Safeguarding children

Clown Doctors Australia has zero tolerance for any form of abuse, neglect or exploitation of children, young people or vulnerable adults. We are committed to the rights of all children, young people and vulnerable adults to feel safe and be safe when participating in our programs. Clown Doctors Australia is proud that we have received the Safeguarding Children Certification through the Australian Childhood Foundation.

It is the shared responsibility of all team members at Clown Doctors Australia – the Board, staff, contractors, and volunteers – to:

• Prioritise the protection of children, young people and vulnerable adults from abuse and neglect
• Ensure the fundamental rights of children, young people and vulnerable adults are respected and safeguarded
• Create and maintain a culture where children, young people and vulnerable adults feel and are safe and valued when they access our services.
• Acknowledge that protecting children, young people and vulnerable adults is everyone’s responsibility

We expect all within our organisation, regardless of their role or level of responsibility, to act to safeguard children, young people and vulnerable adults from such harm by:

• adhering to the practices and behaviour detailed in our Safeguarding Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults Policy and our Safeguarding Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults Code of Conduct (Safeguarding Code)
• reporting any abuse or neglect of which they become aware of to our management and/or to external authorities responsible for the protection of children, young people and vulnerable adults, or to police, regardless of whether that abuse is being perpetrated by people within our organisation, or by those outside our organisation including those from the person’s family, extended family, their family’s extended network, caregivers or strangers.