Our Safeguarding Policy

Our Safeguarding Guidelines

The Sydney Alliance and the Hunter Community Alliance are constituent parts of the NSW Community Alliance Ltd. 

1. Introduction

NSW Community Alliance Ltd (referred to as "the Alliance") is committed to providing a safe and inclusive environment for all individuals involved in its activities, including people participating in Alliance activities, staff, students on placement. This safeguarding policy outlines the principles and procedures to prevent discrimination, ensure child safety, protect privacy, and prevent bullying within the organisation.

2. Scope

This policy applies to all volunteers, staff, board members, students on placement, and participants engaged in Alliance meetings, campaigns, and training activities, including residential training. 

3.  Code of Conduct 

In becoming a partner organisation, Friend of the Alliance, Board Member or staff member, individuals commit to following the NSW Community Alliance Code of Conduct. A, C and E are relevant to the ongoing culture of safety at the Alliance. Maintaining this culture is the responsibility of everyone who participates in the organisation. 

1. We behave openly and honestly, towards each other, making integrity in word and deed the foundation of our relationships.
   
   

2. We accept that diverse member organisations won’t always agree but we focus on the values that we share.
   
   

3. We work in good faith and consult, negotiate and compromise wherever possible to find and preserve common ground.
   
   

4.  We try as far as possible to reach decisions by consensus.
   
   

5. We treat each other with mutual respect at all times.
   
   

6. We do not allow religious, political or other differences to cause divisiveness in the Alliance.
   
   

7.  If we foresee that our statements or activities outside the Alliance are likely to be contentious for some Alliance members, we show respect by giving the relevant Alliance members fair notice.
   
   

8. We recognise that each Alliance partner will continue to promote its respective organisational objects and may from time to time communicate for that purpose with other Alliance partners. But we do not use Alliance distribution lists or forums for other than Alliance business. If we wish to communicate with Alliance members about matters that are not approved by Alliance procedures as Alliance business, we do so on a one-to-one basis outside of the Alliance.
   
   

9. We accept that the region/city alliance brands may only be used only for activities that have been approved by the respective council. I.e. Sydney Alliance Council, Hunter Community Alliance Council.
   
   

10. We recognise that one or more Alliance partners may from time to time cooperate in joint activities but we do not describe or refer to such activities as Alliance activities unless and until we have approval to do so from the relevant council.

4. . Working together

We are committed to providing a culturally safe and inclusive organisational environment for participants to build power and act. The Alliance recognises there can be inherent tensions in bringing diverse people together. Partner organisations have their own approaches to diversity.

 In Alliance spaces we respect:

• First Nations people’s sense of self and identity

• people of all ages

• people from non-English speaking backgrounds

• people from diverse ethnic or cultural backgrounds

• ensuring people with disabilities have genuine voice, choice and control

• gay, lesbian, transgender, bisexual, queer or intersex people and their freedom of expression

• Diversity of religious perspectives and practice

• People from a range of economic and education backgrounds

• Neurodiversity

• Robust discussion of the common good and a diversity of views

We recognise that in bringing diverse people together there will be challenges. We are committed to working with organisations and individuals when these principles have been contravened during or in association with Alliance activities. 

5. Anti-Discrimination

The Alliance is committed to fostering a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Negative discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, or any other characteristic is strictly prohibited. We recognise the diversity of people participating in the Alliance and that not all people will agree on all matters. All individuals are expected to treat each other with respect and dignity, valuing the unique contributions and perspectives of every person involved.

6. Sex-based discrimination & unlawful conduct

The Alliance staff and leadership will take an active role in combating discrimination on the grounds of sex & gender and take an active role in eliminating any hostile environment at work on the grounds of sex.

The Alliance has a zero-tolerance policy in relation to:

• Sexual harassment in connection with Alliance activities

• Sex-based harassment in connection with Alliance activities

• Related acts of victimisation
  
  

7. Child Safety

• Alliance staff all have NSW Working-With-Children checks and do not work directly with children without their parents or guardians present.
  
  

• In some contexts, students will participate through their schools but only with a parent or teacher present.
  
  

• We do not condone adult leaders involved in the Alliance meeting with children under the age of 18 without their parents or guardians present. In cases where children are involved indirectly, such as through family participation or events, extra care will be taken to ensure their safety and well-being. Any concerns regarding child safety must be reported immediately to the designated safeguarding officer (see below).
   

• In addition to staff policies regarding child safety. Those under the age of 18 wishing to participate in the Alliance, must do so with the accompaniment of a parent or legal guardian.
  
  

• Organisations bringing children to Alliance events such as training or assemblies are responsible for their safety at those events and must have the appropriate permissions from the child’s parents or guardians
  
  

• Parents and guardians take responsibility for their children coming to and from Alliance events. 

8. Privacy & Confidentiality

Storytelling

While recognising that the Alliance trains people to share their stories of the challenges they face in public, respecting the privacy and confidentiality of individuals is paramount. Personal information shared within the Alliance, including stories and testimonies, must be handled with sensitivity and discretion. Volunteers and staff will obtain explicit consent before sharing or using any personal information, ensuring individuals' autonomy and agency over their own narratives.

Privacy Policy

The Sydney Alliance is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of its supporters and partner organisations’ members. We are bound by and act in accordance with the National Privacy Principles in the Privacy Act 1988 as amended by the Privacy Amendment (Private Sector) Act 2000.

A copy of the National Privacy Principles may be obtained at: www.privacy.gov.au 

Use and Disclosure of Personal Information

The personal information we collect may be used to:

• Inform our supporters about the work of the Alliance and keep them up to date about any projects we may be undertaking.

• Process donations, membership fees and other contributions

• Issue tax invoices and receipts

• Respond to comments or questions from supporters

• Inform a partner organisation if their member has attended one of our events or raised an inquiry with us.

• Seek specific support for campaigns and projects

• Research attitudes on campaigns and projects

• For internal reporting purposes

• We respect the choice of supporters not to receive some or all of our communications, or not to be contacted for any specific purpose.

Staff and leaders will ask permission to participants, trainees and working group members before sharing their contact information. 

A supporter may email us at admin@sydneyalliance.org.au to update their personal information or convey their communication instructions.

We will never disclose the personal information of our supporters to a third party unless they are working directly on our behalf or we are required to do so by law. We do not publish personal information in publications or on our web-site, without explicit/express consent, unless required by law. 

We never sell, rent, lend or give away our supporter/membership list.

Protection of Personal Information

The Alliance actively seeks to ensure that all personal information we collect is protected from misuse, unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. We have internal data protection and electronic data transmission procedures and all donations and communications made on-line via our website are secure.

9. Bullying 

Bullying, harassment, or intimidation of any kind will not be tolerated within the organization. This includes verbal, physical, or online forms of bullying. All individuals are encouraged to speak up if they witness or experience any form of bullying behaviour. Complaints will be taken seriously and addressed promptly and confidentially (see below).

Workplace bullying is defined as repeated and unreasonable behaviour directed towards a worker or a group of workers that creates a risk to health and safety. Repeated behaviour refers to the persistent nature of the behaviour and can refer to a range of behaviours over time. Unreasonable behaviour means behaviour that a reasonable person, having considered the circumstances, would see as unreasonable, including behaviour that is victimising, humiliating, intimidating or threatening. Single incidents of unreasonable behaviour can also present a risk to health and safety and will not be tolerated. 

Staff are bound and protected by additional anti-bullying policy. 

10. Training and Awareness on this document

Staff and board members will receive training on safeguarding principles and procedures during their induction and periodically thereafter. Training will cover this policy and more detailed policies for staff, reporting mechanisms, confidentiality guidelines, and appropriate conduct. Additionally, ongoing awareness-raising initiatives will be implemented to promote a culture of safeguarding throughout the Alliance. 

At the beginning of Foundations and National training and annually at relevant Alliance council meetings, participants will be made aware of this document and where it is on the Alliance website. 

11. Alliance Responsibilities

The Alliance acknowledges its duty of care to safeguard all individuals involved in its activities. While it cannot directly oversee safeguarding within member organisations, it will ensure that safeguarding principles are upheld during its own activities. The board of directors, in collaboration with the safeguarding officers, will oversee the implementation and review of this policy to ensure its effectiveness and compliance with legal obligations.

12. Reporting Procedures

Any concerns or incidents related to discrimination, child safety, privacy breaches, or bullying should be reported immediately to the designated safeguarding officer. Reports can be made confidentially and will be handled with sensitivity and discretion. The safeguarding officer will investigate the matter promptly and take appropriate action in accordance with this policy and relevant legislation.

The safeguarding officer for the NSW Community Alliance is the Executive Officer of the NSW Community Alliance. This work is supported by the Lead Organisers of the Sydney Alliance.

Contact details:

For issues pertaining to Hunter Community Alliance:

David Barrow, davidb@thehca.org.au

For issues pertaining to Sydney Alliance

Cat Coghlan, ccoghlan@sydneyalliance.org.au
Chantelle Ogilvie-Ellis, chantelle@sydneyalliance.org.au

NSW Community Alliance Executive Officer (designated safeguarding officer)

David Barrow, davidb@thehca.org.au 

Should you wish to raise an issue with a member of the Board, you can do so confidentially by contacting the Board designated safeguarding issues: 

1. Nishadh Rego, nishadhrego@gmail.com 

2. Mary Waterford, marywaterford2@gmail.com 

Further documents available:

• Staff policy related to Child Safety

• Staff Policy related to working with people with lived experience of trauma

• Staff policy related to bullying

• Introduction to Neurodiversity