Beaconhills College will join schools and organisations across Victoria to implement new Child Safe Standards mandated by the Victorian Royal Commission into Child Abuse.

The standards build on existing requirements for schools to ensure the care, safety and wellbeing of students. They move to embed a zero-tolerance approach to child abuse.

Every school must submit a Statement of Compliance by today (10 August) showing each stage of implementation and an action plan where further work is needed.

Headmaster Tony Sheumack said the school had already briefed staff and College Board members on the new requirements and had submitted its compliance statement.

“We have explained that these new standards are an opportunity to build on the policies and procedures that we presently employ – to ensure students are safe and well cared-for in our community,” Mr Sheumack said.

He said that the College already has – and will continue to develop – ‘best practice’ standards.

“However, the new standards are an opportunity to review many aspects of our policies and procedures to ensure our child protection program meets and exceeds industry standards,” Mr Sheumack said.

The new standards fall into seven categories, covering issues such as screening, supervision and training of staff, processes for responding to and reporting abuse and strategies to promote the participation and empowerment of children.

The Minister for Families and Children, Jenny Mikakos, said: “This is an important step in ensuring all organisations that deal with children can better prevent and respond to allegations of abuse and misconduct.”