Management: Identify and mitigate risks to children’s safety and well-being as required by Monkey Baa Theatre Company’s risk assessment and management policy.
Prompt Response: Respond to any concerns or complaints of child harm or abuse promptly and in line with Monkey Baa Theatre Company’s policy and procedure for receiving and responding to complaints.
Legal Reporting: Report all suspected or disclosed contraventions of this Code, as well as any suspected or disclosed child harm or abuse as required by relevant legislation and Monkey Baa Theatre Company’s policy on internal and external reporting.
Communication Protocols: Comply with Monkey Baa Theatre Company’s protocols on communicating with children, including digital and social media interactions.
Record-Keeping: Comply with all relevant legislation and Monkey Baa Theatre Company’s policies on record-keeping and information sharing.
Privacy: Respect the privacy of children and parents (including carers and legal guardians), and only disclose personal information to people who have a need to know and in accordance with Monkey Baa Theatre Company’s policies.
Honesty: Staff must act with integrity and honesty in all internal and external dealings. Any staff who deliberately chooses to ignore or cover up the improper conduct of any other person may be considered to have assisted in committing an offence.
Staff must not:
Be alone with a child, including in changing areas and on transportation to and from venues, unless it is absolutely necessary for the child’s well-being or the execution of educational or artistic activities, and even then, only under the conditions as outlined in the Child Safety & Wellbeing Policy. If a child is found unsupervised, the child should be directed, and accompanied, to their supervisor or relevant management immediately.
Engage in any unlawful activity with or in relation to a child.
Physically, sexually, or emotionally harm, or attempt to harm, a child.
Unlawfully discriminate against any child or their family members.
Arrange personal contact, including online contact, with children for a purpose unrelated to Monkey Baa Theatre Company’s activities.
Disclose personal or sensitive information about a child unless authorised.
Use inappropriate language or show inappropriate material to children.
Work under the influence of alcohol or prohibited drugs.
Sell or distribute alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, vapes or other illicit products to children.
Engage in non-contact behaviours that could cause harm to a child such as sexual innuendo or flirting.
Physically touch a child without first asking for consent unless in an absolute emergency with specific care taken when dealing with injuries and/or illness.
Give gifts or favours to children without the knowledge of the child’s parent or carer and the relevant manager. If any person receives a gift from a child it should be disclosed to the Child Safety Officer.
Have unauthorised contact with children online or by phone.
Seek to foster more than a professional relationship with children.
Share personal information or photos of children on social media without the informed consent of the child and parent, carer or legal guardian, and relevant management.
Engage in behaviour that is intended to shame, humiliate, oppress, belittle or degrade children.
Reporting and Consequences
If a staff member thinks this Code of Conduct has been breached, they must:
Immediate Action: Act to prioritise the best interests of children and take actions promptly to ensure their safety.
Internal Reporting: Report any concerns to a manager, Monkey Baa Theatre Company's Child Safety Officer, the Executive Director, or another leader.
External Reporting: If necessary, escalate the issue to external authorities in accordance with legal requirements and in consultation with the Executive Director.
Confidentiality: Maintain confidentiality while handling reports, as per Monkey Baa Theatre Company’s confidentiality policy.
Compliance: Follow all legislative requirements and Monkey Baa Theatre Company's policies for receiving and responding to complaints and concerns.
What happens if staff breach this Code of Conduct:
Breaching this Code of Conduct will result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination of staff employment or engagement. In the context of conduct expected by Monkey Baa Theatre Company of its staff, it is also wrong to request, compel, permit or assist another staff member to breach this Code and such conduct may also result in disciplinary action, which may include the termination of employment or engagement with Monkey Baa Theatre Company.
Review and Updates
This Code of Conduct will be reviewed annually and updated as necessary to comply with changes in laws and regulations.
This Code does not impose any contractual obligations on Monkey Baa Theatre Company. This Code does not form any part of a staff member’s terms and conditions of employment or engagement. Monkey Baa Theatre Company may, from time to time, amend, revoke or vary this Code in its absolute discretion.
