Statement on Crossing Supervisor and High Fives
Statement from - Yarra Ranges Mayor Councillor Sophie Todorov
We understand the concerns from the community about the media story of the school crossing supervisor in Mount Dandenong.
We regret that a legitimate safety concern has resulted in the response it has but seek to assure members of the community that Council values and appreciates the work of all our school crossing supervisors. We understand they play a pivotal safety role in the school community and their friendly and welcoming nature is an important connection for many parents and brings a smile to the children across the Yarra Ranges.
We encourage our school crossing supervisors to maintain this important friendly engagement and connection with children and to do so in line with the Victorian Child Safe Standards.
This is to ensure that any child who comes into contact with anyone from Council, whether they be staff, contractors or volunteers, are following the Standards. We also work closely with School Crossings Australia who follow national standards.
On this occasion Council was responding to a safety complaint that the school crossing supervisor was giving high-fives to children encouraging them to hang their arms out of car windows whilst driving past. We would like to gently remind parents that hanging arms out of moving vehicles is a road traffic offence.
It is important that people feel that if they have concerns that they can contact Council.
More broadly, when it comes to high-fives on the crossing itself, we understand this is a long-standing gesture that children use to engage with crossing supervisors. Yarra Ranges Council has not issued a direct ban on giving high-fives, we do note that training provided by School Crossings Australia and School Crossings Victoria states that high-fives are not supported.
Council would like to emphasise that the primary role for our school crossing supervisors is to get children safely across the road, be engaging and friendly and follow the Victorian Child Safe Standards.
Statement from School Crossing Australia and School Crossings Victoria:
School Crossings Australia together with School Crossings Victoria does not support hi fives or any physical contact with children, unless for safety reasons as it can compromise safety at the school crossing.
This is reinforced in the training we deliver to School Crossing supervisors which is in line with the Victorian Child Safe Standards and it also helps to protect them from any inaccurate allegations.
Statement issued on 14 August 2024
Yarra Ranges Council received a complaint from a parent at Mount Dandenong Primary School about the crossing supervisor giving high-fives to children as they are being driven past the supervisor on Farndons Road, Mount Dandenong.
The safety of children is of paramount importance for all Council staff, contractors and volunteers.
As part of Council's commitment to protecting the safety of children, all staff, contractors and volunteers who come into contact with children must have a valid Working With Children check.
In addition to this, school crossing supervisors must comply with the Victorian Child Safe Standards that details guidance on appropriate behaviour and conduct when working with children, young people and their families.
Council's internal policies and the Victorian Standards clearly states that unacceptable behaviours include:
- Exhibiting behaviours with children and young people which may be construed as unnecessarily physical.
- Initiating unnecessary physical contact with children or young people.
Council has reminded the contractor who is currently supervising children at the Mount Dandenong Primary School of expectations of the role regarding interactions with children.
If the high-five is undertaken in accordance with Council’s Code of Conduct, considering the safety and supervision of all children on the crossing, the traffic on the road and is initiated by the child, then they are not universally banned.