Important Child Safety Updates
Student Sexualised Behaviours
Since the introduction of CEDoW Responding to student sexualised behaviour framework all Compass sexualised behaviour records have triggered a notification to the CEDoW Child Safety and Professional Services (CSaPS) team for review and responding advice.
This was intended to provide specialist support to schools while they adjusted to the new way of working. In recognition of the maturity achieved in the past 5 years, moving forward, CSaPS will only review medium and high-level student sexualised behaviour records.
School leaders are responsible for ensuring that processes are in place to escalate sexualised behaviours for review and responses, especially Low behaviours, which are no longer reviewed by CSaPS.
The Compass records for each age group will support school staff to identify the correct level of the behaviour through the examples provided, but it's important to remember there are factors that will increase the level of concern, for example:
- if there is a significant age, size or power difference between the instigating and impacted students
- if there is secrecy, coercion or bribery
- if the behaviour forms part of a series of bullying or degrading behaviours/comments
- if the nature of the behaviour is compulsive, opportunistic or degrading
All staff in every school can contact the Child Safety team for advice on specific matters if they are unsure of the level of concern. You can do this by directly contacting the child safety advisor allocated to your school, or by contacting the team on childprotection@dow.catholic.edu.au or 02 4250 9555.
National Child Protection Week: 7-13 September 2025
National Child Protection Week 2025 is just around the corner! This year’s theme, “Every Conversation Matters: Shifting Conversation to Action,” is about taking the next step beyond dialogue—turning meaningful conversations into real change at individual, community, and national levels.
Action: Teachers should start to think about how you shift Child Safe conversations into actions with your students.
Please see the following websites for ideas on activities and initiatives:
Think u know - child exploitation
National Office of Child Safety
Daniel Morcombe Foundation - Australia's biggest child safety lesson