• Section 1 - Purpose
• Section 2 - Glossary
• Section 3 - Policy
• Part A - Principles
• Section 4 - Procedures
• Section 5 - Guidelines

This document is rescinded from 28 January 2022. It is replaced by the Facilities and Premises Policy and Facilities and Premises Procedure - Access, Use and Security.

Section 1 - Purpose

(1) This Policy has been developed to inform staff, students and visitors of their responsibilities and Charles Sturt University (the University) expectations when children are brought onto University premises.

(2) This Policy aims to establish principles that achieve a reasonable balance between the following objectives:

1. to provide a flexible University response to the needs of parents/carers;
2. to ensure health and safety requirements are met; and
3. to protect the work and study environment of others at the University.

Scope

(3) This Policy applies to all staff, students, and visitors of Charles Sturt University. It is not intended to restrict children's access to areas of the University that are open to the public or to activities such as Open Days, vacation care or after school care activities, regular childcare or school programmes, work experience, school visits or other approved activities.

(4) Where the University shares premises owned by other organisations and regulations pertaining to the management of children co-exist, the University will adhere to the more stringent standard of the two.

Section 2 - Glossary

(5) For the purpose of this Policy, a "child" is defined as a person up to the age of 15 years.

Section 3 - Policy

Part A - Principles

(6) The University welcomes the presence of children on campus for approved University activities, in areas of public access or as occasional visitors when under the supervision of their parents or carers.

(7) The University expects staff and students to make all reasonable attempts to arrange alternative child care before bringing a child into the work or teaching areas of the University or, in the case of staff, to utilise flexible work practices or leave options where available and appropriate. However, the University recognises that staff and students may sometimes need to bring a child into a work or teaching area as a result of circumstances beyond their control.

(8) The University seeks to be flexible in responding to the needs of parents/carers while also taking into account the health, safety and welfare issues associated with children being on campus and the rights of others to an environment conducive to work and study.

(9) Notwithstanding clause 8, the University reserves the right to restrict specified areas from access by children for safety and security reasons and to direct that a child be removed from campus where the presence of the child is causing an unacceptable health and safety risk or disruption to others.

(10) The University expects parents/carers to be responsible for the behaviour and safety of any child in their care while on campus, to comply with the Children on Campus Procedure and to follow regulations in areas where access is restricted.

Section 4 - Procedures

(11) Refer to the Children on Campus Procedure.

Section 5 - Guidelines

(12) Nil.