Child Safety & Wellbeing Policy

The Cowboys are committed to upholding the 10 Child Safe Standards and providing a safe, supportive, and culturally safe environment for all children and young people.

Child Safety & Wellbeing Policy

1.      Purpose

  • This Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy affirms the Cowboys’ commitment to protecting children and young people from harm and promoting their wellbeing.
  • The Cowboys comply with the 10 Child Safe Standards and the Universal Principle enforced by the Queensland Family and Child Commission under the Queensland Child Safe Organisations Act 2024. This policy outlines how the Cowboys meet these legal obligations.
  • Through this policy, the Cowboys ensure that all workers, whether paid or unpaid, understand their legal and ethical responsibilities and specific roles in safeguarding children.

2.      Scope

  • This policy applies to all people who work for the Cowboys, whether paid or unpaid.
  • The policy covers all programs, events, and activities that involve, result in, or relate to contact with children and young people, including those delivered face-to-face, online, or through community engagement initiatives.

3.      Definitions

  • Cowboys: Collectively refers to Cowboys Charity Limited, Cowboys Leagues Club Limited, Cowboys Rugby League Football Limited and NQ Cowboys Limited.
  • Worker: Any person who performs work in any capacity for the Cowboys, including but not limited to: employees, players, contractors, subcontractors, employees of contractors and subcontractors, apprentices, trainees and volunteers.
  • 10 Child Safe Standards: A set of standards established by the Queensland Family and Child Commission to guide organisations in creating safe environments for children.
  • Universal Principle: A concept under the Queensland Child Safe Organisations Act 2024 that guides organisations to create environments where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children feel culturally safe, welcomed, respected, and valued. It reflects a commitment to inclusion and cultural safety as a core organisational value.
  • Cultural Safety: Creating environments where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families feel welcome, safe, valued, included, and respected.
  • Child / Young Person: A person under the age of 18 years old.
  • Child Harm or Abuse: Any act, omission or circumstance that causes or has the potential to cause physical, sexual, emotional or psychological harm to a child, including neglect.
  • Mandatory Reporting: Mandatory reporting in Queensland applies to specific professional roles under the Child Protection Act 1999 (Qld); in addition, all adults must report child sexual offences to police under Criminal Code s229BC.

4.      Policy Statement

The Cowboys uphold compliance with the 10 Child Safe Standards and the Universal Principle through the following commitments:

4.1 The Cowboys embed child safety and wellbeing into our organisation’s leadership, governance, and culture. All workers comply with the organisation’s Code of Conduct to uphold these values.

4.2 The Cowboys support and encourage children and young people to participate in decisions that affect their safety and wellbeing. The organisation provides child-friendly participation opportunities through mechanisms such as house meetings, feedback processes and accessible complaints pathways. The Procedures Guide outlines how the Cowboys seek, consider and act on children’s voices.

4.3 The Cowboys inform and involve families and communities in promoting child safety and wellbeing.

4.4 The Cowboys respect equity and diversity and ensure inclusion and accessibility for all.

4.5 The Cowboys ensure that all people working with children are suitable and supported through recruitment, screening, and training that reflect child safety and wellbeing values.

4.6 The Cowboys maintain clear, child-focused procedures for receiving, responding to and investigating complaints and concerns relating to child safety and wellbeing. All workers must comply with mandatory reporting obligations and external reporting requirements, as detailed in the Complaints Handling Procedure and Mandatory Reporting Procedure supporting this policy.

4.7 The Cowboys equip all workers with the knowledge and skills required to keep children safe through ongoing education and training.

4.8 The Cowboys ensure physical and online environments are safe and continually identify and minimise risks.

4.9 The Cowboys regularly review and improve all policies implemented in accordance with the Child Safe Standards.

4.10 The Cowboys document how the organisation ensures a child-safe environment and complies with the Child Safe Standards and the Universal Principle. The organisation makes this policy accessible to children, families, workers, and the wider community. Where appropriate, the Cowboys provide child-friendly, plain-language, and culturally appropriate versions.

4.11 The Cowboys recognise cultural safety for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families as a core organisational value.

RELATED DOCUMENTS/INFORMATION

Legislation and Standards:

Queensland Child Safe Organisations Act 2024

10 Child Safe Standards, Queensland Family and Child Commission