Our commitment

Orange Wednesdays Studio ("Orange Wednesdays", "we", "us" or "our") is committed to creating a safe, respectful, inclusive and enjoyable environment for every child who participates in our photography services.

We recognise that children have the right to feel safe, be heard and be treated with dignity.

Child safety and wellbeing takes priority over commercial interests, photography outcomes, schedules and customer expectations.

​

Orange Wednesdays has zero tolerance for child abuse, neglect, exploitation, inappropriate conduct, discrimination, bullying or behaviour that places a child at unreasonable risk of harm.

This Policy is designed to support Orange Wednesdays' compliance with the Victorian Child Safe Standards under the Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005 (Vic) and other applicable Victorian laws.

​

The Standards are mandatory for organisations within relevant categories that provide services specifically for children, including photography services specifically for children.

Scope

​

This Policy applies to:

• the owner and directors of Orange Wednesdays;

• employees;

• contractors;

• photographers;

• assistants;

• volunteers;

• students or work-experience personnel;

• set designers or other personnel who may have contact with children; and

• any other person engaged by Orange Wednesdays who undertakes child-related work.

 

It applies wherever Orange Wednesdays provides services, including:

• studios;

• hired venues;

• temporary pop-up locations;

• outdoor locations;

• events; and

• online environments connected with our services.

 

Our guiding principles

​

Orange Wednesdays will:

1. put children's safety and wellbeing first;

2. respect children's rights, dignity and individual needs;

3. listen to children and take their concerns seriously;

4. involve parents and guardians appropriately;

5. maintain appropriate professional boundaries;

6. recruit and engage suitable people;

7. identify and manage child-safety risks;

8. provide safe physical and online environments;

9. respond appropriately to concerns and allegations;

10. continuously review and improve our practices; and

11. document and communicate our child-safety expectations.

 

Victorian Child Safe Standards

​

Orange Wednesdays adopts the following practices to address the 11 Victorian Child Safe Standards.

​

Standard 1: Cultural safety for Aboriginal children

Orange Wednesdays is committed to creating an environment in which Aboriginal children and young people feel culturally safe and their identities, cultures, histories and experiences are respected.

​

We will:

• treat Aboriginal children and families with respect;

• not tolerate racism or discrimination;

• respect cultural identity and expression;

• consider cultural needs when designing our services and environments; and

• respond appropriately to concerns about cultural safety.

 

Standard 2: Child safety is embedded in leadership and culture

​

Child safety is a core responsibility of Orange Wednesdays' leadership.

The business owner/director is responsible for ensuring this Policy is implemented and reviewed.

Child safety will be considered when making decisions about:

• employees and contractors;

• venues;

• sets and props;

• photography practices;

• technology;

• marketing;

• client communications; and

• business operations.

Commercial considerations will not override reasonable child-safety concerns.

 

Standard 3: Children are empowered and taken seriously

​

Children have the right to express their views, feelings and concerns.

During a photography session, children may:

• say that they do not want to participate in a particular activity;

• request a break;

• express discomfort with a pose, prop, costume or environment;

• ask for their parent or guardian;

• decline reasonable participation in a particular photograph; or

• raise a concern about a person's behaviour.

 

Staff and contractors must take these communications seriously.

A child must never be pressured, threatened, shamed or punished for expressing discomfort or declining to participate.

Parents or guardians will be involved where appropriate.

Standard 4: Families are informed and involved

Orange Wednesdays recognises parents and guardians as important partners in keeping children safe.

​

We will provide families with accessible information about:

• our child-safety commitment;

• relevant policies;

• photography consent;

• image use;

• privacy;

• complaints and concerns; and

• appropriate conduct during sessions.

 

Parents and guardians are encouraged to remain present during photography sessions.

Orange Wednesdays is a photography service and not a childcare service.

Unless expressly agreed otherwise in writing, parents and guardians remain responsible for supervising their children during the session.

​

Standard 5: Equity and diverse needs

Orange Wednesdays is committed to treating children fairly and respectfully.

We will make reasonable efforts to accommodate children's individual needs, including needs relating to:

• disability;

• culture;

• language;

• communication;

• sensory needs;

• mobility;

• neurodiversity;

• religion; and

• other individual circumstances.

 

We will not tolerate discrimination, bullying, harassment or degrading treatment.

Where a requested accommodation cannot reasonably or safely be provided, we will explain this to the parent or guardian and, where reasonably possible, offer an alternative.

​

Standard 6: Suitable and supported people

Orange Wednesdays will take reasonable steps to ensure people engaged to work with children are suitable.

​

Depending on the role, this may include:

• Working with Children Check verification;

• identity verification;

• reference checks;

• relevant qualifications or experience;

• assessment of suitability;

• appropriate supervision;

• induction; and

• child-safety training.

 

Orange Wednesdays will comply with applicable Working with Children Check requirements.

A person must not undertake child-related work where they are legally prohibited from doing so.

Victorian organisations have obligations regarding WWC clearances and must not allow people who are excluded or otherwise prohibited to undertake child-related work.

Orange Wednesdays may require a WWC Check even where an exemption might technically apply if we consider this appropriate for the role.

​

Professional boundaries

People working for Orange Wednesdays must maintain appropriate professional boundaries with children.

​

They must:

• communicate respectfully;

• use age-appropriate language;

• maintain professional physical and emotional boundaries;

• avoid unnecessary physical contact;

• avoid private or secret communication with children;

• avoid being alone with a child wherever reasonably practicable;

• never engage in sexualised or inappropriate behaviour;

• never request inappropriate photographs;

• never use a child's image for an unauthorised purpose; and

• never use their position to intimidate, manipulate or exploit a child.

 

Physical contact

​

Photography may occasionally require reasonable physical assistance, such as helping with safety or positioning.

Physical contact must:

• be necessary or reasonably appropriate;

• be proportionate to the situation;

• respect the child's boundaries;

• be appropriate to the child's age and circumstances; and

• occur transparently and, where practicable, with the parent or guardian present.

 

Unnecessary physical contact is prohibited.

Where a child requires assistance with clothing, costumes or changing, this should be undertaken by the parent or guardian.

Orange Wednesdays does not provide private changing or personal-care services for children.

​

One-to-one situations

​

Orange Wednesdays will take reasonable steps to avoid situations where a staff member or contractor is alone with a child.

Where practicable:

• parents or guardians remain present;

• doors remain open;

• sessions occur in observable areas;

• private or isolated spaces are avoided; and

• another adult is present where appropriate.

 

Orange Wednesdays personnel must not transport children unless a specific arrangement has been authorised and all applicable legal and safety requirements have been satisfied.

​

Photography and image boundaries

​

Photography of children must be conducted professionally and respectfully.

​

Photographers and staff must:

• photograph only within the scope of the booked service;

• follow parental/guardian consent requirements;

• respect a child's reasonable boundaries;

• avoid inappropriate poses or situations;

• not photograph children while changing;

• not request children to remove clothing;

• not photograph children in circumstances that could reasonably be considered exploitative or inappropriate; and

• store and handle photographs securely.

 

Marketing use of identifiable children's photographs requires separate consent from the parent or guardian.

​

Standard 7: Complaints and concerns

​

Orange Wednesdays encourages children, parents, guardians, staff and contractors to raise concerns.

A complaint or concern may be made:

• verbally;

• by email;

• in writing; or

• through another reasonable communication method.

Concerns involving child safety will be treated seriously and handled promptly.

A person who raises a genuine concern will not be punished, disadvantaged or retaliated against for doing so.

Where appropriate, concerns will be escalated to relevant authorities.

​

Child Safety Contact

Name: Delwyn Anset
Email: delwynanset@gmail.com
Phone: 0415870485

​

Responding to a child safety concern

​

If a child discloses something concerning or a person observes behaviour that may place a child at risk, the immediate priority is the child's safety.

Personnel should:

1. remain calm;

2. listen;

3. take the child seriously;

4. avoid making promises of secrecy;

5. avoid leading or investigative questioning;

6. record relevant information as soon as practicable;

7. notify the appropriate Orange Wednesdays responsible person; and

8. report the matter to the appropriate authority where required by law.

 

Staff and contractors must not conduct their own investigation into an allegation of abuse.

They must not confront an alleged offender unless this is necessary to protect immediate safety.

​

Emergency situations

​

If there is an immediate threat to a child's safety, personnel should prioritise immediate safety and contact emergency services where necessary.

​

This may include situations involving:

• serious injury;

• immediate danger;

• suspected abuse;

• a missing child;

• violence;

• medical emergencies; or

• other circumstances presenting an immediate risk.

 

Incident records

Orange Wednesdays will maintain appropriate records of child-safety incidents and concerns.

Records may include:

• date and time;

• location;

• people involved;

• factual description of what occurred;

• action taken;

• people notified;

• relevant photographs or evidence where appropriate; and

• follow-up action.

 

Records must be factual and objective.

​

Staff must avoid speculation, assumptions or unnecessary personal commentary.

Records will be securely stored and access restricted to people who reasonably need access.

​

Standard 8: Training and awareness

​

People undertaking child-related work for Orange Wednesdays will be provided with appropriate information about:

• this Policy;

• professional boundaries;

• child safety;

• recognising and responding to concerns;

• photography and image boundaries;

• privacy;

• set and equipment safety;

• complaints;

• emergency procedures; and

• relevant legal obligations.

Training requirements will be proportionate to the person's role.

 

Physical and online safety

​

Orange Wednesdays will take reasonable steps to identify and manage risks in physical and online environments.

Physical environments

Before sessions, reasonable checks will be made of:

• furniture;

• props;

• costumes;

• lighting;

• electrical equipment;

• cables;

• floors;

• access points;

• trip hazards;

• emergency exits; and

• temporary installations.

 

Unsafe equipment or set elements must be removed, secured or otherwise controlled.

​

Online environments

​

Orange Wednesdays will take reasonable steps to protect children's personal information and photographs.

Personnel must not:

• privately contact children through personal social media;

• request personal contact details from children;

• share children's photographs without authorisation;

• upload photographs to personal accounts; or

• store client photographs on unauthorised devices or services.

 

Parent and guardian responsibility

​

Orange Wednesdays recognises that parents and guardians have an important role in supervising their children.

Unless expressly agreed otherwise in writing:

Orange Wednesdays does not provide childcare or child supervision.

Parents/guardians are responsible for:

• supervising their children;

• following safety instructions;

• ensuring children use props and sets appropriately;

• informing Orange Wednesdays of relevant safety information;

• assisting children with changing or costumes; and

• remaining responsible for their child's behaviour during the session.

This does not remove any duty or legal responsibility that Orange Wednesdays may independently owe to children.

 

Safety instructions and refusal of participation

​

Orange Wednesdays may pause, modify or stop an activity where we reasonably believe continuing would create a safety or wellbeing risk.

This may include situations where:

• a child is distressed;

• a child refuses to participate;

• a child repeatedly engages in unsafe behaviour;

• a prop or set becomes unsafe;

• a parent or visitor behaves inappropriately;

• equipment fails; or

• another safety concern arises.

Where reasonably practicable, we will explain the reason to the parent or guardian.

​

Respectful behaviour

Orange Wednesdays is committed to a respectful environment for children, families, employees and contractors.

We do not tolerate:

• threats;

• violence;

• intimidation;

• harassment;

• discrimination;

• abusive conduct;

• sexualised conduct;

• inappropriate contact; or

• behaviour that creates an unreasonable safety risk.

 

Where a person's conduct creates a safety or wellbeing concern, Orange Wednesdays may:

• pause a session;

• ask the person to leave;

• refuse further participation;

• refuse future bookings; and/or

• contact authorities where appropriate.

 

Protection of Orange Wednesdays personnel

​

Child safety procedures exist to protect children and the people working for Orange Wednesdays.

Personnel are entitled to work in an environment free from:

• abuse;

• harassment;

• threats;

• inappropriate physical contact;

• false or malicious allegations; and

• unreasonable interference with their professional duties.

 

All allegations will be taken seriously.

Orange Wednesdays will seek to handle concerns fairly, confidentially and in accordance with applicable law.

A person must not be treated as having engaged in wrongdoing merely because an allegation has been made.

Where an allegation is made, Orange Wednesdays will avoid prejudging the matter and will follow appropriate reporting, investigation and procedural requirements.

​

False or malicious allegations

Orange Wednesdays encourages genuine reporting of concerns.

At the same time, knowingly making a false or malicious allegation against an employee, contractor, child or other person is unacceptable.

Where there is evidence that a complaint has been deliberately fabricated or made maliciously, Orange Wednesdays may take appropriate action.

This provision does not prevent a person from making a genuine complaint or reporting a concern that turns out not to be substantiated.

 

Privacy and confidentiality

​

Child-safety information will be handled sensitively and shared only where reasonably necessary or where required or permitted by law.

Confidentiality does not prevent Orange Wednesdays from:

• reporting suspected abuse;

• complying with legal obligations;

• cooperating with police or regulatory authorities;

• obtaining professional advice; or

• taking reasonable steps to protect a child or another person.

 

Information relating to allegations must not be discussed casually or shared with people who do not need to know.

 

Review and continuous improvement

Orange Wednesdays will regularly review this Policy and its child-safety practices.

​

Reviews may occur:

• at least annually;

• after a significant incident;

• after a complaint;

• following a regulatory change;

• following changes to our services; or

• where new risks are identified.

We will consider feedback from families, children, staff and contractors where appropriate.

Changes will be documented and communicated to relevant personnel.

​

Standard 11: Policies and procedures

This Policy forms part of Orange Wednesdays' broader child-safety framework.

Supporting documents may include:

• Staff & Contractor Code of Conduct;

• Photography & Image Consent;

• Privacy Policy;

• Child Safety Incident Procedure;

• Set & Equipment Safety Checklist;

• Complaints Procedure;

• Working with Children Check procedure; and

• Emergency Procedure.

These documents are intended to work together to address the Victorian Child Safe Standards. Standard 11 requires policies and procedures to address all Standards, be documented and understandable, be informed by best practice and consultation, and be understood and implemented by staff and volunteers.

 

No waiver of legal obligations

Nothing in this Policy:

• excludes or limits any legal obligation owed by Orange Wednesdays;

• prevents a person from reporting a concern to police, child protection or another authority;

• prevents a person from making a lawful complaint;

• limits any statutory rights or protections; or

• replaces any mandatory reporting, notification or other legal obligation that applies to a particular person or organisation.

Where there is uncertainty about a legal reporting obligation, Orange Wednesdays will seek appropriate professional or regulatory advice.

 

Relationship with other policies

This Policy should be read together with Orange Wednesdays':

• Terms & Conditions;

• Privacy Policy;

• Photography & Image Consent;

• Cancellation & Rescheduling Policy;

• Staff & Contractor Code of Conduct; and

• Incident & Complaints Procedures.

 

If there is an inconsistency between this Policy and a legal requirement, the legal requirement takes precedence.

 

Our promise to children

​

Orange Wednesdays believes that every child deserves to feel safe, respected and listened to.

You can tell us if something doesn't feel right.

We will listen.

We will take you seriously.

And we will do our best to help keep you safe.