AdYO Child Protection Code of Conduct

Updated February 2025

Adelaide Youth Orchestras staff, adult players (i.e. 18 years of age and over), and volunteers will:

Respect all children by valuing their diverse backgrounds, different capabilities, and behaviours.
Treat every child with dignity regardless of differences of ethnicity, religion, age, ability, gender, and economic circumstances.
Raise immediately any concerns for the safety or wellbeing of a child in accordance with Adelaide Youth Orchestra’s reporting processes.
Be visible when working with children.
Avoid being alone with children where possible and try to ensure that other adults are present when working with children.
Discourage bullying by adults or other children.
Ensure that all rehearsal and performance venues are safe and comply with WHS regulations.

The Adelaide Youth Orchestras’ staff, adult players and volunteers will not:

Use language, make suggestions, or offer advice that is inappropriate, offensive, or abusive.
Do things of a personal nature that a child can do for him/herself.
Smack, hit or physically assault children.
Bully children.
Develop sexual relationships with children or relationships with children that can in any way be deemed exploitative or abusive.
Behave physically in a manner that is inappropriate or sexually provocative towards a child.
Photograph or video a child without the consent of the child and his/her parents or guardians.
Touch a child in an inappropriate or culturally insensitive way.

To protect the safety and wellbeing of the children and young adults engaged in Adelaide Youth Orchestra activities, the organisation is committed to maintaining drug and alcohol-free working environments.

In cases where The Adelaide Youth Orchestras’ personnel are made aware of a child’s safety and welfare being compromised, then the processes for dealing with the concern will include:

Prompt reporting of any incident to the Executive Director and/or Board Chair and Deputy Board Chair.
An investigation being undertaken by the Executive Director, Board Chair and if necessary, an independent person.
A mitigation process, to ensure that the problem is solved, and appropriate action is taken so that future instances do not occur.
A review being undertaken to ensure that the process conducted was satisfactory.

If you have any enquiries regarding this document or our Child Protection Policy, please contact us.