Kamispace Child Safety Policy

1. Purpose

Kamispace is committed to the safey, wellbeing and inclusion of all children and young people that participate in our pgorams. Kamispace's child safety policy and practices are developed in accordance with NSW child safety guidelines, including the NSW Child Safe Scheme and the Children's Gaurdian Act 2019 (NSW).

This policy applies to all staff, facilitators, contractors, volunteers, and Artists in Residence at Kamispace who interact with children or young people under 18.

2. Scope

This policy covers all child-facing programs and activities at Kamispace, including:

  • Kami Kids Studio (term classes & school holiday workshops)

  • The Good & Rare Art Club

  • School holiday workshops

  • Private events involving minors (e.g. birthday parties)

  • Any Artist in Residence activities that involve children

  • Any public facing events including age-appropriate art exhibitions

3. Our Commitment

Kamispace holds child safety as a non-negotiable organisational value. We are committed to:

  • Providing a physically and emotionally safe environment for every child

  • Upholding the rights, dignity, and voices of children and young people

  • Taking a neuro-affirming approach that respects diverse needs and communication styles

  • Preventing child abuse in all its forms, and following appropriate reporting protocols

  • Responding promptly and appropriately to any concerns or disclosures

  • Continuously reviewing and improving our child safety practices

4. Working With Children’s Checks (WWCC)

All people in child-related roles at Kamispace are required to hold a current NSW WWCC. This includes:

  • Facilitators and teaching artists

  • Contractors and visiting facilitators

  • Volunteers who have direct contact with children

  • Artists in Residence whose practice involves interaction with minors

Kamispace is responsible for verifying and recording WWCC details before any person commences child-related work. WWCC numbers are stored securely and checked against Kamispace’s OCG verification portal. Anyone who does not hold a current WWCC may not work with children at Kamispace under any circumstances, including on a trial or casual basis.

5. Child Safe Standards

Kamispace operates in accordance with the NSW Child Safe Standards. In practice, this means:

  • Children's safety and wellbeing are the priority in all decisions made in developing our children’s art programs

  • Children and families are informed of our child safety approach and encouraged to raise concerns

  • Inclusion is embedded in our values, including tailoring our programs with a neuro-affirming approach

  • All facilitators receive an induction covering this policy and child safe expectations before working with children or commencing programs (regardless if those programs are child-facing or not)

  • Any concerns are treated seriously, acted on promptly, and managed in a way that prioritises the child’s safety and wellbeing

  • Online communications with families occur through official Kamispace channels only

This policy is reviewed annually or following any incident or significant program change.

6. Reporting

Any person at Kamispace who has a concern about a child's safety or wellbeing, or who receives a disclosure, must report it to the Studio Director immediately. If there is risk of immediate harm, call 000. Mandatory reporting obligations under NSW law apply to all relevant staff. Reports to the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) or NSW Police are made where required. Concerns can also be reported to Kamispace at hello@kamispace.com.au.

All disclosures and concerns are treated seriously, handled with sensitivity, and managed confidentially to the extent permitted by law. Kamispace does not investigate child protection matters internally. The role of staff and facilitators is to listen, document, and report, and not to assess the validity of a concern. Records of all concerns and actions taken are maintained securely by the Studio Director.

7. Photography and Online Safety

Photography and video during programs require prior consent from a parent or guardian. Kamispace will not publish images that clearly identify a child under 15 without explicit consent. Facilitators do not photograph children on personal devices, and do not publish material containing children on their accounts without explicit parental consent. Consent is collected at the time of enrolment and may be withdrawn at any time by contacting Kamispace directly. Where consent has not been given, or has been withdrawn, Kamispace will take reasonable steps to ensure that child is not captured in published content. Images and footage collected by Kamispace are used for program documentation and promotional purposes only, and are not shared with third parties. All media is stored securely and access is limited to relevant staff.

8. Studio Environment

Children are supervised at all times during sessions. Studio areas not in use for a program are not accessible to children during that session. All materials are reviewed for age-appropriateness and safety prior to use. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) are kept on file and available upon request. Hazardous materials, including glazes, kiln equipment, and sharp tools, are stored securely and are not accessible to children without direct facilitator supervision. The kiln is operated by trained staff only and is not in use during children's sessions unless safely isolated from the program area.

First aid equipment is maintained and readily accessible in the studio. Emergency procedures, including evacuation routes and exits are clearly displayed and covered during safety inductions. Incidents and near-misses are recorded and reviewed to support continuous improvement of the studio environment.

9. Policy Breach

Any breach of this policy by a staff member, facilitator, contractor, or volunteer will be taken seriously and may result in immediate removal from child-related duties and referral to relevant authorities when and if appropriate.

10. Review

This policy is reviewed annually, or following any incident, complaint, or significant change to Kamispace's programs or operations.

Last reviewed: May 2026