What does safety mean to BCE students? Thankyou to all of the Student Voice Network for sharing What Does Safeguarding mean for BCE students? Safeguarding is all about creating a safe and supportive environment for everyone at school. It includes prevention where possible and response if things go wrong. This includes prioritising the safety and wellbeing of students and making sure we recognise, react and report when there are worries a student might have been harmed. Brisbane Catholic Education and your school does this by: Creating school environments where students can learn, grow, and be themselves. Having clear ways for students, families, and staff to raise concerns about safety. Supporting students when something is wrong and helping them get the assistance they need. Listening to students and taking their ideas, questions, worries, and concerns seriously. Teaching students about safety, wellbeing, respectful relationships, and their rights. Training teachers and other staff to recognise when a student may need help and how to respond. Regularly reviewing how we keep students safe and looking for ways to do even better. Following the child safe standards and other important policies that help protect children and young people. What do adults mean when they talk about harm? We know that feeling safe is about more than being protected from harm. It is about feeling welcome, included, respected, and able to be yourself. When adults talk about safeguarding or student protection, they may sometimes use the words abuse and harm. Abuse is an action or behaviour that hurts a child or young person. Harm is the impact that action has on them. Harm can affect a person's body, feelings, wellbeing, relationships, or sense of safety. It can happen at school, at home, in the community, or online. It is important to remember that harm is not always something you can see. Sometimes words, actions, or behaviours can have a serious impact on a person's wellbeing and make them feel unsafe, worried, sad, or excluded. What do I do if I need support or help? If you are worried about yourself or a friend, feel uncomfortable, or have questions about your safety or wellbeing, it is important to talk to a safe adult you trust. You can talk to a Student Protection Contact (SPC) at your school. SPCs are listed on your school website and on posters around your school. They have received special training to help students who have worries, concerns, or questions about their safety and wellbeing. If you do not feel comfortable talking to an SPC, you can talk to another trusted adult at school or at home. This might be a teacher, guidance counsellor, parent, carer, family member, coach, or another adult you feel safe with. The most important thing is that you talk to someone you trust. You do not have to deal with worries on your own. Trusted adults can listen, support you, and help keep you and others safe. Websites that can help: Kids Helpline 1300 Yarn Reach Out eSafety Respectful Relationships Personal Safety QFCC - Queensland Family and Child Commission Safeguarding STOPLine Support Services Who can I talk to"