From the Executive Deputy Principal
Child Safeguarding
Christian Brothers College, as a school in the Edmund Rice tradition, is committed to the safety of all students entrusted to our care. All children and young people who come to Christian Brothers College have a right to feel and be safe. We are committed to providing a child-safe and child-friendly environment where children and young people are safe and feel safe and are able to participate in decisions that affect their lives actively.
We have zero tolerance for child abuse and other harm and are committed to acting in students’ best interests and keeping them safe from harm.
The College regards its child-safeguarding responsibilities with the utmost importance and, as such, is committed to providing the necessary resources to ensure compliance with all relevant child protection laws and regulations and maintaining a child-safe culture.
Each member of the College community has a responsibility to understand the critical and specific role that they play individually and collectively to ensure that the wellbeing and safety of all students is at the forefront of everything they do and every decision they make.
The College has several Policies and procedures that are accessible on our website, which cover our commitment to Safeguarding practices, the key staff responsible for overseeing them and mechanisms for any member of our community to report any concerns they have regarding child safety:
- Child Safeguarding Policy
- CBC Procedures for Managing Child Safety Incidents or Concerns
- EREA Whistleblower Protection Policy and Guidelines
I also include in complete two important statements with respect to this commitment, the first from our governors, Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA) and the second from our Student Code of Conduct, which outlines the rights and responsibilities of all students at CBC:
Trustees of Edmund Rice Education Australia Commitment Statement to Child Safety & Safeguarding
Children and young people have a right to feel safe and to be safe.
“The effective protection of minors and a commitment to ensure their human and spiritual development, in keeping with the dignity of the human person, are integral parts of the Gospel message that the Church and all members of the faithful are called to spread throughout the world.”
- Pope Francis
Central to the mission of EREA is the safety and wellbeing of all children, young people and adults enrolled in our schools (students). The Trustees of Edmund Rice Education Australia (TEREA) are committed to fostering a robust culture of safety across all the entities and schools that comprise our educational mission.
We have zero tolerance of child abuse and require that all allegations and safety concerns regarding our students are taken seriously and robustly investigated.
To this end, each board and ministry within EREA ensures the establishment of Safeguarding frameworks, policies and procedures that actively embed a culture where the safety, wellbeing, and participation of all students under our care is paramount. Each of the boards for which we are the Company Member reports to us annually on progress in this regard.
We have publicly acknowledged, apologised, and sought to learn from EREA’s historical failure to protect children (in June 2017 and renewed in April 2023). We continue to commit to the full enactment of and compliance with all canonical, civil, national, and jurisdictional obligations in the area of Child Safety and Safeguarding more generally.
We affirm that particular attention is given to the needs of vulnerable students, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, students with disability and mental health issues, students from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds, children and young people who are unable to live at home, and students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or intersex.
At all times TEREA is committed to acting in the best interests of the children, young people and adults enrolled in our schools.
Further details can be found here
Student Code of Conduct
At Christian Brothers College, we recognise that effective learning can only occur in a secure environment where the dignity, rights and responsibilities of others are known and respected and where standards and rules are fairly and consistently applied.
This Student Code of Conduct has been developed to clearly set out standards of behaviour that students are expected to abide by.
Managing the Student Code of Conduct is a shared responsibility between students, parents/guardians and the College. All students and families have ready access to support offered by College teachers, Staff and College Child Safeguarding Officers.
Rights and Responsibilities of Students
Students are expected to uphold these principles of Christian Brothers College.
They are:
- Excellence – in your schoolwork, extracurricular, sporting and other personal endeavours
- Respect – for your teachers, parents, peers and members of the community
- Courtesy – for everyone you interact with
- Pride – in yourself, and the way you represent the College
- Personal Responsibility – for your actions
- Integrity – honesty and candour in all of your dealings
- Sensitivity – avoid causing offence or hurt
- Tolerance – for others, regardless of their background, age, gender, sexuality, religion or race
- Inclusion – of all those who decide to come to Christian Brothers College, and of those in the community
These values are to be upheld in the way you conduct yourself not only in the College but also in the community.
Students are expected to observe and uphold this statement of rights and responsibilities:
You have the right to:
- reach your full learning potential in a safe and supportive environment
- be safe
- be treated with respect, courtesy and kindness
- be an active part of, and contribute positively to the community
- be treated fairly and justly
- have your human rights and other legal rights respected.
You have the responsibility to:
- enable others to learn in a safe and supportive environment
- follow the College's policies, procedures and the directions of teachers at all times
- treat others with respect, courtesy and kindness
- represent the College well in the community
- accept and consider the consequences of your actions
- respect the human rights and legal rights of others.
2025 Data Collection Information
Parents will have recently received a SEQTA Direqt message with two critical communications regarding Australian and State Government data collections. Please see below this information regarding:
- The Australian Government, Department of Education – 2025 Privacy Collection Notice for Parent Address Collection
- The State Government, Department for Education – 2025 NAPLAN Privacy Collection notice
Mr Cameron Alexander
Executive Deputy Principal
