Yeshivah/Beth Rivkah colleges receive children program accreditation
Yeshivah – Beth Rivkah Colleges, Melbourne, is delighted to announce that its Colleges have recently attained an Australian Childhood Foundation (ACF) Safeguarding Children Program (SCP) Accreditation.
Andrew Blode presenting Rabbi Yehoshua Smukler the ACF Safeguarding Children Accreditation Certificate Photo: Chana Franck
ACF identifies that an organisational “lack of awareness, knowledge, confidence or lack of processes and support” may result in children being vulnerable and unprotected. As such, the Safeguarding Children Program aims to ensure that all children are protected by ensuring organisations meet and achieve the Seven Standards set out by the ACF:
1. A commitment to safeguarding children; 2. Personnel roles and conduct; 3. Recruitment and screening practices; 4. Personnel induction and training; 5. Involving children and parents; 6. Child abuse reports and allegations; 7. Supporting a child-safe culture.
Achieving Accreditation indicates that the “organisation complies with all seven standards of the SCP accreditation requirements” according to Dr Joe Tucci, CEO, Australian Childhood Foundation. The ACF Accreditation Panel agreed that YBR Colleges has met their Seven Standards. This accreditation is a tremendous accomplishment and clearly demonstrates Yeshivah – Beth Rivkah’s dedication and commitment to child safety.
A report provided by Susan Halliday, Chairperson Safeguarding Children Program Accreditation Panel, highlighted that Yeshivah – Beth Rivkah Colleges had made a comprehensive commitment to the Safeguarding Children Program and she commented positively on the extent of the work that was undertaken, and continued to be undertaken to maintain that commitment.
The Accreditation process (which commenced in September 2014) spanned the entire Yeshivah – Beth Rivkah (YBR) College Inc. – encompassing Brighton Early Learning Centre, Gurewicz Early Learning Centre, Yeshivah College (Primary and Secondary) and Beth Rivkah Ladies College (Primary and Secondary) and excluded non-school related entities.
All staff members at YBR – both teaching and non-teaching staff, administration personnel and School support services – have made a commitment to provide a safe environment at the school and to follow the school’s Safeguarding Children Policies and Procedures. The (ACF) Safeguarding Children Program accreditation scheme conducted random interviews of a large number of staff members across all campuses and sectors of the schools, to assess culture, policy and practice.
The ACF Program Accreditation Panel Report found that “Members of the senior management team, and… all persons working with children and adolescents, were clear about their obligations about speaking up quickly in relation to the safety and protection of children.”
The Colleges have implemented new security measures and infrastructure to enhance child protection – these aspects were acknowledged by the Accreditation Panel.
The Accreditation Panel viewed the increased communication with parents and educators, as well as regular interaction and tailored programs for children and adolescents as “very important”, and the Panel was “encouraged by the high priority given, and transparent nature of, such initiatives.”
The Panel report also commended the “prominence of child friendly material” and educational programs, and “the way in which concerted effort and engagement had been mapped and progressed (throughout the staff, students, parents, community, and governance/ leadership).”
Formalising a Welfare Committee and obligations associated with mandatory reporting (including clear policy material relating to individual educators) has further enhanced Yeshivah – Beth Rivkah College’s already sound commitment to child safety.
Working together with the parents to create an environment in which children are empowered, parents are appropriately protective and foster independence, and school staff are vigilant will enable Yeshivah – Beth Rivkah Colleges to stay on course as a recognised child-safe organisation. The school prioritises child safety, provides training programs and ensures effective policies to prevent, and procedures to deal with, issues should they arise.
As Australia’s fastest growing Jewish day school (now with over 1300 students across its campuses, Kinder to Year 12) Yeshivah – Beth Rivkah Colleges is extremely proud of attaining the Safeguarding
Children Program Accreditation and were thrilled be recognised as “knowledgeable and genuine in its approach to matters of child protection and safety”.
Following the Safeguarding Children Program Accreditation, the Principal of Yeshivah – Beth Rivkah Colleges, Rabbi Yehoshua Smukler, commented: “The prevalent child safe culture, coupled with the heightened awareness and training, truly makes Yeshviah – Beth Rivkah Colleges one of the safest schools in Australia for our children. We are happy to share our journey and experience, our policy, practice and training documentation with any schools or organisations who wish to improve their child safe standards.”
In his presentation of the Safeguarding Children certificate to the Colleges, Mr Andrew Blode, CEO of the Jack and Robert Smorgon Families Foundation and one of the founding directors of the program, noted the following: “…This is the highest undertaking any organisation can commit to, to ensure the safety of their children they are responsible for…Yeshivah – Beth Rivkah Colleges now stands as a beacon for other schools to follow…”
How can I find out more about the content of the SCP
I’d like to know what is being done at Yeshiva – Beth Rivkah to look after the mental well-being of students who are gender-diverse, intersex, and same-sex attracted.