Child Safety Commitment Statement
Gwydir Shire Council is committed to the safety, wellbeing and empowerment of all children
and young people throughout the Shire, including indigenous children, those from culturally
and linguistically diverse backgrounds and children and young with disabilities.
All Gwydir Shire Council staff, volunteers and other partners have a zero-tolerance approach
to any form of child abuse in both the physical, psychological, and online environments. We
support the rights of children and young people, and we will act immediately and accordingly
to ensure an environment is maintained where they feel safe, respected, valued, and always
empowered.
We know that being a leading child safe organisation is about more than having the right
policies and procedures in place. It requires conscious actions and proactive behaviours to
protect children from harm. It means creating a culture of safety that extends from
participation and education through to ensuring all members of our organisation feel safe
and secure in reporting inappropriate behaviour.
It is essential that everyone at Gwydir Shire Council understand the important
responsibilities they have in relation to child safety, and we are committed to educating our
elected members, employees, volunteers, contractors, consultants, other partners and the
wider community in the regard.
We want children to have a voice and know that their views are listened to and respected
and that they are given opportunities to contribute. Together we can provide an environment
where children feel safe, respected, valued, and encouraged to reach their full potential.
Primary purpose of the position
This position is responsible for providing high quality children’s services throughout the Gwydir
Shire Council to ensure that local families have access to early childhood education providing
care for social, emotional, physical and educational needs of infants and young children.
Department and Branch Description
Forming part of the Organisation and Community Services Department, the Social Services
Branch is responsible for providing an array of services focusing on the three main target
areas of children, youth and families. The Branch is responsible for the management and
operational matters associated with youth, families and social services as well as delivering
high quality educational and recreational programs, information, Advocacy and referral
services.
Children’s Services offer a range of services including Tharawonga Mobile Resource Unit
providing centre based day care to the more remote and smaller villages within the Gwydir
Shire, Bingara Preschool, and Toy libraries based in Bingara and Warialda to ensure that
local families have access to early childhood education and resources to support the
development and learning needs of the children within our community.
2
