Site Risk Management

Policy statement

The Parramatta Diocese schools system promotes the safety, welfare and well-being of children and young people attending system schools by providing a physical environment for each school which is safe and secure.

As part of the system’s commitment to child protection, each school is required to conduct a risk assessment of its site and facilities with a focus on identifying and addressing possible risks of child abuse.

The risk management process is repeated at least once during each school review period.

Risk management procedures

The process requires the principal to:

• examine components of the site and facilities through a child protection safety audit
• identify and assess sources of potential risk for children
• design and implement short term strategy to manage the risk
• recommend longer term initiatives with financial implications to eliminate the problem area/s

NOTE: Short and long term strategies to manage or eliminate the risk may involve:

• skilling staff and students,
• introducing changes to procedures
• publishing cautionary advice
• altering the physical environment.

Steps in the process

The principal of each school conducts a child protection safety audit of the school site and facilities. The principal is accompanied on the audit by at least one other person such as a member of the school executive, chair of OHS committee, a parent with specific skills or the project officer.