The Safety House program in Australia commenced in Wooranna Park Primary School, North Dandenong, Victoria in 1979. In Western Australia, Warriapendi Primary School, Balga commenced the Safety House program in July 1983 and Lesmurdie Primary School commenced in November 1983. Many more primary schools in the Perth metropolitan and WA country areas have become involved in the Safety House program since then.
The Safety House Association of Western Australia Inc. was set up in October 1983 and is an Incorporated Association with support and co-operation from the WA Department of Education and the Western Australian Police. The Safety House WA Inc. is a NFP Incorporated Association with full ATO and ACNC accreditation as a Registered Charity with Deductible Gift Recipient and Public Benevolent Institution status.
The Association carries Volunteer Worker Injury and Public Liability insurance policies that cover all Safety House Committee Coordinators and Committee Members whilst they are undertaking any volunteer work on behalf of the Association. It is strongly recommended that all individual Safety Houses ensure that they have adequate insurance cover for their personal needs. Being a community volunteer member of the Safety House program does not make any difference to the resident’s existing insurance cover situation but they are definitely not covered by any Safety House WA insurance policy.
Every adult Safety House community volunteer who is likely to assist a child seeking help at the door is required by law to hold a valid Working with Children Card. The card can be obtained at an Australia Post Office using the community volunteer application form endorsed by Safety House WA Inc. giving the applicant a heavily discounted application fee.
All Safety House WA volunteers and staff aged 14 years and over may also be subject to a mandatory police check as a pre-condition of being registered as a volunteer with the Association. There is no charge to the applicant or to the Safety House Committee for this police check.
The Management Committee is elected by the Association Membership at the Annual General Meeting and includes representatives of major organisations involved in primary schooling and child safety. The Management Committee is responsible for policy and strategic direction of the Association and holds General Meetings each term at which all Members are welcome.
The Safety House WA Inc. Head Office is located in the City of Swan suburb of Midvale and the CEO coordinates and manages the Safety House program throughout metropolitan and regional WA.. Safety House WA works with Primary School Parent Associations across the state to establish local Safety House Committees. The Safety House WA Head Office provides advice, assistance and resources to local Safety House Committees and Safety House Community Volunteers.
The local Safety House Group Committee involves their local community in setting up Safety Houses in their area. A local Safety House Committee Group Coordinator runs the local program and has a vitally important role to regularly monitor all Safety Houses in their area. This is to ensure that standards of safety for children are maintained and that Safety House signs are in good condition and clearly visible to any young child needing assistance. The local Safety House Committee is also active in the school and community to promote and raise awareness of the benefits of the Safety House program.
Disclaimer
Whilst the Safety House Association of Western Australia Inc. endeavours to provide accurate material on its website the Safety House Association of Western Australia Inc. disclaims all warranties with regard to this material and there is no guarantee given to accuracy or currency of any individual item on the website.
The Safety House Association of Western Australia Inc. does not accept responsibility for any damage or loss occasioned by the use of the material on the website nor from any access to the website. All access and use is at the risk of the user.
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