Our commitment to child safety and wellbeing

Berry Street Yooralla has zero tolerance for child abuse or neglect. Through strong leadership, clear accountability and robust governance, we are committed to culturally safe, equitable, inclusive and trauma‑informed environments.

This commitment is embedded through the Berry Street Yooralla Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy (PDF, 423KB) and a comprehensive suite of policies, internal organisational procedures and practices, supported by training, monitoring and continuous improvement processes. Together, these ensure we prevent harm, respond effectively to concerns, and uphold the rights and wellbeing of children and young people.

We promote environments where children, families, carers and our workforce feel safe, supported and empowered to raise concerns, ask questions and report issues relating to child safety, and where those concerns are taken seriously and responded to appropriately.

Our commitment to child safety is reflected in our actions, systems, and organisational culture and is guided by the principles outlined in Berry Street Yooralla’s Commitment to Child Safety (PDF, 226KB). 

To learn more about how we keep children and young people safe, supported and heard, read the Berry Street Yooralla Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy (PDF, 423KB).

Keeping children safe

Child safety is everyone’s responsibility. Everyone involved with Berry Street Yooralla, including staff, carers, volunteers, students on placement, contractors and visitors are expected to uphold Child Safe Standards, respect children at all times, and act quickly if they have any concerns about a child’s safety or wellbeing.

We comply with the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations and the Victorian Child Safe Standards. These standards help ensure children’s safety is promoted, child abuse is prevented, and concerns are responded to appropriately. 

Inclusive and culturally safe services

We promote diversity, inclusion, cultural safety and equal participation. We listen to children, young people, parents and carers, value what they tell us, and support children and young people to have a say in decisions that affect them.

We pay particular attention to the safety, participation and empowerment of children and young people who may be more vulnerable to harm, including:

• children and young people in out-of-home care
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
• children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds
• children with disability
• children who are LGBTIQA+
• children and families who use disability, family, community or support services.

We strive to be truly inclusive of all people in our work, and we are committed to upholding the highest standards in our service delivery. 

Our people

We support our employees and volunteers through recruitment screening, training, supervision and clear expectations. This helps our people understand their responsibilities, recognise risks, and respond appropriately to concerns.  

Everyone involved with Berry Street Yooralla, including staff, carers, volunteers, students on placement, contractors and visitors are expected to abide by our Child Safety Code of Conduct (PDF, 335KB). 

We have robust screening procedures to help ensure the right people are recruited and engaged in our services. Where required, this includes reference checks, police checks, NDIS worker screening checks and Working with Children Checks.