THE Shire of Northam has formally adopted a new Child Safe Awareness Policy, reinforcing its commitment to ensuring all children and young people are protected across its services and facilities.

The policy, endorsed at the April council meeting, was amended on the night by councillor Julie Williams to clarify that child safety training will be provided not only to staff and councillors, but also to contractors, volunteers, trainees, and anyone undertaking work on behalf of the shire.

The policy stems from recommendations made by the landmark Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, which was established in 2013 after mounting public concern and evidence of widespread abuse in organisations such as schools, churches, orphanages, and youth detention centres.

Over five years, the commission heard from more than 8000 survivors and issued a final report in 2017 with hundreds of recommendations to prevent institutional abuse.

A key recommendation was for local governments and community organisations to implement child-safe policies and cultures.

Northam’s child safety policy document states the Shire of Northam supports, values and is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people.

“The safety and wellbeing of children is everyone’s responsibility,” the document reads.

“The Child Safe Awareness Policy is one of the many ways the Shire of Northam demonstrates its commitment to having a zero tolerance approach to child abuse and providing a safe environment for young people when interacting with the shire.

“The shire will promote the safety and wellbeing of children and young people across the community and demonstrate leadership by supporting organisations and sporting

clubs to be child safe and to protect children and young people from harm and/or abuse.

“Training will be provided for workers, volunteers, trainees, work experience students and anyone who undertakes work on behalf of the Shire of Northam.

“The shire will deliver child safe messages, aligned to the national principles for child safe organisations and commonwealth child safe framework, to all shire facilities through resources, awareness raising and sharing relevant information.

“The safety and best interests of children and young people are a primary consideration when making decisions that concern them.

“Children and young people have the right to speak up, be heard and taken seriously without consequence.”

The policy forms part of a broader effort across Western Australia, with other local governments also developing or adopting similar frameworks in recent years.

Northam shire officers will now begin rolling out the policy, including training and risk management procedures.