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Incidents Response

Purpose​

  1. The Australian Greens Victoria (AGVAustralian Greens Victoria) is committed to providing a safe environment for all members, staff and volunteers. This requires developing a party culture whereby all members, staff and volunteers feel empowered to challenge unsafe behaviours when they see them, and to report any incidents that impinge on safety and wellbeing in the knowledge that they will be appropriately acted on.

  2. The purpose of this policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do is to ensure that we have systems, processes and clear responsibilities across the AGVAustralian Greens Victoria for managing incidents.

  3. The aim of this policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do is to provide clarity on how to report and respond to incidents.

Scope​

  1. This policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do applies to all people who conduct work for the AGVAustralian Greens Victoria in a paid or unpaid capacity, including members, staff and volunteers.

Contact Persons​

  1. Contact persons are members who people can go to if they experience or witness an incident that impinges on their or another person’s safety and wellbeing, including sexual harassment and child abuse or neglect. 

  2. All party bodies will appoint at least one contact person annually for a term of one year, and whensoever a vacancy arises at any meeting, event or activity. Partythe incorporated association referred to in clause 40(1) bodies should try to ensure that there are contact persons of different genders.

  3. A person may seek help from any contact person, not only a contact person of the party body where the incident took place.

Incident report​

  1. A person who experiences or witnesses an incident that impinges on their or another person’s safety and wellbeing may report that incident to a contact person. If there is any concerning behaviour between an adult and a child, a person must report that to a contact person. If a child is being abused or neglected, a person must report that to a contact person who must then report that to the relevant authority, including the police or the child protection service in the local area.

  2. If an incident is reported, a contact person will – or any other person who receives a report can – record the incident as outlined below, and advise the person of any available options for resolutiona proposal that was passed, including the complaints process. 

  3. The person will then immediately provide this record to the State Convenor, State Secretary or the most senior staff memberState Director. 

Incident Register​

  1. The State Secretary will record any incidents in an Incident Register, which will be kept confidentially and securely. Each incident report shall include:

    1. the date and time that the report was made; 

    2. the name and role of the person to whom the report was made; 

    3. with permission only, the name of the person reporting the incident;

    4. the date, time and location of the alleged incident; 

    5. details of the incident, including the nature and any parties involved; 

    6. whether there are any exceptional circumstances that require breaking confidentiality and reporting the matter as required by law; 

    7. the options discussed; and 

    8. any actions taken.

  2. If there are any exceptional circumstances that require breaking confidentiality and reporting the matter as required by law, the State Secretary or their delegate shall do so, and include information about this in the incident report.

  3. If the incident requires further investigation, the State Secretary or their delegate shall investigate the incident. They should refer any incidents that may amount to misconduct to the Misconduct Panel and may make changes to policies, procedures and practice in response to incidents.

Child safety and wellbeing​

  1. In any interaction with a child in the AGVAustralian Greens Victoria, people are to behave appropriately and in accordance with any relevant policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do.

  2. Any person must report immediately to the State Secretary any factors in their own - or another person’s - circumstances or history which may make it unsafe to have contact with a child, including all charges and/or convictions of sexual abuse or neglect.

  3. For the purposes of this policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do, a child is defined as any person under the age of 18.

  1. This policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do should be read in conjunction with the party’s Code of Conduct, complaints guide, risk management framework and any policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do on sexual harassment or child safety.

Policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do status and review​

  1. The AGVAustralian Greens Victoria is committed to developing ever more effective systems for managing incidents. This means all party bodies are responsible for ensuring that this policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do is implemented.

  2. Every six months, the State Secretary or their delegate shall issue an evaluation proforma to branches and working groups to track how they are complying with this policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do. The State Secretary or their delegate will identify any systemic weaknesses and report on these to the State Executive, including any recommended improvements.

Modification History​

ActionBodyDate
ApprovedState Council2019-09-07
AmendedState Council2020-08-15