At Athletica Dance Studios, we are dedicated to the safety, wellbeing, happiness, and empowerment of every child and young person in our care. We work to create an environment where children can thrive, feel respected, and be supported to learn and grow.
We also extend this commitment to supporting and respecting our staff and volunteers, who help us maintain a safe and positive studio culture.
Our Commitments
Zero tolerance for child abuse
- Athletica Dance Studios has zero tolerance for child abuse, grooming, harm, or neglect.
- All child safety concerns, complaints, and allegations are taken seriously, responded to promptly, and managed in line with our policies and procedures.
Legal and moral responsibilities
- We meet our legal and moral obligations to protect children and young people.
- Where we believe a child may be at risk, we will act immediately, including contacting appropriate authorities when required.
Prevention and risk reduction
- We actively work to prevent abuse by identifying risks early and taking steps to remove or reduce those risks.
- We regularly review how our classes, events, performances, and online spaces operate to ensure child safety is embedded in everything we do.
Safer recruitment and people practices
- We maintain strong recruitment and screening processes to support child safety.
- Staff and volunteers are selected carefully and are expected to uphold our child safe culture and professional standards.
Ongoing training and awareness
- We provide training and education so staff and volunteers:
- understand child safety risks,
- know how to respond to concerns or disclosures, and
- stay informed about best practice.
Inclusivity and cultural safety
- We respect and support all children.
Continuous risk evaluation and improvement
- We recognise that risks can exist in any child-focused setting.
- We continually evaluate our programs, spaces, and practices and implement improvements to strengthen child safety.
A supportive learning environment for every child
- We are committed to a studio culture where every child feels valued, included, and supported, regardless of skill level or experience.
Teacher standards and safe discipline
- We employ teachers who uphold our values and maintain appropriate professional boundaries.
- Inappropriate behaviour is not tolerated. If concerns arise, classes may be stopped and the teacher removed from duties while the matter is addressed.
- Discipline and behaviour management must never involve harm. This includes no yelling, intimidation, humiliation, demeaning behaviour, or victimisation.
Clear expectations and fairness
- Teachers communicate behaviour expectations clearly and directly to students.
- We aim for a culture that is fair, consistent, and respectful for everyone.
Parents and carers as partners
- Parents and carers are an important part of our dance community.
- We expect all parents and carers to support child safe standards and follow our code of conduct while engaging with the studio.
Communication and transparency
- Our child safety approach is communicated to staff, volunteers, children, families, and the wider community.
- We encourage questions, feedback, and shared responsibility for child safety.
Holistic wellbeing
- We support children’s holistic development by promoting healthy learning environments and incorporating age-appropriate information and practices that support health and wellbeing.
Zero tolerance for bullying
- We have zero tolerance for bullying and take action to prevent, address, and respond to bullying behaviours.
Continuous improvement
- We are committed to improving our facilities, processes, and culture to eliminate or reduce risks and keep children safe.