Our commitment to child safety and wellbeing

Berry Street Yooralla has zero tolerance for child abuse or neglect. Through strong leadership, clear accountability and robust governance, we are committed to culturally safe, equitable, inclusive and trauma‑informed environments.

This commitment is embedded through the Berry Street Yooralla Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy (PDF, 423KB) and a comprehensive suite of policies, internal organisational procedures and practices, supported by training, monitoring and continuous improvement processes. Together, these ensure we prevent harm, respond effectively to concerns, and uphold the rights and wellbeing of children and young people.

We promote environments where children, families, carers and our workforce feel safe, supported and empowered to raise concerns, ask questions and report issues relating to child safety, and where those concerns are taken seriously and responded to appropriately.

Our commitment to child safety is reflected in our actions, systems, and organisational culture and is guided by the principles outlined in Berry Street Yooralla’s Commitment to Child Safety (PDF, 226KB). 

To learn more about how we keep children and young people safe, supported and heard, read the Berry Street Yooralla Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy (PDF, 423KB).

Keeping children safe

Child safety is everyone’s responsibility. Everyone involved with Berry Street Yooralla, including staff, carers, volunteers, students on placement, contractors and visitors are expected to uphold Child Safe Standards, respect children at all times, and act quickly if they have any concerns about a child’s safety or wellbeing.

We comply with the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations and the Victorian Child Safe Standards. These standards help ensure children’s safety is promoted, child abuse is prevented, and concerns are responded to appropriately. 

Inclusive and culturally safe services

We promote diversity, inclusion, cultural safety and equal participation. We listen to children, young people, parents and carers, value what they tell us, and support children and young people to have a say in decisions that affect them.

We pay particular attention to the safety, participation and empowerment of children and young people who may be more vulnerable to harm, including:

• children and young people in out-of-home care
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
• children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds
• children with disability
• children who are LGBTIQA+
• children and families who use disability, family, community or support services.

We strive to be truly inclusive of all people in our work, and we are committed to upholding the highest standards in our service delivery. 

Our people

We support our employees and volunteers through recruitment screening, training, supervision and clear expectations. This helps our people understand their responsibilities, recognise risks, and respond appropriately to concerns.  

Everyone involved with Berry Street Yooralla, including staff, carers, volunteers, students on placement, contractors and visitors are expected to abide by our Child Safety Code of Conduct (PDF, 335KB). 

We have robust screening procedures to help ensure the right people are recruited and engaged in our services. Where required, this includes reference checks, police checks, NDIS worker screening checks and Working with Children Checks.

Concerns About a Child’s Safety or Wellbeing

Everyone has a responsibility to speak up if they are worried about a child or young person.  

If you believe a child or young person is in immediate danger or at risk of harm, call 000 straight away.  

If you have concerns about a child’s safety or wellbeing but there is no immediate danger, you can report or discuss your concerns with:

• Child Protection in your state or territory
• Victoria Police  
• The Berry Street Yooralla service contact you are connected with.   

Complaints

We are committed to providing safe, respectful and high-quality services. We welcome feedback and take complaints seriously.

If you are unhappy with any aspect of a service, interaction, or decision, you can make a complaint directly to:

• Feedback and complaint

You can make a complaint yourself or on behalf of a child or young person. Making a complaint will not affect the services you receive. 

Other Complaint Options

If you prefer, you can also raise your concerns with an independent body, including: 

• Reportable Conduct Scheme (for allegations of misconduct involving workers)
• Victorian Social Services Regulator
• NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission (for NDIS-funded services) 

These organisations provide oversight and can investigate complaints about child safety, service quality, or worker conduct.

There are a range of organisations that help keep children and young people safe: 

• Victorian Ombudsman
  Phone: 03 9613 6222
  Email: ombudvic@ombudsman.vic.gov.au
• Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner
  Phone: 1300 006 842
  Email: enquiries@ovic.vic.gov.au
• Commission for Children and Young People
  Phone: 1300 78 29 78
  Email: contact@ccyp.vic.gov.au
• Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority
  Phone: 03 9637 2806 
  Email: vrqa@education.vic.gov.au
• Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH)
  Phone: 1300 475 170
  Email: dffh.vic.gov.au
• Child Protection
  Website: Child Protection contacts
• Social Services Regulator 1300 778
  Phone: 1300778
  Email: contact@ssr.vic.gov.au
• NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission
  Phone: 1800 035 544
  Website: www.ndiscommission.gov.au

Further support

Berry Street fact sheets and other resources are available to support children, young people, families, carers and communities.

We have a past

As a past and current care provider, Berry Street has learnt lessons from practices that were neither child safe nor child friendly. This includes being complicit in past policies that forcibly removed Aboriginal children from their countries, cultures, and communities, known today as the Stolen Generations. Through the courage of people prepared to tell their stories, we now know that our past practice was not always consistent with the principles of Berry Street or its founding agencies (Sutherland Homes and Lisa Lodge). To heal, we will be honest and transparent about our mistakes. We promise to remain committed to listening and responding if harm or abuse has occurred.