Goulburn Valley Pride rainbow logo with black text
Donate
Out in the Open Festival - logo, with Festival and Greater Shepparton wording
Quick Exit
To leave this website quickly, click the ‘Quick Exit’ button or the ESC key on your keyboard. If you are in immediate danger call 000 ( Australian emergency line), for advice about family violence call 1800 Respect on 1800 737 732 (Helpline).
Our commitment to child safety

Objective

Goulburn Valley Pride Incorporated (GV Pride Inc.) is committed to the safety and well-being of all members, affiliates and volunteers, and recognises their role as active participants in all activities planned by the organisation. GV Pride Inc. recognises that all children have a right to feel safe and upholds a zero-tolerance approach to any form of violence, neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, grooming or endangerment.

Policy

GV Pride Inc. is an organisation based on social inclusion for all LGBTIQA+ individuals, families and communities. GV Pride Inc. coordinates activities, events and programs for people over the age of 18 years. We routinely assist organisations that work with children or provide youth activities via our Deductible Gift Recipient and Public Benevolent Institution status but don’t actively engage with people/s under the age of 18. If GV Pride Inc. is contacted by a person/s below the age of 18 we refer the young person to another LGBTIQA+ service in the Goulburn Valley that works with people/s under the age of 18, and provide their contact details (e.g. Diversity Project – Uniting VT).

This policy does not exclude persons under the age of 18 from attending GV Pride Inc. events as long as they are accompanied by a person/s over the age of 18. In special circumstances, a consent form signed by a legal guardian can be supplied and GV Pride Inc. will assign a GV Pride Inc. committee member as a guardian for that event. Details of guardianship will be provided on the consent form with contact details.

It is recommended that all interactions with people/s under the age of 18 be witnessed by at least 2 GV Pride Inc. members to protect the interests and integrity of GV Pride Inc.

Working With Children Check

In conjunction with the Victorian Government Legislation, GV Pride has adopted the Working With Children Check policy. The CYF Act 2005 states that if your organisation has any members or volunteers below the age of 18 then all members and volunteers must obtain a Working With Children Check. If there are no members or volunteers under the age of 18 then a Working With Children Check is not required.
GV Pride Inc. has added to the existing policy the following items:

  • All GV Pride Inc. committee and subcommittee members must have or show evidence of obtaining a “Working With Children Check” or equivalent.
  • All volunteers of GV Pride Inc. that are involved in the running of an event must have or show evidence of obtaining a “Working With Children Check” or equivalent.
  • A digital copy of the “Working With Children Check” or equivalent of all members and volunteers will be obtained and uploaded to the committee data store.

Victorian Institute of Teaching members and Sworn Police Officers DO NOT require a “Working With Children Check” as it is a condition of their employment.


The Victorian Working with Children Check Policy and application can be located https://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/

GV Pride’s Website has a list of updated contacts for child/youth-based services.

Mandatory Reporting

Mandatory reporting is the legal requirement for certain professional groups to report a reasonable belief of child physical or sexual abuse to child protection authorities. GV Pride Inc. does not fit into the definition of being a mandatory reporter but we strongly advise all members and volunteers to visit the Victorian DHHS website on mandatory reporting. All adults must report abuse/neglect of a child to police.

Mandatory Reporting for Victorians
https://providers.dhhs.vic.gov.au/mandatory-reporting

You can download a copy of our Policy here.