Policies

Statement of Commitment to Child Safety

Masquerade Youth Productions Pty Ltd is herein this document known as MYP.

At MYP we believe all children who participate in the wide range of programs we provide have a right to feel and be safe. The welfare of the children participating in our activities is always our first priority and we have a zero tolerance to child abuse. We aim to create a child safe and child friendly environment where children feel safe and have fun whilst learning.

MYP are committed to having a sound set of policies and procedures relating to child safety in place. These will be reviewed and evaluated regularly. We are committed to remaining up to date with current best practice and implementing this within our own organization.

This policy applies to all staff, volunteers, children and individuals involved in our organisation.

Children’s rights to safety and participation.

At MYP we encourage children to express their views. We listen to their suggestions, especially on matters that directly affect them. We actively encourage all children who use our services to ‘have a say’ about things that are important to them.

We teach children about what they can do if they feel unsafe. We listen to and act on any concerns children, or their parents, raise with us.

Valuing diversity

We support and respect all children, as well as our staff and volunteers

We value diversity and do not tolerate any discriminatory practices. We welcome all members of the community to participate in our programs. To achieve this, we:

promote the cultural safety, participation and empowerment of indigenous & Torres Strait islanders and their families
promote the cultural safety, participation and empowerment of children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds and their families
welcome children with a disability and their families where resources allow and where practically possible whilst ensuring they are safe
seek appropriate staff from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Recruiting staff and volunteers

MYP applies the best practice standards in the recruitment and screening of staff and volunteers. We interview and conduct referee checks on all staff and volunteers and require police checks and Working with Children Checks for relevant positions. Our commitment to Child Safety and our screening requirements are included in all advertisements.

In addition, we are committed to regularly training and educating our staff and volunteers on child abuse risks. All volunteers will be given a clear briefing and induction prior to assisting with performances.

All staff and volunteers must be familiar with our code of conduct and safety procedures.

Supporting staff and volunteers

MYP seeks to attract and retain the best staff and volunteers. We provide support and supervision, so people feel valued, respected and fairly treated. We have developed a Code of Conduct to provide guidance to our staff and volunteers, all of whom receive training on the requirements of the Code.

Child Safety Code of Conduct

Staff and volunteer practices

At MYP we aim to promote a culture for all staff, volunteers, parents/carers and children to feel confident and comfortable in discussing any allegations of child abuse or child safety concerns.

There is zero tolerance for bad language, negative remarks or inappropriate behaviour. Staff, volunteers’ parents, or children in breach of our policy will be instantly suspended.

Any inappropriate behaviour will be reported through appropriate channels, including the Department of Health and Human Services and Victoria Police, depending on the severity and urgency of the matter.

All staff at MYP are responsible for supporting the safety, participation, wellbeing and empowerment of children by:

adhering to MYP child safe policy at all times / upholding MYP commitment to child safety at all times
taking all reasonable steps to protect children from abuse
treating everyone with respect
listening and responding to the views and concerns of children, particularly if they are telling you that they or another child has been abused and/or are worried about their safety or the safety of another
promoting the cultural safety, participation and empowerment of Aboriginal children, children with culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds and children with a disability
ensuring as far as practicable that adults are not left alone with a child
reporting any allegations of child abuse to the Child Safety Persons (Committee Executives - Carmen Powell & Megan Glenwright) and ensure any allegation to reported to the police or child protection

reporting any child safety concerns to the Child Safety Persons
if an allegation of child abuse is made, ensure as quickly as possible that the child(ren) are safe
encouraging children to ‘have a say’ and participate in all relevant organisational activities where possible, especially on issues that are important

All staff and volunteers are required to observe child safe principles and expectations for appropriate behaviour towards and in the company of children.

Reasonable interaction that is supervised by approved adults includes

measurement of children
supporting children in styling (including but not limited to adjusting clothing, props, fixing hair, applying lipstick, etc.)
congratulating children appropriately (shaking hands, high fiving etc.)
assisting children to pose
making silly faces, interacting with props, using humour to make children smile
engaging in conversations about talents and abilities to support children to relax.

To minimise the risks, we have identified guidelines that must be abided by to ensure that we keep all children safe.

Staff and volunteers

Must not give out personal telephone numbers to children or parents or request/accept friendships via social media. All communication must come through MYP via

SMS / Phone 0459 788 346

Email applause@myp.com.au

Facebook closed group MYP Cast group

There will be no images of children posted on social media, or online except for through MYP official mediums where permission has been granted.
Must ensure that all activities are inclusive of all children, content is appropriate, and children are empowered as active participants.

Staff and volunteers must not:

develop any ‘special’ relationships with children that could be seen as favouritism (for example, the offering of gifts or special treatment for specific children
exhibit behaviours with children which may be construed as unnecessarily physical (for example inappropriate sitting on laps. However sitting on laps could be appropriate sometimes eg while reading a storybook to a small child in an open plan area)

put children at risk of abuse (for example, by locking doors)

do things of a personal nature that a child can do for themselves, such as toileting or changing clothes engage in open discussions of a mature or adult nature in the presence of children (for example personal social activities.
use inappropriate language in the presence of children
express personal views on cultures, race or sexuality in the presence of children
discriminate against any child, including because of culture, race, ethnicity or disability
ignore or disregard any suspected or disclosed child abuse.

Children

Must not give out or request/accept friendships via social media to staff or volunteers.
Must not engage in direct communication outside of the MYP official contact mediums.

Parents

Must only correspond with staff or volunteers about MYP business via approved processes

SMS / Phone 0459 788 346

Email applause@myp.com.au

Facebook closed group MYP Cast group

Must not take or post images of any activities at MYP
Must have a Working with Children Check if participating in tasks that require one.

Reporting a child safety concern or complaint

The Committee Executives, Carmen Powell and Megan Glenwright are the Child Safety Persons with the specific responsibility for responding to any complaints made by staff, volunteers, parents or children.

Risk Management

We recognise the importance of a risk management approach to minimising the potential for child abuse or harm to occur and use this to inform our policy, procedures and activity planning. In addition to general occupational health and safety risks, we proactively manage risks of abuse to our children.

Privacy

MYP the collection of personal information. All personal information recorded will respect the privacy of the individuals involved unless there is a risk to someone’s safety. The personal information will be held securely and used solely by MYP.

Reviewing this policy

This policy will be reviewed every two years and we undertake to seek views, comments and suggestions from children, parents, carers, staff and volunteers

CLICK HERE to download and PRINT Child Safety Policy

COVID Policy

COVIDSafe PLAN – as@ 1st Jan 2021

All criteria addressed is in accordance with current Victorian State Government guidelines for rehearsal and theatre venues. This COVID Safe Plan has been prepared as annex to the COVID Safe Plans in place at the scheduled rehearsal venue and theatre.

It is our primary focus is to keep to our MYP Community including cast, production team and volunteers safe at all times.

This document is current at the time of publication. Maybe subject to variations/updates dependent on relevant Victorian Government directions.

Compliance to these directions requires this organization to ensure efficient record keeping for contact tracing, Those with mobile phones are to use the rehearsal venue QR code to register you have entered the building on every occasion.

KEY ACTIONS TO STOP THE SPREAD

Wash your hands often.
Use hand sanitizer.
Adhere to social distancing rules.
Try not to touch your eyes, nose, or mouth.
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
Please stay home if you feel unwell, get tested and self-isolate pending results.
Face coverings must be worn on site for all persons over 12 years of age (if and when directed).
All infectious waste disposables are to be placed in the correct waste bin this includes but not limited to; tissues, sanitiser/disinfectant wipes/ disposable face coverings.

ADDITIONAL KEY POINTS

Please see the following website for COVID-19 symptoms: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/victorian-public-coronavirus-disease-covid-19

Cast members should not attend the rehearsal venue in any capacity if they feel unwell or have been in close contact with a suspected case of COVID-19.

If found to have any symptoms related to COVID-19 as stated by DHHS, you must:

Refrain from attending rehearsals
Get tested
Self-isolate pending test results
Medical certificates may be required upon re-entry into the facility.

Vulnerable students with medical conditions who may be at increased risk or those with underlying medical conditions should obtain advice from their doctor before attending rehearsals.

GENERAL FACILITY CLEANING AND COVID SAFE PRACTICES

All creatives and crew have completed COVIDSafe Training.

Cleaning will occur at the end of each day/evening
Floors throughout the facility will be swept and mopped daily.
Toilets, sinks, taps, soap dispensers will be wiped and sanitised before and after each rehearsal.
Light switches, alarm keypad, door handles, doors will be wiped down after each rehearsal.
Studio doors will remain open where possible & will only be opened/closed by the creatives in that rehearsal venue. Social distancing markers will be placed in the foyer and in the Studio 1 1.5 metres apart.
Signage will be displayed around the facility to educate and instil good hygiene practice, social distancing reminders and maximum person allowances per space according to the current regulations.
There are sanitising stations placed throughout the rehearsal venue.
Records of MYP Community entrances and exits in facility will be kept for trace contacting.
All cast members, production team and volunteers are to bring their own water bottles and any other required equipment & must take every item with them upon exit.
The rehearsal venue and theatre have maximum capacity regulations. No extra persons are permitted on site without COVID Marshall approval.

Special needs students are exempt. Carers adhere to social distancing rules, must use hand sanitizer and wear face covering as Government directions at the time.

ARRIVAL OF CAST

Cast should arrive dressed in their rehearsal attire and ready for rehearsals.
Parents/Guardians are to drop off their child at the entrance, whilst maintaining social distancing and not enter the premises.
Attendance roles will be diligently marked.
Inside the building, cast members are to adhere to social distancing rules by using the indication markers on the floor.
Hand sanitiser will be used on all cast members upon their arrival.
If a cast member is suspected of being ill, they will be asked to go home immediately and will be safely isolated from other persons.
All efforts will be applied for studios maintain air flow.
Cast members are always to remain 1.5 metres apart by using the distance markers as a guide.

IN REHEARSAL PROTOCOL

Where possible doors will remain open
Cast are to start on their marker and remain 1.5 metres apart from others.
Creatives and crew will remain 1.5m from cast.
No physical corrections, modifications or spotting will be done.
Cast and Crew that use the bathroom will need to sanitise their hands before leaving class and upon re-entry into class.

REHEARSAL CONCLUSION

Cast must take all their belongings with them, any items left behind will have to be discarded.
Cast members will hand sanitise and be escorted to the exit where parents are to collect them, parents and cast members must maintain social distancing during exit and pick up, even outside of the building.
Creatives and Crew members will wait until each cast member is collected to ensure Child safety policies and procedures are in place. Please be on time to pick up your children
Upon exit of all cast members, each rehearsal venue space will be sanitised and disinfected.
CREATIVES AND CREW are to also wipe down the stereo, any remote controls, light/fan switches their own personal belongings such as mobile phones and laptops.

REFERENCES

REHEARSAL VENUE COVID PLAN

MTS (Masquerade Talent Studios) COVID Safe Plan CLICK HERE

THEATRE COVID PLAN

Click here for the Drum Theatre COVID plan

https://drum.greaterdandenong.vic.gov.au/venue

CONTACT

All concerns or queries please contacct the Production Office: 0448 228 464

REFERENCES AND GUIDELINES

Australian Government www.australiagov.au

Federal Government www.health.gov.au/covid19-resources

Victorian Government www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus-covid-19-daily-update

Safe Work Australia – COVID -19 Resource kit www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/covid-19-information-workplaces

National COVID-19 www.pmc.gov.au/nccc

CLICK HERE to download MYP (Masquerade Youth Productions Inc) COVID Safe Plan