As we recognise National Child Protection Week, this year’s theme, Every Conversation Matters: Shifting Conversation to Action, provides a timely reminder of the role everyone can play in supporting the safety and wellbeing of children and young people.
For Manager Safeguarding, Tracey Grove, the theme reflects the importance of turning conversations about child safety into meaningful action.
“For me, this message is about putting words into action,” Tracey said.
“We are in a position of trust and need to have those brave conversations. Our children rely on us to do so.”
Tracey believes a strong safeguarding culture is supported by creating an environment where people feel confident to have important conversations and understand the role they can play.
“I would encourage people to not be afraid of starting the conversation around child safety and safeguarding,” she said.
“It is so important that we, as a community, remain vigilant and aware that children rely on us to advocate for them.”
Every day across Catholic Education Tasmania, people work together to create school communities where children and young people feel safe, supported and respected.
Teachers and staff build trusted relationships with students, leaders guide their communities, and families place their trust in schools to provide environments where young people can learn and flourish.
Supporting this shared commitment is the Safeguarding Team, which works alongside schools to strengthen safeguarding practices and support the safety and wellbeing of children and young people.
Working across CET’s 39 schools, the Safeguarding Team provides advice, guidance and support to Principals and staff, assists schools with safeguarding training, and works collaboratively with relevant agencies and organisations.
As Manager Safeguarding, Tracey provides an insight into the varied work of the team and the important role safeguarding plays across our school communities.
For Tracey, no two days are quite the same.
Some days involve working closely with Principals and CET staff, while others may include preparing reports and resources, delivering presentations and training, or reviewing information to identify opportunities for ongoing education and support.
The work also involves working closely with external organisations focused on child safety and wellbeing, alongside relevant education and regulatory bodies, helping to strengthen CET’s approach to safeguarding across its school communities.
While the work takes many different forms, Tracey said supporting the people who work directly with children, young people and families is one of the most rewarding aspects of her role.
“I enjoy helping people. If I am able to help a student or their family or a Principal or staff member when they have a complex matter and take some of the pressure off them, I find that rewarding,” Tracey said.
Having an understanding of working at a school level also shapes the way Tracey approaches that support.
“I know how hard our school staff work each and every day. They really give their heart to this work and give so much for our students and families, so I do my best to support them.”
Across Catholic Education Tasmania, safeguarding is a shared commitment, strengthened through education, awareness, open communication and collaboration.
Through its work with schools, staff and external organisations, the Safeguarding Team helps strengthen this approach by providing guidance, resources and support to our school communities.
Together, these everyday actions contribute to school communities where children and young people feel safe, valued, listened to and supported to flourish.