Children come into this studio most Sundays. Their safety and wellbeing is the first thing we plan around, not the last. This page sets out our commitment, what we do about it in practice, and how to raise a concern if you ever have one.
Last updated: August 2026
La Vita Nova is committed to the safety, participation and wellbeing of every child who comes here. We have zero tolerance for child abuse of any kind. We are committed to the Victorian Child Safe Standards, and we take deliberate steps to prevent harm, to identify it early, and to respond to it properly if it ever occurs.
We are committed to the cultural safety of Aboriginal children, to the cultural safety of children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, to the safety of children with disability, and to the safety of children of any sexual orientation or gender identity. Every child is welcome here and every child is treated with respect.
We take the views of children seriously. If a child tells us they are uncomfortable, worried or unhappy about something, we listen, we act, and we do not dismiss it because they are young.
Who works with children. Everyone who works with children at La Vita Nova holds a current Working with Children Check. We sight the card, record the number and expiry, and check it again before it lapses. Anyone engaged to run or assist a session is told what we expect of them before they start, and our code of conduct forms part of that.
Supervision. A member of our team is with the group at all times. Children are never left alone with a single adult where that can be avoided, and sessions are run in an open room rather than behind a closed door. The street door is kept closed while a session is running.
Collection. We release a child only to the parent or guardian who enrolled them, or to a person that parent or guardian has named on the enrolment form. Where someone else needs to collect a child, we ask for written confirmation from the enrolling parent first.
Health and first aid. We ask for allergies, medical conditions and medication at enrolment, we keep a first aid kit on site, and we hold the contacts you give us at enrolment. Where a child needs urgent medical help and we cannot reach you, we act on the authority you give us at enrolment and we keep trying to reach you.
Photography. We photograph the artwork by default and a child only where a parent or guardian has given written consent in advance. Consent for photos sent privately to you and consent for photos we publish are asked separately, and either can be withdrawn at any time. We never publish a child’s full name alongside an image.
Information about your child. What you tell us at enrolment is treated as sensitive information. It is seen only by the people running the session, it is used only to look after your child, and it is deleted twelve months after your child stops attending. Our privacy policy sets this out in full.
The environment. The studio is a working gallery and event space. Before a children’s session we set the room up for children: materials are age-appropriate, the work benches are cleared, and anything that is not safe for the group is moved or put away.
Our code of conduct applies to our team, to tutors and guest artists, to volunteers, and to any adult present during a children’s session. In short: treat every child with respect and patience; stay in sight of others when you are with a child; do not photograph or film a child except as part of a session and only where consent has been given; do not contact a child privately or connect with them on social media; do not give a child gifts, food or drink without a parent’s agreement; use no physical discipline of any kind; and report any concern about a child’s safety straight away, however small it seems.
Any breach of this is taken seriously and may result in a person being removed from our programs immediately.
If you are worried about the safety or wellbeing of a child here, please tell us. You do not need to be certain, and you do not need to have evidence. Tell any of our team on the day, or email info@lavitanova.com.au, or call us on the number in your booking confirmation.
Here is what happens next. We will acknowledge your concern within one business day. We will make sure the child is safe first and take any immediate steps that are needed. We will look into what happened, and where the concern involves a member of our team, that person will not work with children while we do. We will tell you what we have found and what we have done about it, unless we are directed not to by police or by a regulator. We keep a record of every concern raised and how it was resolved.
Children can raise a concern too. We tell children at the start of a session that they can talk to any adult in the room if something is bothering them, and we mean it.
Where we have a reasonable belief that a child has been abused, is at risk of abuse, or is not safe, we report it. We will contact Victoria Police on 000 where a child is in immediate danger, and Child Protection at the Victorian Department of Families, Fairness and Housing where a child needs protection. Where an allegation is made against a person who works with us, we also notify the Social Services Regulator under the Reportable Conduct Scheme.
We will do this whether or not the family agrees, because it is what the law requires and because it is the right thing to do. We do not investigate suspected abuse ourselves, and we do not delay a report while we look into it.
You do not have to come to us first, and you can go elsewhere at any time. Victoria Police on 000 in an emergency, or your local station otherwise. Child Protection Crisis Line on 13 12 78, available at any hour. The Commission for Children and Young People at ccyp.vic.gov.au. The Social Services Regulator at socialservices.vic.gov.au. Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 for children and young people, at any hour.
We review this policy and how we are going against it every twelve months, and straight away after any incident. If you have a suggestion that would make this a safer place for children, we would like to hear it.
La Vita Nova, 51a Grosvenor Street, South Yarra VIC 3141. Email info@lavitanova.com.au.