The safety, dignity, and protection of every child is non-negotiable. This Policy sets out how we prevent, detect, and respond to child harm in our programs, our communications, and our partner relationships. It satisfies the public-disclosure expectations of ACNC External Conduct Standard 4and aligns with the Commonwealth's National Principles for Child Safe Organisations.
Hearts of Hope Foundation has zero tolerance for child abuse, exploitation, neglect, or any conduct that places a child at risk of harm. We treat the welfare of children as the paramount consideration in every program decision, partner relationship, communication, and recruitment choice.
The Foundation actively listens to and respects children and young people. We commit to acting on safeguarding concerns promptly, fairly, and in a manner that prioritises the safety and dignity of the child first.
This Policy applies to:
In this Policy, “child” means a person under 18 years of age. “Harm” means any act or omission that causes, or risks causing, physical, sexual, emotional, psychological, or cultural harm, neglect, or exploitation. “Reportable conduct” takes its meaning from the relevant State or Territory Reportable Conduct Scheme.
Every person within scope of this Policy must comply with the following minimum conduct standards when in contact with children, or in any context that could affect children supported by Foundation programs:
Breaches of this code of conduct are grounds for immediate suspension pending investigation, and for termination of engagement, contract, or partnership.
Every person whose engagement with the Foundation involves child-related work in Australia must hold and maintain a current Working with Children Check (or equivalent) in the State or Territory in which they will operate. The Foundation verifies WWCC numbers against the issuing authority's public register at the time of engagement and re-verifies on the schedule required by the relevant jurisdiction.
For overseas roles, the Foundation requires the equivalent local clearance where one exists, and additionally requires reference checks, a statutory declaration of suitability, and prior-employer checks. See § 07 for partner cascading obligations.
Recruitment processes for any role with child contact include behaviour-based interviewing, documented reference checks, and a probationary period. The Foundation does not engage anyone subject to a current charge for a child-related offence.
The Foundation uses imagery and storytelling to inform and inspire donors and the public. It does not use imagery that exploits, sensationalises, sexualises, or strips dignity from any child.
Anyone a child, family member, staff member, volunteer, partner, donor, or member of the public can raise a safeguarding concern about Foundation activities or anyone within the scope of this Policy. We respond promptly, take the concern seriously, and prioritise the safety of the child first.
Where an allegation is made against a person within the scope of this Policy, that person is stood down from any role involving child contact during the investigation. Investigations are conducted with regard to natural justice but with the safety of the child paramount. Substantiated findings are reported to the relevant external authorities in accordance with mandatory and reportable-conduct obligations, and to the ACNC where required.
Every overseas in-country delivery partner is contractually required, under the relevant MoU, to:
Domestic partners (schools, clubs, councils, community organisations) operate under their own child-safe organisation regimes; the Foundation does not undermine those regimes and works alongside the partner's Child Safety Officer.
Every person within scope of this Policy completes a documented safeguarding induction before starting child-contact work, and refresher training at least annually thereafter. Induction covers this Policy, the relevant Code of Conduct, the imagery rules, the complaint channels, and the legal obligation to report.
The Board of Hearts of Hope Foundation is ultimately responsible for child safeguarding. A designated director holds the Safeguarding portfolio at board level. [OPERATOR PLACEHOLDER name of the safeguarding-lead director to be inserted here before this Policy goes live.]
This Policy is reviewed at least annually by the Board, and after any substantiated incident. The annual review is recorded in the Foundation's ECS 2 records and disclosed in the Foundation's Annual Information Statement to the ACNC.
This Policy is read together with the Foundation's Overseas Activity & Partner Standards, Whistleblower Policy, and Complaints Policy.
In an emergency call 000. Otherwise, contact the Foundation's Safeguarding mailbox or your State or Territory child-protection authority directly. Internal reporting does not replace mandatory reporting both can and should occur.