OAC Ministries Australia

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Worldview Camps:
Child Protection & Safety Information

This page includes:

  • Worldview Camp Child Safe Statement
  • OAC Ministries Child Protection Policy, Reporting Procedure, and Code of Conduct

Child Safe Statement

Worldview Camps are a ministry of OAC Ministries (Aust) Ltd (“OAC”). That means that OAC’s policies and procedures are applicable, including OAC’s Child Protection Policy.

This “Child Protection Statement” is here to clarify and add any further information beyond that in the Policy. We ask that both the participants and their guardians read and consider this information statement and the Policy below and ensure they agree with any details before registering for an OAC Worldview Camp.

Feeling Safe and Heard

An important part of any program or activity is that participants feel safe and able to share any concerns. We encourage campers while on the camp to approach any of the leaders, directors or other team members if they have any concerns or feel unsafe in any way. If you have complaints, questions, or concerns, you can speak with any OAC staff or volunteers (including team members) or click the link below.

 

Accommodation

Due to logistical limitations, leaders/team members may be accommodated in the same building as campers, and in some circumstances may be staying in the same room as campers of the same gender. In such instances, there will always be at least two team members present to ensure the highest levels of accountability and protection of campers.

Team members (of the same gender as campers) may go into the camper’s rooms to check on wellbeing and participation, but will never be alone in the bedroom with a camper.

Campers are encouraged to communicate any concern or discomfort with any member of the team.

Interactions with Leaders during camp

We believe that the development of healthy mentoring-like relationships is essential for young people’s development in their faith and worldview, but that these types of relationships can pose some risks of inappropriate behaviours if not effectively managed.

Leaders are overseen by our experienced directors, and we foster a culture of transparency and communication between our leaders and directors (and any other team members) to improve the supportive and guiding role leaders have for campers during camp.

Aside from OAC’s screening, training, clear oversight by directors, and the application of our Child Safe Policy (see below), we aim to further reduce this potential risk by never allowing any team member to intentionally be alone with a camper and always including at least two team members and two campers during activities and interactions.

Personal Conversations

Campers may want to speak privately about personal matters with a leader or team member that they trust. This will never be initiated by a team member, and wherever appropriate team members should seek to have another team member and/or camper with them. Regardless, team members will:

  • make sure other team members are aware of what’s happening,
  • always remain in eyesight of other team members,
  • debrief on sensitive conversations with a camp director (to ensure transparency and accountability).

Team members will not promise campers that they will “keep secrets”, but that they will protect their privacy and only share as much as is needed to ensure accountability amongst the camp team and that camp is a safe environment to share if they feel comfortable.

Interactions with leaders after camp

Leaders enjoy the opportunity to follow up with campers after camp to hear how they have been applying what they learnt in their lives. We believe in the importance of transparency in any personal communications between team members and campers.

Team members are not to connect or communicate with campers via social media, mobile phone, any messaging applications, gaming platforms etc.

Leaders may be write to each of the campers they had in their “small group” after camp using the postage address provided during registration (see OAC’s Privacy Information).

If a camper’s parent/guardian has marked that leaders are permitted to communicate with the camper via the parents/guardian’s email address, then the leader may make contact via email, either directly to the parents/guardian’s email address, or while CC’ing in the parents/guardian’s email address AND the camp admin email address.

OAC cannot directly control of the information and data from team members personal email addresses to campers, however all team members must adhere to OAC’s Privacy Policy and all related requirements to keep information private and secure wherever possible. All email communications CC’d to the camp admin address are not read in detail (to preserve camper privacy as much as possible) but are generally checked to ensure appropriate conduct from team members and then archived for compliance purposes. Only camp directors and authorised OAC staff will ever access these emails.

Medications and health requirements

We ask and expect that campers are able to remain vigilant of situations which may be a risk for their medical conditions, such as the potential presence of an allergy inducing trigger, activities which may aggravate asthma, and food which may not fit dietary needs.

Campers’ essential medical information is kept in a physical and digital format accessible to all team members during camp.

If a camper needs to take regular medications, including asthma, campers and their parent/guardian MUST discuss this with the first aid officer at registration on day one of camp. The normative expectation is that all medications will be handed to the first aid officer at the start of camp. These will then be administered according the the required schedule. Exceptions to this will only be made in consultation between a parent/guardian and the first aid officer where there is a well established care plan.

A team member will try to be available to hold any essential medications during activities on behalf of a camper (such as asthma puffers during a physical activity).

First Aid and Emergencies

OAC will have first aid trained individuals on the team to respond to basic incidents during camp. First aid will be administered at any point we believe is necessary or as precaution. If we believe there is any possibility of a more serious injury or concern for health, we will not hesitate to call an ambulance for any camper, or proceed to transport a camper to a local GP for medical assessment.

The team will endeavour to contact camper’s parents and/or emergency contact as soon as is possible following an incident to inform of the circumstances, actions taken, and check additional information to assist medical professionals.

If permission has been given on the registration form for a camper, one of the first aid qualified team members may provide one of the listed medications in the event of an illness or injury on camp. We will only ever provide medication when it seems necessary and always following on-label instructions.

In an emergency the camp team will take whatever steps they believe are necessary to ensure the safety and wellbeing of campers and it may not be possible to make contact with parents or emergency contacts until a situation has ended or all campers and team are safe.

OAC Ministries Child Safe Policy, Reporting Procedure, And Child Safe Code of Conduct

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