Child Safety

Our Commitment to Child Safety

At MAPA, we are deeply committed to providing a safe and nurturing environment where children can thrive, feel empowered, and reach their full potential through dance.

We prioritise the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people and aim to create a child-safe and child-friendly space where children are not only safe but also feel safe and supported in participating actively in decisions that affect their lives.

We uphold a zero-tolerance approach to child abuse and are steadfast in acting in the best interests of children to protect them from harm. Our studio takes child safety responsibilities seriously and dedicates the resources necessary to comply with all relevant child safety laws, regulations, and best practices while fostering a child-safe culture.

Our Child Safe Culture

At MAPA, the safety of children is underpinned by a strong child-safe culture. To ensure this, we have implemented comprehensive practices, policies, and procedures, including:

  • Developing and maintaining a robust Child Safe Policy that reflects our commitment to safety and wellbeing.
  • Establishing clear behavioural expectations for staff, volunteers, and students through our Child Safe Code of Conduct.
  • Appointing a dedicated Child Safety Officer to oversee child protection initiatives.
  • Educating our team members with child safety training to ensure they understand their roles and responsibilities.
  • Ensuring clear procedures are in place for reporting alleged or suspected incidents of child abuse.
  • Recognising and promoting the cultural safety of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, children from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, and LGBTIQ+ children.
  • Providing tailored care and support to children with disabilities to ensure they feel safe and valued.
  • Defining the roles and responsibilities of staff and volunteers in implementing child safety strategies.
  • Maintaining detailed child safety record-keeping procedures to evidence reasonable precautions and risk management.
  • Aligning our recruitment and human resources practices with child safety standards.
  • Conducting regular reviews of our child safety strategies to ensure continuous improvement.

Reporting Concerns

We encourage all members of our studio community to speak up about any child safety concerns. If you have a concern or need to report an incident, please contact our Director and Child Safety Officer, Sarah Ambrose at [email protected]. All concerns will be handled promptly, confidentially, and in line with our Child Safe Policy.

Key Documents and Policies

Together, we are committed to creating a safe and supportive space for every child at MAPA.