Effective Date: 22nd January 2026

Our Commitment to Child Safety

Bridge It is committed to promoting and protecting the safety, rights, and wellbeing of all children and young people. We have a zero tolerance for abuse of any kind and uphold every young person's right to feel safe and be safe in our Cocoons. 

Bridge It will not tolerate abuse of any kind and is committed to: 

Creating conditions that reduce the likelihood of harm to children and young people. 

Identifying and removing risks early through proactive risk management. 

Responding to all concerns seriously through clear and immediate reporting pathways to supervisors and external authorities through our internal Identifying, Responding and Reporting Concerns process. 

Providing accessible support and promoting a culture where young people feel confident to speak up. 

We ensure young person safety is embedded in our culture by: 

Driving a culture of safety 

Our policies, Code of Conduct, and procedures reflect a strong and clear commitment to child and young person safety. Everyone at Bridge It understands that protecting children and  young people is their responsibility. Our Board and CEO oversee compliance and strategic direction related to young person safety. 

Prioritising young people 

We create safe, inclusive environments that empower children and young people to actively participate in decisions that affect them. Residents are invited to contribute to organisational improvement through regular feedback opportunities and direct involvement in the Lived Insight Team, ensuring that our services reflect their specific needs and lived realities. This promotes meaningful engagement and continuous responsiveness to those we support. 

Promoting equity and inclusion 

We anticipate and respond to the diverse needs of children and young people, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people, children and young people with disability, LGBTIQA+ children and young people, and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. 

Engaging safe people 

We follow robust recruitment and screening procedures including Working with Children Checks, Police Checks, reference checks, and mandatory safety training before engagement. 

Responding to concerns 

We maintain a child and young person-focused complaints process. All concerns or allegations are taken seriously, promptly investigated, and immediately report if necessary 

Equipping our people 

All Bridge It staff receive training on the Victorian Child Safe Standards and their individual responsibilities to uphold the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. 

Maintaining safe environments – physical and online 

We manage both physical and online environments to reduce risk and ensure safety. We educate children and young people we support about online safety and responsible digital participation, and provide appropriate supervision, boundaries, and support to prevent and respond to online harm. We also have clear, documented consent processes in place to ensure that no images or identifying information of residents are shared publicly without informed, voluntary, and revocable consent. 

Reviewing and improving 

We review our policies and procedures annually or following any reportable incident. We continuously improve our practice through feedback, risk reviews, and through engaging with children and young people we support. 

Bridge It's leadership, staff, and community are committed to ensuring that children and young people are safe, heard, respected, and supported at all levels of the organisation.