I need help
What happens next
Parents and schools
Help outside MCIE
Your safety and your rights
MCIE is committed to the safety and wellbeing of every child and young person who studies with us. We do not tolerate abuse of children in any form.
We follow the Victorian Child Safe Standards and the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations. We listen to young people, involve them in decisions that affect them, and take what they tell us seriously.
No organisation can promise that nothing will ever go wrong. What we can do is put controls in place, check that they work, and respond properly when something is reported.
Feel safe
Be respected
Be listened to
Take part in decisions
Raise a concern
Get support
Something does not feel right?
You do not have to be sure. If something does not feel right, tell someone.
Your trainer
MCIE Student Support
Your school VET or careers coordinator
MCIE Child Safety Contact
Nicole Bottos
Operations Manager
P: 1300 737 004
- You do not have to tell your trainer first, and you do not have to explain why. You can go straight to the child safety contact. That matters most if your concern is about your trainer.
- You can ask someone to be with you when you tell us. That can be a friend, a family member, a teacher or anyone you trust.
- You can raise a concern about anyone. That includes an MCIE staff member, a trainer, a contractor, another student, or someone at a work placement.
What happens when you tell us
1
Listen
We listen and write down what you tell us, in your words.
2
Protect
We make sure you are safe, and act straight away if you are not.
3
Record
We record it securely. Only people who need to see it can.
4
Act
We decide what has to happen next, including whether anyone outside MCIE must be told.
5
Support
We arrange support and tell you what is happening, where we can.
If the law requires us to report something, or if sharing information is needed to keep someone safe, we will share it. We will not share your information more widely than we need to, and we will tell you where we can.
We will not treat you badly for raising a concern.
Parents, carers and schools
Students enrolled through a school
Where a student is enrolled through a school program we work with the school as well as with you. Schools have their own child safety obligations, and in some circumstances a school must report a matter that MCIE is not required to.
That does not shift responsibility away from MCIE. Our obligations apply to our staff, our delivery and our environments, wherever the learning takes place.
Work placement
Child safety applies on work placement in the same way it applies on campus. Before a placement starts the student is told who to speak to at the placement and who to speak to at MCIE. A student can raise a concern with MCIE without raising it with the workplace first.
Privacy and information sharing
If a concern is raised we record it and keep it secure. We cannot promise absolute confidentiality.
Where a young person is a mature minor, or a concern relates to someone in their family, police or child protection may advise us not to contact a parent or carer. We follow that advice.
How MCIE keeps young people safe
Staff and screening
Cultural safety and inclusion
Physical and online safety
Work placement and third parties
Help outside MCIE, and our documents
You do not have to go through MCIE. These services are free and independent of us.
Emergency
000. If you or someone else is in danger right now.
Kids Helpline
1800 55 1800. Free counselling for people aged 5 to 25, any time. Online chat at kidshelpline.com.au
eSafety Commissioner
Serious online abuse, cyberbullying and images shared without consent. Report at esafety.gov.au/report
Child Protection, Victoria
About the immediate safety of a child.
- Outside business hours: 13 12 78
- North: 1300 598 521
- South: 1300 555 526
- East: 1300 360 452
- West: 1300 360 462
The Orange Door
Support for a child or family, organised by local area. orangedoor.vic.gov.au
If you are not satisfied with MCIE
The Child Safe Standards in Victoria are overseen by government regulators. General enquiries about the Standards can be made to the Social Services Regulator on 1300 310 778 or at childsafeorgs@ssr.vic.gov.au. You can also raise a concern about a training provider with the National Training Complaints Hotline on 13 38 73.