Please ensure that you have informed these people that you have given their
details and have their permission to do this for this purpose.
Please ensure that you keep all information up to date at all times. I.e. when you
change address or phone number.
Photographs
From time to time we take photographs of your children. These photo’s do not
have name captions on them and will only be used to promote the house. Should
the Local newspapers wish to take your child’s photo, you will be asked for
permission prior to it actually being taken.
No personal information is kept on people who require basic counselling or
referral to any other agency.
Every person ceasing to be a client of this house has the right to request all their
personal records, or that all their personal records are destroyed. If you do not
request either of these procedures, your records will be destroyed after five years.
Goonawarra Neighbourhood House March 2009 Summertime Policy
Due to the extreme conditions experienced in January and February 2009, the
Committee of Management of Goonawarra Neighbourhood House has decided to
adopt the following policy.
Weather
 On days of Total Fire Ban, NO-ONE may smoke anywhere inside or
OUTSIDE at the property of the Goonawarra Neighbourhood House.
This means not even within the designated smokers area. This pertains to
everyone including House Renters.
 In extreme heat there are often power failures. In this case, all house users
will be required to leave the premises.
All OCC families will be contacted and asked to pick up their children.
Fires
 Should the Sunbury area be the subject of a Bushfire alert, all families
will be asked to leave the Neighbourhood House which will then close
until such time as all risk to the Sunbury area ceases.
 Should the Neighbourhood House receive notice of closure from any of
the Government Departments, it will act accordingly.
ENQUIRIES
For any enquiries you may have please do not hesitate to call
Sandy on 9740 6627 or email [email protected]
Goonawarra Neighbourhood House
Playgroups 2016
GOONAWARRA NEIGHBOURHOOD HOUSE
PLAYGROUP POLICY
DUTY
All parents are expected to participate in Playgroup Duty Rosters.
1.
2.
ENROLMENTS
Each Playgroup will consist of up to fifteen families.
If a family does not attend for three consecutive weeks without
giving an apology, it will be assumed that they are no longer
attending Playgroup. The next family on the waiting list will be
notified of the vacancy.
FEES
All fees will be due and payable within the first month of each
term. Families experiencing financial difficulties should speak to
their Playgroup Facilitator and be able to make provisions for these
circumstances.
EQUIPMENT
All equipment and supplies purchased for Playgroup is wholly
owned by the Goonawarra Neighbourhood House, and as such,
must remain on the premises of Goonawarra Neighbourhood House.
A portion of Playgroup fees goes towards Playgroup Consumables.
NO equipment or supplies may be purchased without the
permission of the House Coordinator or Committee of
Management.
Encouraged to apply their own sunscreen/alternative protection in case of
allergies/skin sensitivity.
The Sun Smart policy will be reinforced in a positive way through newsletters
and notice boards.
When enrolling children parents will be:
 Informed of the Sun smart policy;
 Asked to provide a suitable hat for their child’s use.
 Asked to apply SPF 30+, broad spectrum, water resistant
Sun screen for their child’s use.
 Encouraged to practise Sun Smart behaviours themselves.
PRIVACY POLICY
Goonawarra Neighbourhood House provides a range of community programs.
When you enrol with us, we ask for details about you and also what services you
may need. This information is collected so that we can contact you or so that we
may obtain care for you or your child in an emergency situation. It is also used
for statistical reasons, however identifying information is removed before any
statistics are passed on.
We may also receive information about you from other services such as Dept. of
Human Services or Centrelink etc.
All information we receive is kept in strict confidence. No information will be
passed on to any other agency without your written permission.
ALL Staff are required by law to protect your personal information. We do NOT
release this information to anyone else unless we have your consent or are
required by law to do so.
Sometimes you may be required to prove your financial status by showing Health
Care Card. This is only when you require a discounted fee for our services, and at
no time will we do any more than just ask you if we can sight that card. No numbers
etc. will be recorded. Information collected about children, such as their
immunization status or if a parent has restricted access, so to enable us as to how
best look out for you and your child. If you have any concerns about this please
speak to Staff about this. You will also be asked to give us information about
people we can contact in an emergency.
FAMILIES IN CARE
In the situation where a Playgroup Parent is caring for another child
or children, the following situations apply.
A
Duty will be rostered for both families individually.
B
Fees will be payable for both families individually.
This is due to the fact that by bringing along another family, you are
taking up both your own position and another families position.
Therefore you will be considered as two individual families. This
alleviates the numbers of children per Playgroup becoming too high
and also allows us to afford the best equipment for your child’s use.
CONFIDENTIALITY
Please refer to the attached privacy policy.
NO ONE will be given access to Playgroup members’ personal
details. This includes, names addresses and telephone numbers. In
a case where a parent wishes to contact another parent, the House
Manager will make contact with the second parent and ask them to
contact the first parent. In this situation, it will be assumed that
permission has been given by the first parent for their phone
number only to be passed on.
CLEANING
All Playgroup areas must be left in a clean and tidy manner.
ALL toys must be brought in from outside and replaced in their
position in the cupboard or garden shed. Floors must be swept
and if necessary mopped. The kitchen area must be kept clean.
The Tommy Turtles and toilets should be checked after use.
Each group will take a turn at cleaning out the back cupboards.
Generally each group will be rostered to clean the cupboards,
once every 6 months. A roster will be displayed on the back
cupboard.
CUSTODIAL MATTERS
If your child/ children are the subject of a custody order, please
notify staff immediately. Children who are subject to these
conditions will only be allowed to leave the centre with the
custodian unless written permission with the name of the other
party and the date is received from the custodian.
SUNSMART
All parents are encouraged to abide by the guidelines outlined in the
enclosed Sunsmart policy.
SMOKING
Absolutely NO smoking will be tolerated inside or outside during
any Playgroup sessions.
WHO CAN ATTEND
It is the Philosophy of the Neighbourhood House to offer equal
access to all. For this reason, priority will be given to
accommodating as many as possible different families at our
Playgroups. Hence at certain times it may be possible for families to
attend only one Playgroup weekly. This may vary from term to
term, due to changes in enrollments. Grandparents, fathers, Aunts
and Uncles are all welcome.
All Goonawarra Neighbourhood House Playgroups are expected to
abide by the Policies and Philosophies of the Goonawarra
Neighbourhood House.
PLAYGROUP FACILITATOR
The Playgroup Facilitator is a member of staff who will aid and
assist your playgroup with planning and some preparation of
activities, liaising with your group on a fairly regular basis and
acting as a go between for the Playgroup families and office staff.
The Facilitator only works 4 hours a week and can have up to six
Playgroups to look after so she will assist you to the best of her
ability.
Early Childhood SunSmart Policy
Our SunSmart Policy has been developed to ensure that all children attending this
Neighbourhood House are protected from skin damage caused by the harmful
ultraviolet radiation (UV) rays of the sun.
It is to be implemented throughout the year, but with particular emphasis from
September through to April (inclusive).
It is the ultra violet radiation in the sun’s rays that causes sunburn and long term
skin damage. UV is not related to temperature so you can still get sunburnt even
on cool or cloudy days.
SunSmart Strategies:The Neighbourhood House requires children to wear hats that protect
their face, neck and ears whenever they are outside such as a legionnaire
or broad brimmed hat. Baseball caps are not acceptable as they do not protect
the back of the neck and ears.
Apart from hats loose fitting clothing that protects as much of the children’s skin
as possible for outdoor play is also recommended. Shirts that cover the shoulders
and have collars and sleeves that are at least elbow length are most suitable.
Children who don’t have their hats with them will be asked to play in an area
protected from the sun.
Children will be encouraged to use available areas of shade for outdoor play
activity. Even in shade UV rays can be reflected off surrounding surfaces.
Therefore it’s still necessary to wear a hat and sunscreen in the shade.
All outdoor activity will be scheduled where possible before 11am and after
3.00pm daylight savings time (10.00am and 2.00pm at other times). The
availability of shade will always be considered when planning outdoor activities.
Staff and parents will act as role models by:
Wearing appropriate hats and clothing outdoors
Using SPF30+sunscreen for skin protection
Seeking shade whenever possible
ILLNESS
The City of Hume has a policy on exclusion from Children’s
Activities due to illness or contagious disease. The Goonawarra
Committee of Management has adopted this policy as its own.
Copies are available at the Neighbourhood House.
NUT FREE POLICY
GNH, OCC, BB and Playgroup Programs are now NUT FREE
ZONES. Due to the increased number of children and families with
nut related allergies, it has become necessary to introduce this
policy in order to protect the welfare of a small group of children
who suffer a severe nut allergy.
SUPERVISION
It is the responsibility of the Playgroup parents to ensure that at
least one parent is on duty whilst the children are playing on the
outdoor equipment. Under no circumstances should any child be
allowed outdoors without parental supervision.
No children are permitted in the kitchen, office area, storeroom
or shed.
Parents are also requested to closely supervise their children while
occupying the front lounge room of the House.
EVACUATION PROCEDURES
In case of an emergency, e.g fire, the following procedure should apply
1
Blow whistle located on top of rear exit door ledge and line
children / adults at door
2.
Collect sign in book and account for all persons
3.
Collect back gate key - also located on top of rear exit door ledge
- and congregate in Community House car park. Ensure
everybody is accounted for.
4
Call necessary authorities e.g fire brigade.
5.
Attack the problem with the appropriate extinguisher ONLY if it
is safe to do so.
6.
Remain at the assembly point until advised by
authorities to return.
It is the responsibility of each Playgroup to practice this drill
once during the year.