In Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures,
our gunanoos, which means children in
Aboriginal language, are everything.
We all play a role in keeping our mob safe.
On behalf of all staff at Blue Card
Services, I'd like to begin by respectfully acknowledging
the traditional owners of the land on which
we are recording this podcast today.
The Jagera and the Turrbal people and
pay my respects to elders, past, present and emerging.
We extend a special welcome to all Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander peoples listening to this podcast.
Hello everyone.
I'm Jess, a proud Bidjara woman and I work in
the Community Information team at Blue Card Services.
Today I'd like to introduce our deadly guest
Jai from the Community Information team to yarn
about what a risk management strategy is and
why organisations need to have one.
Thanks for joining me today, Jai. Hi Jess.
Cheers for having me.
For our listeners following along with this
series, in our last episode, we yarned
about blue card obligations for organisations.
In this episode, we will yarn about how organisations
keep kids safe by having a risk management strategy.
That's right, Jess.
Safe service environments,
they don't just happen, they require
ongoing planning, commitment and maintenance.
Organisations providing child-related services must
develop and implement a child and
youth risk management strategy.
Let's call it an RMS. Yeah,
and the next episode is all about the
8 mandatory elements that make up an RMS.
However, before we talk about that, I think
it's important that organisations know what an RMS
is and why they must have one. Absolutely.
The blue card system is made up of four parts.
Each part plays an essential role in keeping kids
safe and works best when they all come together.
Can you tell our listeners, Jai,
what the four parts are? Of course.
So the first part is working out who needs a blue card?
The second is what we call the blue card check.
Yes, we have Sharon and talk about that in episode 5.
The third part is the ongoing daily monitoring
of all blue card applicants and card holders.
And lastly, is the RMS.
So, Jai, why do organisations need to have an RMS?
Well, Jess, the blue card itself is only
one part of the blue card system.
Parents should feel comfortable having their child participating in
different activities in different locations with different people.
and children have the right to feel safe and be
safe when they are in these places. Absolutely.
Studies show people who try to
harm children often look for organisational
environments which have poor management, dysfunctional
cultures and ineffective risk management procedures.
We know that the best way to keep children
safe, is to create and promote child safe and
child friendly environments by implementing strategies that identify and
minimise risks of harm to children.
That makes so much sense.
It would be difficult for someone to harm
a child if the organisation had strict policies
in place and all people in the organisation
knew, and followed those policies. Correct.
So organisations must have an RMS which tells their staff,
volunteers, visitors, parents and children about the policies and procedures
they have in place which promote the well-being of
children and what strategies they have in place to protect
their children from harm. Okay, can you give us an
example of what they may be?
Well, I know you'll be talking about what needs to be
included in an RMS in another episode but I can give
you an example of the types of situations where an RMS
will help protect children let's say you're a coach at the
local footy club, you have a blue card and you're all
good to go to coach the kids. One afternoon after training,
a parent doesn't come to collect their kid on time you
really need to leave on time so that you can make
an appointment even though it's getting dark, the teenager says it's
okay, my mum will be here soon, Is it really okay
for you to leave the kid at the club by themselves?
hmm, I see what you mean, Jai, even though the coach has
a blue card, it isn't going to protect the teenager from
the harm in this situation. Absolutely right, Jess. The blue card
check assesses a person's eligibility to work with kids but organisations
need policies in place to help their staff keep kids safe.
Having a policy about what to do when a parent doesn't
collect their child on time is what the club needs to
have in this situation. Let me give you another example. Sure.
let's say you work in a daycare centre, you hold a
blue card and you see a three year old old child
bite another child in the play area. Are you allowed to
smack the three year old who bit the other child?
What guidelines does the daycare
centre have about this action?
What does the staff member need to
do when a child hurts another child?
What reports need to be completed by the staff member?
Yes, I see what you mean policies make a difference
to ensure kids are kept in safe environments. That's right,
Jess. We have lots of resources that can help organisations
develop these policies as well. Thanks Jai, I have learnt
so much and enjoyed our time together. A big thank
you to those who are listening. Until next time, let's
keep our gunanoos safe, and stay deadly.