Community members volunteering in our school play a vital role in building both home-school partnerships and connections within our local community. In line with Child Safe Standards, schools are obliged to conduct a number of suitability checks to ensure a high standard of student safety is maintained.

Recently, we have refined our volunteer induction processes to ensure we are meeting our Child Safe obligations, while ensuring ease of access to those who wish to support our school.

Our volunteer induction process is as follows:

1. A parent, carer or community member wishing to volunteer is required to read the following school policies:

1. Footscray Primary School Volunteers Policy
2. Footscray Primary School Child Safety Policy
3. Footscray Primary School Child Safety Responding and Reporting Obligations Policy and Procedures
4. Footscray Primary School Child Safety Code of Conduct
5. PROTECT: Four Critical Actions for Schools – Responding to incidents, disclosures and suspicions of child abuse
6. PROTECT: Identify child abuse

2. The individual must then sign that they have acknowledged and understood these policies and are aware of their obligations as a volunteer at Footscray Primary School (hard copy form available from the office).

3. The following suitability checks will be sighted and copied prior to any commencement of volunteer duties:
   a. Working with Children Check (WWCC)
   b. Proof of Identity
   c. Proof of relevant professional or other qualifications (please note you do not need a particular qualification to be a volunteer)

4. The school will file the signed volunteer acknowledgement and copies of suitability checks securely.

The volunteer induction pack can also be read via hard copy in our office.