Working With Children

All adult Stonewave Taiko Instructors are qualified to work with children. Please see our official Working With Children Policy below.

WORKING WITH CHILDREN POLICY

 STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT

  1. Stonewave Taiko (SWT) will provide a learning environment that is open, welcoming and safe for everyone participating in sessions, training, performances and activities.
  2. SWT will seek advice and guidance from children, parents and colleagues so that Child-safe and Child-friendly standards are maintained.
  3. SWT will maintain a child-safe environment – Child-safe means taking steps to keep children safe from physical, sexual, verbal or emotional abuse.
  4. SWT will maintain a child-friendly environment – Child-friendly means children are valued, respected and included so they feel confident that they will be listened to.
  5. SWT will ensure that regular instructors and one off workshop tutors  over the age of 18, working with young people under 18 other than their own child, hold a valid NSW Working With Children Check (WWCC) and provide details for verification by SWT, as provided for by the Office of the Children’s Guardian in NSW:

http://www.kidsguardian.nsw.gov.au/child-safe-organisations/working-with-children-check

  • SWT will ensure that during the process of preparing for a performance and during the performance itself, stage managers, directors and choreographers working directly with young people under 18, will be supervised by an SWT authorised person who holds a valid NSW WWCC.
  • SWT will ensure that everyone participating in SWT activities and events (including paid and unpaid volunteers, contractors, young people and parent helpers) will be made aware of, and adhere to the SWT Code of Conduct as follows:

CODE OF CONDUCT

  1. Treat everyone with respect and honesty.  This includes paid and unpaid volunteers, staff, young people and parents and persons outside SWT.
  2. Be a positive role model to others and always act with integrity
  3. Set clear and appropriate boundaries of behaviour between yourself and the children participating in SWT activities – boundaries that help everyone to carry out their roles well.
  4. Always have another adult present or in sight when conducting one to one coaching or costume fittings.  
  5. Avoid costumes that a child cannot easily get into and out of by themselves.
  6. Ensure that the personal privacy of all participants is respected at all times.
  7. Ensure that separate and private change areas are available for adults / younger people / different genders as appropriate, so that everyone feels safe and comfortable.  An individual should always have access to a private space to change costume.
  8. Ensure that parents sign a permission form for their child’s participation, indicating the circumstances under which photos or video may be taken and for what purpose.
  9. Ensure that parents have obtained written permission from the school principal if their child needs to be absent from school for rehearsals or performances and that dates and times are specified.
  10. Record, report and act on complaints of abuse promptly. Where possible, details of the complaint should be made to the President of the Stonewave Taiko Committee immediately and if possible in writing to assist with investigation of the complaint.
  11. Retain any documentation including WWCC verifications in a secure place.

DON’T…o:

  1. Develop any ‘special’ relationships with children that could be seen as favouritism such as the offering of exclusive gifts or special treatment.
  2. Assist with things of a personal nature that a child can do for themselves, such as going to the toilet or changing clothes.
  3. Use cameras in change rooms while participants are changing. Move to a different space.

Who does NOT need to get a Working With Children Check?

  • The legislation in NSW allows parents and other close relatives (such as a sibling, grandparent, step-parent, uncle), to volunteer in activities that involve their own children without needing a WWC number.
  • This includes volunteering with a class, program or other activity in which their child usually participates.
  • Therefore, a parent volunteer or close relative who teaches or instructs a class that includes their child does not need a WWC number.
  • Individuals that do not have direct face-to-face contact with children do not require a WWC number. Parents who volunteer at performances or rehearsals that include their own children, (for example help with setting up, make up or costumes, participate in organising committees), or are spectators at performances and events, do not need a WWC number.

Stonewave Taiko Responsibilities

  • All Instructors with Stonewave Taiko Inc (SWT) who have direct face to face contact with children under 18 need to have a current WWCC number.  No instructor will be permitted to take SWT sessions involving children, either regular or one off, before the Committee has sighted verification of the WWCC number.  This includes regular instructors of weekly training sessions as well as instructors who may, from time to time, be engaged by SWT to deliver extra workshops and training sessions.
  • All service providers contracted  by SWT will need to obtain a WWCC number before they start work.
  • The Secretary of SWT will verify the status of each WWCC number, keeping a register of each verification result and ensuring all applications have been finalised before work for SWT starts. These records may be needed if the company is audited by the Office of the Children’s Guardian.
  • The information contained in this policy will be provided to all instructors engaged by SWT for any purpose.