Safeguarding at Brisbane Catholic Education

At BCE the safety and wellbeing of students and adults-at-risk is our biggest priority.

We place the safety of students and adults-at-risk at the centre of how we plan, think and act, to create a safeguarding culture that protects them from abuse and exploitation.

We recognise the importance of developing a safeguarding culture that enables students to engage in their education, inspires a love of learning and enables them to grow and thrive.

At BCE, safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.


What are the differences between Safeguarding and Student Protection

Safeguarding at BCE is focused on proactively creating an educational environment in the Catholic tradition that:

  • promotes the safety and wellbeing of students and adults-at-risk
  • creating safe environments that protect them from abuse and exploitation
  • effectively responds to safeguarding concerns and those impacted, to minimise harm.

Student protection is part of safeguarding. It includes BCE's structures, processes, practices and programs to respond to allegations and incidents of abuse, exploitation and risks of harm to students.​


The Safeguarding Team supports BCEs mission by championing a culture that safeguards students and adults from abuse and exploitation. We do this by:

  • ​Embedding safeguarding in BCE operations, policies, procedures and risk management in compliance with relevant legislation, principles and standards.

  • Managing BCEs Safeguarding Response Plan and providing performance reports into BCE's governance structure including the BCE Safeguarding Committee, Executive Committee and Catholic Education Council.

  • Oversighting BCEs complaints handling process to ensure appropriate action is taken in response to complaints and review findings and trends inform continuous improvement, safety and wellbeing.

  • Providing advice to the BCE Executive and organisational leaders to guide the organisation in appropriate management of Safeguarding matters and systems.

  • Promoting continuous learning, capacity building and facilitation of the participation of key stakeholders (including students) on BCEs safeguarding approach.​