Child Safety Program
St Columba’s College is a Mary Aikenhead Ministry College that operates in the tradition of the Sisters of Charity.
We are called to develop in each member of our community a contemporary understanding and application of the charism of Mary Aikenhead and the spirituality of the Sisters of Charity, and the Mary Aikenhead Ministries’ mission, vision and values of justice, love, compassion and hope.
St Columba’s College is committed to providing a child safe and child friendly environment, where children and young people are safe and feel safe to actively participate in decisions that affect their lives.
At all times the ongoing safety and wellbeing of the young people in our care is a College priority, with particular attention paid to the cultural safety of Aboriginal children and children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds, as well as the care and safety for children with diverse needs.
Student voice is actively encouraged in all areas of school life, and particularly when it comes to students making College staff aware of child safety and wellbeing issues. All staff members are trained, at least annually, on how to respond to reports relating to child safety and wellbeing incidences, and what is expected and required of all staff members at the College in relation to child safety.
Please see the links below to read about St Columba’s College’s commitment to Child Protection laws:
Engaging Families in Child Safety Policy
Staff and Students Professional Boundaries
Procedures for Responding and Reporting Child Safety Incidents or Concerns
St Columba’s College Child Safety Officers
Ms Brigitte McDonald, Deputy Principal
Mrs Nakkita Egan, Head of Students
Ms Karen Fitzpatrick, College Social Worker
Information Sharing
The Victorian Government has introduced reforms through new legislation that aim to remove barriers to information sharing, and enable services and organisations to work together more effectively to support the wellbeing and safety of children, and reduce family violence.
Requests for information from prescribed Information Sharing Entities related to the Child Information Sharing Scheme (CISS) or Family Violence Information Sharing Scheme (FVISS) should be made in writing to childinfosharing@columba.vic.edu.au, where practicable.
Contact details
Email: childinfosharing@columba.vic.edu.au
Phone: (03) 9337 5311
Further information regarding the reforms can be found in the Information sharing and MARAM reforms section of the Victorian Government website.