01-04-2008
Gaille - TBA at BAT
When we were short of a speaker for our meeting, the Club members were told that the speaker was "TBA" (to be advised). When the time came around for the guest speaker, Gaille Walton rose to inform and remind the members of the requirements for child protection. It provoked a serious discussion among the members. Some of Gaille's presentation and the responses or comments of members are shown below.
- We have to have accreditation if we want to have Youth exchange students.
- We received a CD with information and forms on it at the meeting, and I’ve condensed the content for tonight.
- The definition of a volunteer is a person who is responsible for caring for a Youth Exchange student. It could be an at risk situation where we can’t guarantee the security of the student.
- (Barry Thompson) Are the Police doing checks now?
- They are in Queensland, but not in NSW.
- The CL4 form Volunteer Information & Declaration has to be filled in before hosting a Youth Exchange student.
They are also required for the Committee, Counsellors, and any members of the host family who are 18 or over. We
keep a record of the forms, but send the originals in to District. This form is required across the board for people
involved in youth activities.
- (Barry Thompson) This is an Rotary International requirement before participating in Youth Exchange, but it also applies to other youth activities because of local legal requirements.
- The definition of a responsible adult is someone who is responsible for the care of a student where there is no possible chance of the youth exchange student being at risk. It could refer to a Counsellor or host parent who hasn’t been formally Police and reference checked.
- The definition of a student is a Youth Exchange student, regardless of their age.
- The definition of sexual abuse includes non-touching activities such as indecent exposure, exposure to pornography, gossip, jokes, sexually suggestive object display, leering, whistling, and insulting comments. Insulting comments can be about language, culture, or personal appearance.
- Physical abuse is defined to be any physical harm, including things like insufficient nourishment and sleep deprivation.
- Abuse and harassment can be physical, emotional, or sexual.
- The club is required to be certified, and we need a Club Counsellor before having a Youth Exchange student.
- The Club has to:
- Select responsible adults.
- Have an inbound Counsellor who is the same gender as the student; it can be a Rotarian or their partner.
- Ensure that the inbound Counsellor is not in the host family, is not the Club President, and is not the principal or teacher from the student’s school over here.
- (Barry Thompson) Uncertified districts and clubs can’t send out or receive Youth Exchange students.
- (Garry Metcalfe) Is there a checklist to follow? [Yes]
- (Keri Sweet) The documentation includes the protocol for handling complaints.
- (President Colin) Any person 18 or over coming into regular contact with a Youth exchange student will have to fill in the form.
- (Keri Sweet) One of the requirements for host families is that the bathroom door must be lockable, but safety means that it must be unlockable from the outside.
- (Barry Thompson) Sometimes it will be that paedophiles will be the first to sign the form. But we have to let the local law authority decide the value of the forms.
- (Barry McConville) Last week, Veronica Necyporuk, PDG Jack Elliott, and I talked about RAWCS protecting people against irresponsible people.
Last changed: 03:21:33 04-10-2008