To whom it may concern,As Shepparton ACE Secondary Colleges child safety officer, I am respectfully writing to raise concerns regarding meeting the Child Safety responsibilities of the school to maintain a safe environment for 100 children. Meeting the Child Safety requirements is a matter of legal and professional concern to be met for school registration. The school will take any legal action possible and deemed necessary (as it has done so in the past) to protect its students, families, staff and the school’s Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA) registration.
Shepparton ACE Secondary College takes seriously our commitment to providing a safe space for children to learn and grow and for its staff and families, a safe space which this site currently provides. It is astounding that there was not any initial due diligence approach made to the school before the proposal for the development was put forward. Open communication would have made known early on very real child safety issues including VRQA school registration requirements.
Just some of the risks that we would be required to manage with any large development overhanging a school would be:
1. Increased traffic flow and loss of a safe pick up and drop off space (which was a requirement of school registration)
2. Residents or visitors unwantedly approaching children
3. The possible filming of children, staff and families from windows or balconies
4. It is a legal requirement that there is no smoking within 4 meters of any pedestrian access point to the school
As a Victorian State Government and Federally funded school, Shepparton ACE Secondary College has the responsibility to maintain Child Safety standards and to inform the VRQA, Independent Schools Victoria (ISV), the relevant minister/s and department head/s to the very real risks that would occur to staff and children if any development (low– high density housing) as proposed goes ahead.
Regards
Joel Hoffman
Senior Social Worker
Child Safety Officer
Shepparton ACE Secondary College
