Policies
How we hold ourselves accountable
Transparency is part of how we build trust. Here's a summary of the key policies that guide how Connect CWS operates. Contact us if you'd like a full copy of either policy.
Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy
Connect CWS is committed to creating and maintaining an environment where children are safe, respected, heard, and protected from harm, in line with Queensland’s Child Safe Organisations Act 2024, the Universal Principle and the 10 Child Safe Standards.
- Our commitment
- We hold children's and young people's safety and wellbeing at the centre of every decision we make, guided by the Universal Principle (creating environments where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children feel welcome, safe, valued, included and respected) and the 10 Child Safe Standards.
- Our approach
- Child safeguarding and cultural safety are embedded in how we recruit and screen staff, train our teams, manage risk, and design our homes and vehicles, supported by policies including our Child Safe Code of Conduct, Cultural Safety Policy and Worker Screening requirements.
- Responsibilities
- Everyone has a role to play, from our Board and CEO through to Senior Leaders, Team Leaders and frontline staff, including raising any concerns about a child's safety or wellbeing and cooperating with any investigation.
- Responding to concerns and breaches
- Concerns are raised immediately, staff with their line manager and Team Leaders being the main point of contact for Youth Workers. A breach of this policy may lead to disciplinary or other management action depending on its nature and seriousness.
- Related policies
- This policy works alongside our Child Safe Code of Conduct, Code of Conduct, Cultural Safety Policy, Human Rights Policy, Worker Screening requirements, Risk Management Framework and Incident Reporting Procedure, among others.
- Review
- This policy is reviewed annually.
Privacy, Confidentiality and Information Management Policy
We are committed to managing personal, sensitive and confidential information lawfully, securely and respectfully, in line with the Information Privacy Act 2009, Human Rights Act 2019 and Child Protection Act 1999.
- Purpose and scope
- This policy sets out how we collect, access, use, share and protect personal, sensitive and confidential information about children and young people, families, workers and other stakeholders. It applies to our Board, Executive Leadership Team, staff, volunteers and contractors.
- Our principles
- We collect only what's necessary and relevant, explain clearly how information will be used, seek informed consent where required, limit access to people with a legitimate need, and keep information accurate, secure and confidential.
- How we collect, use and share information
- Information is used only for the purpose it was collected for, unless consent is given or the law requires otherwise, and is shared only with authorised people. Children and young people are told about this in a way they can understand.
- Access and correction
- You can ask to see personal information we hold about you and ask us to correct it if it's wrong. We confirm identity before releasing information, and access may be limited where it could affect someone's safety or another person's privacy. You, or your family, also have the right to request access to and amendment of personal information held about you by the Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety.
- Privacy concerns and complaints
- You can raise a concern or make a complaint about how your information has been collected, used, stored or shared. These are treated respectfully and confidentially, assessed promptly, and you'll be kept informed of the outcome.
- Privacy and information breaches
- If a privacy or data breach happens, we act quickly to contain it, assess who's affected, and meet our legal, contractual and regulatory notification requirements.
- Review
- This policy is reviewed periodically, and whenever legislation, incidents or organisational changes mean a review is needed.
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