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Protection Policy

All Sanatanis in Vedic Global desire to ensure that all the children, vulnerable adults and other persons that participate in Vedic Global Organised Programs (VGOPs) are respected, protected and safe from abuse and harassment.

The development and implementation of this policy for Vedic Global represent a clear statement of policy which is required to be complied with by all Vedic Centres and Sanatanis in Vedic Global/Centres.

The policy does NOT apply to the Youth Exchange Program which has a protection policy specific to it but otherwise applies to ALL other programs (or projects) conducted by Vedic Global/centres and Sanatanis.

The policy seeks to provide a clear statement of principles and strategies aimed at protecting all children, vulnerable adults and other persons that participate in VGOPs from abuse and harassment.

KEY ELEMENTS OF THE POLICY

All Sanatanis in Vedic Global:

  • Are committed to creating and maintaining the safest possible environment for all participants in VGOPs;
  • Accept the responsibility to safeguard to the best of their ability the welfare of all children, vulnerable adults and other persons that participate in VGOPs;
  • Will act to ensure that their spouses or partners and other volunteers engaged in VGOPs understand the core principles and strategies of this policy and apply them in their dealings with children, vulnerable adults and other persons that participate in VGOPs.
  • Are committed to Aboriginal cultural safety, culturally and/or linguistically diverse cultural safety and the  safety  of children with a disability

This commitment will be implemented through the following strategies:

  • The Vedic Global Board will ensure that this policy is communicated to the Vedic centres and Sanatanis in Vedic Global and placed on the Vedic Global/Centre website so that it is freely available to be viewed by all members of the public;
  • The Vedic Global Director, who will be in charge of Protection Policy, will take primary responsibility at Board level for the implementation and enforcement of this policy;
  • The Vedic Global Board will appoint a Vedic Global Protection Officer, who will be responsible to the Vedic Global Director, and who will be responsible for chairing the Vedic Global Protection Committee, will have responsibility for developing and conducting training sessions for Vedic Global Protection Officers and Vedic Centre Youth (Yuva) Program committee members;
  • The Vedic Global Protection Officer shall recommend to Vedic Global/Centre the appointment of a Youth Exchange (YEX) Protection Officer and a Youth (Yuva) Programs (non-YEX) Protection Officer who will each be responsible for ensuring compliance with the relevant protection policy by Vedic Global Youth Program committees;
  • Each Vedic centre in Vedic Global shall be required to appoint a Protection Officer who will be responsible for the enforcement of this policy in VGOPs of his or her centre;
  • The Vedic Global will annually, and on an as-need basis, provide training in relation to this policy to Vedic Global Protection Officers;
  • The Vedic Global will regularly, and on an as-need basis, provide training in relation to this policy to Vedic Centre Youth (Yuva) Program committee members.

INTRODUCTION

This policy has been developed along the best practice guidelines to ensure that:

  • Each Vedic Centre in Vedic Global to have the resources to implement the key strategies for the prevention of abuse and harassment to all persons engaged in VGOPs;
  • Ensure that there is a system in place that encourages and facilitates the timely reporting of alleged incidents of abuse and harassment;
  • All Sanatanis, their partners and spouses and other volunteers in VGOPs are clear as to their responsibilities regarding the prevention of abuse and harassment

This policy applies to:

  • All Sanatanis engaged in VGOPs;
  • The spouses or partners of Sanatanis engaged in VGOPs; and
  • Other persons engaged as volunteers in VGOPs.

Working with Children Act 2005 (Vic)

This policy is complementary to the application of the Working With Children Act 2005 (Vic) and, if there is any inadvertent inconsistency between the policy and the Act, the Act prevails.

Vedic Global Harassment Policy

The Vedic Global Harassment Policy is a separate document but an integral component of this policy. The policy to be set out on the Vedic Global website.

 DEFINITIONS

Vedic Global Organised Programs (VGOPs) (including projects) means Any Vedic Global or Vedic Centre program or project initiated at a Vedic Centre, or Vedic Global locally or at International level is a VGOP.

Sexual Abuse means

Engaging in implicit or explicit sexual acts with a person or forcing or encouraging a person to engage in implicit or explicit sexual acts alone or with another person of any age, of the same or opposite gender. This includes non-touching offences, such as indecent exposure or showing a person sexual or pornographic material.

Physical Abuse means

Physical abuse is any physical harm inflicted upon a person and includes but is not limited to:

  • Providing insufficient nourishment for the person;
  • Depriving the person of a reasonable amount of sleep;
  • Requiring the person to do an unreasonable amount of work;
  • Inflicting physical pain on the person.

 

Sexual Harassment means 

Sexual advances, requests for favours, or verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. In some cases, sexual harassment precedes sexual abuse and is used by sexual predators to desensitise or groom their victims.

Some examples of sexual harassment include:

  • Sexual epithets, jokes, written or spoken references to sexual conduct, talking about one’s sex life in the presence of another person, and comments about and individual’s sexual activity, deficiencies or prowess;
  • Verbal abuse of a sexual nature;
  • Display of sexually suggestive objects, pictures or drawings;
  • Sexually leering or whistling, any inappropriate physical contact such as brushing or touching, obscene language or gestures and suggestive or insulting comments.

Emotional Harassment means 

Emotional harassment is any action or comment which unreasonably disturbs the other person. This includes but is not limited to repeated comments about a person’s social background, home country, language, culture, personal appearance or other characteristics which are offensive, embarrassing or humiliating to the person to whom they were directed.

Abuse and Harassment 

Abuse and harassment refers to any form of harmful treatment described above whether it is sexual, emotional or physical.

Young Person (or child) means

A young person is a person under the age of eighteen years.

Vulnerable Adult means

Vulnerable adult means an adult person who is or may be in need of community care services by reason of disability, age or illness; and is or may be unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or exploitation.

Working with Children Check Card (“WWCC”) means

The card issued by the Department of Justice pursuant to the Working With Children Act 2005 after application has been made and police records checked.

PREVENTION PRINCIPLES

Compliance with Working with Children Act 2005 (“WWCA”)

By the operation of section 33 of WWCA, it is an offence for a person to engage in child-related work knowing that the person does not have a current WWCC or is reckless as to whether he or she has one.

Further, by operation of section 35 WWCA, it is an offence for a centre to engage a person in child-related work knowing that such person does not have a current WWCC or is reckless as to whether he or she has one.

 

Child-related work is relevantly defined in the WWCA as work that involves, or is likely to involve, regular direct contact with a child in connection with an activity in circumstances where that contact is not directly supervised by another person.

Supervised has its ordinary, everyday meaning. A supervisor is a person who has the role of overseeing the work of another person while that person engages in the work.

Vedic Global, Vedic Centres, Sanatanis and non-Santani volunteers on VGOPs are obliged to comply with the WWCA by holding ensuring that all persons have a current a WWCC when engaged in youth programs, whether Vedic Global or Vedic Centre programs.

Primary Prevention Principle

All Sanatanis and non-Sanatanis volunteers engaged in VGOPs who will have regular direct contact with a child in connection with a Vedic Global or Vedic Centre youth program MUST have a current WWCC.

This applies to all involved in the Centre programs of VGYLP (Vedic Global Youth (Yuva) Leadership Program), VGYP (Vedic Global Youth Program), and other programs as well as Vedic Centre programs which involve regular direct contact with a child.

Further, for the avoidance of doubt, this policy applies to all relevant aspects of the operation of various programs of Vedic Global and/or within the Vedic Global Centre.

Further Prevention Principles

  • As Vedic Global/Centre also may deal with vulnerable adults in undertaking VGOPs it is the Centre policy that all Sanatani and non-Sanatani volunteers who have regular direct contact with vulnerable adults must have a current WWCC.
  • Vedic Global to create a structure at Vedic Global and Vedic Centre level to educate Sanatanis about identifying and responding to abuse and/or harassment.
  • Vedic Global has created a system that encourages and facilitates the timely reporting of any allegations of abuse and/or harassment.

PREVENTION STRATEGIES

APPOINTMENTS

Vedic Global to have a Vedic Global Protection Officer who reports to the Board through the Vedic Global Director responsible for protection policy and whose responsibilities include –

  • Communicating regularly within Vedic Global/Centres about this policy;
  • Providing annual training, on an as need basis, for Vedic Global Protection Officers/concerned officials regarding Vedic Global compliance with the policy;
  • Ensuring that established procedures for responding to allegations of abuse and/or harassment are followed appropriately;
  • Ensuring regular reviews of the policy at least bi-annually;
  • Chairing the Vedic Global Protection Committee.

Vedic Global has mandated that each Vedic centre shall appoint a Vedic Centre Protection Officer who will report directly to the President of his or her centre and whose responsibilities include –

 

  • Ensuring compliance with this policy by his or her Vedic Centre for all VGOPs conducted by such centre;
  • Maintain a register of centre members and details of their WWCC;
  • Educate centre members as to this policy, its purpose and the need for strict compliance;
  • Liaise with the Vedic Global Centre Protection Officer, or another member of the Centre Protection Committee in his or her absence, in relation to any allegation or incident which has the potential to activate the policy procedures for handling reports and allegations, whilst ensuring that the Vedic centre President is kept fully informed.

Vedic Global to appoint a Youth Exchange Protection Officer who will report directly to the Vedic Global Protection Officer and whose responsibilities include –

  • Ensuring compliance with the protection policy applicable to the Youth Exchange Program only, known as the Vedic Global Youth Abuse and Harassment Prevention Policy and Certification Requirements (the YEXPP), by those persons participating in the Youth Exchange program;
  • Ensure that the Vedic Global Youth Exchange Committee maintains a register of WWCC for those participating in the program;
  • Educate those participating in the Youth Exchange Program at least annually as to the YEXPP, its purpose and the need for strict compliance;
  • Liaise with the Vedic Global Protection Officer, or the Vedic Global Director responsible for Protection Policy, in his or her absence, in relation to any allegation or incident which has the potential to activate the reporting guidelines in the YEXPP whilst ensuring the YEX Committee Chair is kept fully informed.

Vedic Global to appoint a Youth Programs (non-YEX) Protection Officer who will report directly to the Vedic Global Protection Officer and whose responsibilities include –

  • Ensuring compliance with this policy by the Vedic Global Youth Program (non-YEX) committees of their respective Vedic Global/ Centre programs by those persons participating in such programs;
  • Ensure that the respective Vedic Global/Centre Youth Program (non-YEX) committees maintain a register of WWCC for those participating in the programs;
  • Educate those participating in the Vedic Global/Centre Youth Program (non-YEX) at least annually as to this policy, its purpose and the need for strict compliance.
  • Liaise with the Vedic Global/Centre Protection Officer, or the Vedic Global Director responsible for Protection policy, in his or her absence, in relation to any allegation or incident which has the potential to activate the policy procedures for handling reports and allegations, whilst ensuring the chair of the respective program committee is kept fully informed.

The Vedic Global Protection Officer shall chair the Vedic Global Protection Committee which shall comprise the following –

  • Vedic Global/Centre Protection Officer;
  • Youth Exchange Protection Officer;
  • Youth Programs (non-YEX) Protection Officer; and
  • Such others as requested by the Vedic Global/Centre Protection Officer and approved by the Vedic Global Board.

 

The Vedic Global Director responsible for Protection shall be ex officio members of the Centre Protection Committee.

The functions of the Vedic Global/ Centre Protection Committee shall include the following –

  • Coordination and regular provision of the education and training process relevant to this policy and the YEXPP;
  • Review on a regular basis of the Vedic Global protection policies to ensure currency;
  • Recommendations to the Vedic Global Board as to improvements that can be made to improve the processes and procedures under the protection policies to ensure compliance within the Centre.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Vedic Global will provide annual training in relation to the Vedic Global protection policies to its officials directly involved in the protection and those participating in Youth Exchange Programs/Youth Programs

The Vedic Global Protection Officer will be available to present at Vedic Centres if desired in relation the Vedic Global protection policies.

Through such education and training Vedic Global/centres will be made aware of the resources both personal and documentary that are available to assist should issues arise during the course of a VGOP.

TRANSPORTATION

It is recommended practice that in the circumstances where there are just a child and a driver in a motor vehicle that such transport be restricted to the normal day-to-day activities in the immediate local area and such driver shall be a person with no less than one year’s driving experience.

In the event that the journey is longer, such as a sightseeing tour or transport to a Vedic Global camp, it is recommended that a third person or more be present in the motor vehicle.

These recommendations are for the benefit of the child and the driver alike.

RESPONSE TO AN INCIDENT OR ALLEGATION

VEDIC GLOBAL PROTECTION PROTOCOL (VGPP)

The VGPP will be implemented immediately if concerns are raised, orally or in writing, by any individual about any alleged abuse and/or harassment of any participant in a VGOP.

CRITICAL ACTION STEPS OF THE VGPP

Step 1 – Any concern about the safety and well-being of any person taking part in VGPP shall be reported immediately as follows –

  • If the VGPP is a Vedic Global Managed Youth Program (non-YEX), to the Youth Programs (non-YEX) Protection Officer, the Youth Program Committee Chair and the Vedic Global Protection Officer.
  • If the VGPP is a Vedic Centre program, to the Vedic Centre Protection Officer, Centre President and to the Vedic Global Protection Officer

Step 2 – The Vedic Global Protection Officer, or Youth Programs (non-YEX) Protection Officer, will as soon as possible complete a Centre Protection Incident Report.

Step 3 – The Vedic Global Protection Officer, or Youth (Yuva) Programs (non-YEX) Protection Officer, will immediately disclose and discuss details of the allegations with the Vedic Global/Centre Protection Officer to ascertain whether the reported incident is a matter of suspected abuse and/or harassment. The Vedic Global/Centre Protection Officer must inform the concerned Vedic Global Director and the Board Chair.

Step 4 – The Vedic Global/Centre Protection Officer, or Youth Programs(non-YEX) Protection Officer, in association with the Vedic Global/Centre Protection Officer, will as soon as possible develop a clear and documented Response Plan for meeting the needs of the alleged victim for protection and support, whether abuse or harassment be suspected or not. The Response Plan will identify the need for the involvement of external agencies or services including Victoria Police or the Child Protection Services of the Department of Human Services.

Step 5 – In the case of suspected harassment the Vedic Global/Centre Protection Officer, and/or the Vedic Centre President, may refer the matter back to the Vedic Global Protection Officer and Vedic Global President for possible resolution of the issue through counselling and/or mediation.

Step 6 – In the event that abuse of a child, vulnerable adult or any other person is reasonably suspected or confirmed, the Vedic Global Protection Officer or Youth Programs (non-YEX) Protection Officer, in association with the Vedic Centre Protection Officer, Vedic Global Governance Director and Vedic Global Board, will –

  • Act to ensure the immediate safety of the child, vulnerable adult or another person;
  • Inform the parents/carer/guardian of the child or vulnerable adult as soon as possible.
  • Provide information about the child or vulnerable adult’s incident to his/her parents/carer/guardian and advice regarding resources for specialist trauma counselling.
  • Consult with the Victoria Police and/or Child Protection Authorities about their possible involvement.

Step 7 – The Centre Protection Officer will provide support and other advice to the Centre Protection Officer or Youth Programs (non-YEX) Protection Officer and the Centre President or Youth Program Chair as required during the implementation of the Response Plan.

Step 8 – The Centre Protection Officer will be responsible for ensuring that the Centre Governor is informed of both the process and the outcomes to the Response Plan as soon as practicable.

Step 9 – The Centre Protection Officer or Youth Programs (non-YEX) Protection Officer and the Centre President or Youth Program Chair are responsible for continuing to ensure that ongoing support for the child, vulnerable adult or other person is provided.

RISK MANAGEMENT

Vedic Global expected to be recognised around the world for its outstanding commitment to working with youth (Yuva) and vulnerable adults.

Considering the wide depth of Vedic Global programs in Vedic Global every year which may involve as participants – children, vulnerable adults and other persons.

In accordance with the duty of care that the law imposes, it is strongly recommended that all Vedic Centres undertake a risk assessment of its VGOPs.

(Please refer to the attached Risk Management Form which is Schedule C)

CONCLUSION

This policy is implemented for the purpose of providing, as best one reasonably can, protection from abuse and/or harassment of children, vulnerable adults and other persons participating in VGOPs.

The core essence of the policy is compliance with the law as provided in the WWCA.

Vedic Global/Centres and Sanatanis in the Vedic Global are obliged to comply with this policy.

Compliance with the policy will minimise the risk of abuse and/or harassment occurring and also provide a system that encourages and facilitates the timely reporting of incidents.

The policy is all about –

  • Public protection;
  • Sanatani protection; and
  • Vedic Global brand protection.