7-9 Summerside Street, Toukley
Child safety @ TNC
Statement of Commitment to Child Safety
At TNC, every child has the right to be safe and feel safe. We commit to the safety and wellbeing of every child in our care.
To keep children safe, we commit to:
- implementing the 10 Child Safe Standards
- providing a safe and supportive environment for all children
- making sure that children are not exposed to any form of harmful conduct or abuse
- empowering children to participate in decisions that affect them and share any concerns they may have
- ensuring children know who they can safely approach if they feel unsafe or have a concern about their safety.
As a child safe organisation, we commit to:
- educating everyone involved in our organisation about what it means to be a child safe organisation, so that we can prevent, detect and effectively respond to child abuse
- making sure everyone involved in our organisation knows how to appropriately respond to complaints, allegations, disclosures and breaches to our Child Safe Code of Conduct
- welcoming feedback to continuously improve our child safe policies, procedures and practices
- making sure that when family and community members interact with our organisation, they are aware that child safety is everyone’s responsibility, and their behaviour aligns with our child safe practices.
This Statement of Commitment reflects our organisational culture and our ongoing dedication to ensuring child safety remains at the centre of everything we do at TNC.
Policy
Our Child Safe Policy and Complaints Policy are provided with the list of TNC policies here.
💛 Helping Kids Feel Safe at TNC
At TNC, we want every child and young person to feel welcome, safe, included and respected. We believe that children and young people have a right to speak up, to be listened to, and to help shape the places they spend time in — including ours.
🧠 What We Teach About Safety
We talk to children and young people about:
- What safety feels like – and how to recognise when something doesn't feel right
- Their rights – including the right to feel safe, to be treated with respect, and to speak up
- Who they can trust – and how to get help if they’re worried, confused or unsafe
- How adults should behave – and what’s not OK
🗣️ Having a Say
Children and young people can tell us:
- What makes them feel safe or unsafe
- What we could do better
- If something happens that worries or upsets them
We’ll listen, take their concerns seriously, and let them know what action we take.
🤝 Our Commitment to Families
We work with parents, carers and families to create a safe and supportive environment. We:
- Welcome feedback and questions
- Make our child safe policies available to families
- Encourage family involvement in shaping our child-friendly spaces and programs
🧒 Tailored for All Kids
We make sure our information is easy to understand and respectful of:
- Different cultural backgrounds
- Disability and accessibility needs
- Gender and identity
- Family and language differences
- Children and yyouth who think, feel, and communicate differently.
We create safe spaces where every child feels they belong.
🚦If Something Doesn’t Feel Right
We encourage children and young people to:
- Talk to a trusted adult
- Tell us if they don’t feel safe
- Use our contact details, talk to staff, or write to us
🔐 Keeping It Private
Anything shared with us is kept private, unless someone is in danger — then we’ll take steps to keep them safe, and explain what’s happening.
Need to talk to someone?
For matters relating to TNC, you can call us on (02) 4396 1555 or speak to one of our friendly staff when you're visiting. You can also send an email to admin@tnc.org.au.
If you have concerns about the safety of a child or children, please contact the Child Protection Helpline on 13 21 11.
keeping children safe - what you should know
At TNC, we believe every child has the right to be safe, heard and supported.
🔍 Signs something might be wrong
Children and young people may not always say when something is wrong. These are some signs to look out for:
- Changes in behaviour (more quiet, angry, withdrawn)
- Fear of certain places or people
- Unexplained injuries
- Trouble sleeping or nightmares
- Saying things like “I don’t feel safe” or “I don’t want to go”.
If something doesn’t feel right — speak up. You don’t need to be sure to share a concern.
🗣️ How to report a concern or complaint
Anyone can raise a concern about child safety — children, families, staff, volunteers or visitors. We take all concerns seriously.
For advice, advocacy or referral:
- Talk to a staff member you trust
- Contact our Centre Manager (Donna)
- Email us at admin@tnc.org.au
- Call us on (02) 4396 1555
If you have concerns about the safety of a child or children, please contact the Child Protection Helpline on 13 21 11.
If there is immediate danger, call 000.
Online safety for children and young people
The internet is a great place to learn, play, and connect — but it can also pose risks. At Toukley Neighbourhood Centre, we’re committed to helping children, young people and families stay safe online.
We encourage children and teens to enjoy the digital world safely and respectfully, and we support parents and carers to have open conversations about online behaviour.
👩💻 Tips for Children and Young People
- Think before you post — once something is online, it can be hard to remove
- Protect your personal info — never share your full name, address, school, or phone number
- Be kind — treat people online the way you’d want to be treated
- Tell someone you trust — if something makes you feel uncomfortable, scared, or confused
- Don’t talk to strangers — if you don’t know them in real life, don’t chat or accept friend requests
👨👩👧 Tips for Parents and Carers
- Talk with your child regularly about what they’re doing online
- Set clear rules around screen time and device use
- Use parental controls or privacy settings to help manage safety
- Encourage children to report any bullying, threats, or unsafe behaviour
- Let them know it’s never too late to ask for help
🌐 Trusted Online Safety Resources
- eSafety Commissioner – Advice for children, teens, parents and schools
www.esafety.gov.au - ThinkUKnow Australia – Internet safety education from the Australian Federal Police
www.thinkuknow.org.au - Kids Helpline – Free and confidential support for children and young people
www.kidshelpline.com.au | Phone: 1800 55 1800