Policies
CANCELLATION POLICY AND FEES
We require more than 48 hours notice to avoid a lesson cancellation fee.
If cancelled with less than 48 hours notice, 50% of the Lesson Fee will be charged
If cancelled with less than 24 hours notice, 90% of the Lesson Fee will be charged.
Child Safe Environments
Code of Conduct
Including standards of appropriate behaviour for motor driving instructors
Caring for children and young people brings additional responsibilities for Motor Driving Instructors.
All Motor Driving Instructors are responsible for promoting the safety and well-being of children and young people by:
• Adhering to the Motor Driving Instructor child safe policy at all times and taking all reasonable steps to ensure the safety and protection of children and young people
• Treating everyone with respect and honesty (this includes fellow Instructors, children, young people and parents)
• Treating all children and young people equally regardless of age, gender, cultural background, religion, vulnerability or sexuality.
• Remembering to be a positive role model to children and young people in all your conduct with them.
• Setting clear boundaries about appropriate behaviour between themselves and the children and young people they work with as a Motor Driving Instructors – boundaries help everyone to carry out their roles well.
• Listening and responding appropriately to the views and concerns of children and young people.
• Reporting suspected harm, or risk of harm to the Child Abuse Report Line on 13 14 78 as soon as practicable.
• Responding quickly, fairly and transparently to any serious complaints made by a child, young person or their parent/guardian.
• Encouraging children and young people to ‘have a say’ on issues that are important to them.
• Providing feedback to both children and parents or guardians.
• Ensuring the following Standards of Appropriate Behaviour for Motor Driving Instructors are strictly adhered to at all times.
• Accepting counselling and professional development offered where a breach of the Code has occurred.
AUSTRALIAN DRIVER TRAINERS ASSOCIATION SOUTH AUSTRALIA INC.
Child Safe Policy For Australian Driver Trainers Association of South Australia Inc. Members
(ADTASA Inc. Members)
Operating as Motor Driving Instructors
1. Child Safe Policy Statement
Australian Driver Trainers Association of South Australia Inc. (ADTASA ) Members operating as motor driving instructors recognise that they often work with young people under the age of 18 years. All Members and employees of the Association are committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people accessing their service, and support the rights of the child, and will act without hesitation to ensure a child safe environment is maintained at all times.
2. Context
This policy reflects our commitment to provide a safe environment where every person has the right to be treated with respect and is safe and protected from harm or risk of harm.
• It complies with our obligations under the CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE (SAFETY) ACT 2017.
• It also aligns with the National Principles for child safe organisations.
3. Scope
This policy, from the date of endorsement, applies to all ADTASA Members who have subscribed to the Child Safe Compliance Statement submitted by the ADTASA as a Representative Body, and to their operations as Motor Driving Instructors, and to any employees engaged by the Association.
4. Commitment to Child Safety
All people who use the services of ADTASA Members have a right to be safe and to feel safe. We are committed to the safety and well-being of all young people accessing our services and the welfare of young people in our care will always be our first priority. We aim to create a child safe and child friendly environment where all young people are valued and feel safe.
5. Children’s Participation
ADTASA Members encourage and respect the views of young people who access their services. We listen to and act upon any concerns that young people or their families raise with us.
We ensure that young people and their families know their rights and how to access the complaints procedures available to them.
Information on how to make a complaint concerning an ADTASA Member is available in the Learner Driver’s Driving Companion (Log Book). This information is also available on the ADTASA website.
Members must clearly communicate (using age-appropriate language) how children and young people (or their carers) can report any concerns or provide feedback.
We value diversity and do not tolerate any discriminatory practices.
6. Suitability to Work with Children
ADTASA membership is conditional upon holding a Motor Driving Instructors licence.
As a requirement to hold a Motor Driving Instructors Licence, ADTASA Members must hold a valid Working with Children Check as administered by The Department of Human Services Screening Unit in compliance with the Child Safety (Prohibited Persons) Act 2016.
The ADTASA may obtain a further criminal history assessment for a Member at any time that the ADTASA believes it necessary or desirable for the purpose of maintaining a child safe environment.
Members of the ADTASA are generally sole traders and may pass work on to other Members in a sub-contracting arrangement. Where a Member does employ another Member or person, the Member must consider the following recruitment strategies:
• Clear position descriptions, written applications and face-to-face interviews.
• Working with children checks.
• Referee and qualification checks.
• On-the-job observation and probationary periods.
7. Code of Conduct
All ADTASA Members have a copy of and must abide by the ADTASA Child Safe Code of Conduct. The Code is also available on the ADTASA website.
Where a Member is aware of, or is made aware of a general breach of the Code, the Member must report the matter to the Association’s Child Safe Officer. The Child Safe Officer must bring the matter to the attention of the Board who will then approach the Member who is in breach of the Code. If the matter concerns harm or risk of harm to a child or young person, the Member must notify the Child Abuse Report Line on 13 14 78 or SA Police on 000 if the child is in immediate danger as per section 9 Reporting and Responding to Suspected Harm or Risk of Harm.
8. Support for ADTASA Members
The Australian Driver Trainers Association of South Australia Inc. will ensure that all Members who work with children have ongoing support and training to develop and enhance their capacity to promote the establishment and maintenance of a child safe environment.
Strategies we have implemented include:
• Appointing the ADTASA Administrator as Child Safety Contact Person.
• As part of application for membership, all new ADTASA Members receive copies of and understand our Child Safe Policy, and Code of Conduct.
• All Members are encouraged to attend regular meetings and workshops that include ongoing learning about child protection and other matters that affect children and young people.
Where a Member does employ another Member or person, the Member must consider the following strategies for providing supervision, training and support for employees:
• An induction which includes receiving a copy of this policy and the Code of Conduct.
• Regular performance appraisals.
• Regular supervision sessions that include a focus on child protection.
• Appointing a child safety officer.
• Access to web-based resources about issues concerning child protection.
• Professional development opportunities to build knowledge and skills regarding the wellbeing and development of children and young people.
9. Reporting and Responding to Suspected Harm or Risk of Harm
All ADTASA Members are considered Mandated Notifiers and have a legal obligation to notify the Child Abuse Report Line (CARL) on 13 14 78 or SA Police (SAPOL) on 000 as soon as practicable if they have a reasonable suspicion or have been advised that a child or young person has been harmed or is at immediate risk of being harmed.
ADTASA Members are offered regular opportunities to attend information sessions about these mandatory reporting obligations.
ADTASA Members also understand how to access relevant information resources such as:
• Child safe environment: Guidelines for mandated notifiers and information for organisations (available to view or download from: https://www.childprotection.sa.gov.au/reporting-child-abuse
• https://www.childprotection.sa.gov.au/reporting-child-abuse/mandated-notifiers-and-their-role
• Department for Child Protection website: https://www.childprotection.sa.gov.au/reporting-child-abuse/report-child-abuse-or-neglect
• Free online SMART (Strategies for Managing Abuse Related Trauma) Learning package, developed by the Australian Childhood Foundation: https://professionals.childhood.org.au/training-development/)
In addition to making a report to the Child Abuse Report Line on 131478 or SAPOL on 000, ADTASA Members must also report to the Child Safety Contact Person if reasonable suspicion is formed that a child has been harmed, or is at risk of being harmed by another Member. The Child Safe Contact Person is the ADTASA Administrator. Information received must be documented, whilst maintaining confidentiality, and must be dealt with promptly, sensitively and fairly, bearing in mind that the safety of the child or young person is of paramount importance.
ADTASA Members understand that the Australian Driver Trainers Association of South Australia Inc. offer support if they need to make a report, particularly where an ongoing service is provided to the child, young person and their family.
10. Supporting Children, Young People and Their Families
Child Protection is everyone’s responsibility. ADTASA Members recognise that even where a report is made, they may still have a role in supporting the child or young person. This support may include:
• Referring the child, young person or their family to other appropriate services.
• Having information available on the ADTA SA website and at the ADTASA office about services that can assist children and their families (such as the Kids Helpline and Youth Healthline) for children (and their families) they work with.
11. Strategies to Minimise Risk
• The Child Safe Code of Conduct for Motor Driving Instructors including Standards of Appropriate Behaviour has been implemented.
• All new ADTASA Members undergo an induction program ensuring they receive copies of and understand our Child Safe Policy, and Code of Conduct.
• All ADTASA Members are encouraged to attend regular meetings and workshops that include ongoing learning about child protection and other matters that affect children and young people.
• All ADTASA Members sign written statements indicating that they have read, understand and will abide by the ADTASA Child-Safe Policy, and Code of Conduct.
Physical contact
It is acknowledged that due to the nature of driver training, with the close proximity of trainer and learner, in some driving situations the Instructor may have to intervene to secure control of the vehicle. Every effort must be taken to avoid contact with the learner driver although it is understood that this is not always possible. In this case, the Instructor should immediately apologise for any inadvertent physical contact.
Social media
Members must avoid any contact with children and young persons via social media beside what would be considered appropriate and professional when arranging or altering appointments, or promoting links to driving related web sites or blogs etc.
Taking images of children & young people
Members may want to take a photo or request a photograph of a child or young person for advertising or promotional reasons. The consent of the parent must be obtained where the learner is under the age of 18. The photograph must be taken in such a way that is obviously suitable for the intended purpose.
Evaluation of these strategies and the development of additional strategies to minimise and control risks to children and young people occur as part of our ongoing risk management process.
The ADTASA will review this policy and all Child Safe procedures at least once in every five year period as required by the Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017. A Child Safe Environments Compliance Statement will be relodged with DHS should any changes be made to this policy or to any Child Safe procedures.
12. Harassment/Bullying
ADTASA Members oppose all forms of harassment, discrimination and bullying. We take this issue seriously and encourage anyone who believes that they, or another person, has been harassed, discriminated against or bullied to raise this issue with the ADTASA Administrator.
13. Communication
The ADTASA and its Members will ensure that everyone to whom this policy applies is aware of and has had an opportunity to read the policy.
ADTASA will ensure that any amendments to Legislation as advised by The Department of Human Services (DHS) will be reflected in the ADTASA Policy, and the Code, and will be communicated promptly to Members.
A copy of the Child Safe Policy, and the Code of Conduct is available on the public section of the ADTASA web site https://adtasa.com.au/
14. Related policies and procedures
• Child Safe Code of Conduct for Motor Driving Instructors including Standards of Appropriate Behaviour.
• Declaration signed by all members upon application: “I have read, understood and will abide by the ADTASA Child-Safe Policy, and the ADTASA Code of Conduct”.
• All accusations of criminal offence are referred to the Police.
15. DEFINITIONS
The following includes definitions described in “Guidelines for Mandated Notifiers”, produced by Government of South Australia – Department of Human Services:
ADTASA Member – any person over the age of 18 who is a member of the Australian Driver Trainers Association of SA Inc. and is responsible for the care and safety of children in the course of their operations as a Motor Driving Instructor.
Child (Young person) – child or young person means a person who is under 18 years of age – CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE (SAFETY) ACT 2017 - CHAPTER 3 SECTION 16(1).
Child Protection Contact Person – The ADTASA Administrator is appointed by the Australian Driver Trainers Association of SA Inc. to be responsible for child protection matters and to ensure that the Association child protection procedures conform to the requirements of the relevant Legislation.
Harm – Children can be harmed in different ways and child harm includes a wide range of acts of omission and commission.
Risk of Harm – Children can be at the risk of harm through any or all of the following:
• Emotional Abuse – tends to be a chronic behavioural pattern directed at a child whereby a child’s self-esteem and social competence are undermined or eroded over time. Behaviours may include devaluing, ignoring, rejecting, corrupting, isolating, terrorising, chronic or extreme domestic violence in the children’s presence.
• Neglect – is characterized by the failure to provide for the child’s basic needs. Behaviours may include inadequate supervision of young children for long periods of time; failure to provide adequate nutrition, clothing or personal hygiene; failure to provide needed or appropriate health care/medical treatment; disregard for potential hazards in the home; forcing the child to leave home early; allowing children to engage in chronic truancy.
• Physical Abuse – is commonly characterized by physical injury resulting from practices such as hitting, punching, kicking (marks from belt buckles, fingers); shaking (particularly young babies); burning (irons, cigarettes), biting, pulling out hair; alcohol or other drug administration.
6
• Sexual Abuse – occurs when someone in a position of power to the child uses his/her power to involve the child in sexual activity. Behaviour can include sexual suggestion; exhibitionism, mutual masturbation, oral sex; showing pornographic material e.g. DVDs, internet; using children in the production of pornographic material; penile or other penetration of the genital or anal region; child prostitution.
Working with Children Check: A Working with Children Check is an assessment of whether a person poses an unacceptable risk to children. It is administered by The Department of Human Services Screening Unit in compliance with the Child Safety (Prohibited Persons) Act 2016. As part of the process, the Screening Unit will look at criminal history, child protection information and other information.
Young person – term used instead of the word child to describe a person under the age of 18.
