Rise For Lives Online Youth Safety Policy Statement
Rise For Lives works with youth as part of its activities.
This work includes: Volunteer and paid staff relationships, interviews, and youth-facilitated
projects.
The purpose of this policy statement is to:
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ensure the safety and wellbeing of children and young people is paramount when adults, young people or children are using the internet, social media or mobile devices
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provide staff and volunteers with the overarching principles that guide our approach to online safety
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ensure that, as an organisation, we operate in line with our values and within the law in terms of how we use online devices.
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This policy statement applies to all staff, volunteers, young people and anyone involved in
Rise For Lives activities.
We believe that:
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children and young people should never experience abuse of any kind
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children should be able to use the internet for education and personal development, but safeguards need to be in place to ensure they are kept safe at all times
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We recognise that:
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the online world provides everyone with many opportunities; however it can also present risks and challenges
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we have a duty to ensure that all children, young people and adults involved in our organisation are protected from potential harm online
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we have a responsibility to help keep children and young people safe online, whether or not they are using Rise For Lives network and devices
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working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting young people’s welfare and in helping young people to be responsible in their approach to online safety
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all children, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation, have the right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse
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Legal framework
This policy has been drawn up on the basis of legislation, policy and guidance that seeks to
protect children in New Zealand. Summaries of the key guidance are available on:
We will seek to keep children and young people safe by:
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providing clear and specific directions to staff and volunteers on how to behave online supporting and encouraging the young people using our service to use the internet, social media and mobile phones in a way that keeps them safe and shows respect for others
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developing clear and robust procedures to enable us to respond appropriately to any incidents of inappropriate online behaviour, whether by an adult or a child or young person
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ensuring that usernames, logins, email accounts and passwords are used effectively
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ensuring personal information about the adults and children who are involved in our organisation is held securely and shared only as appropriate
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examining and risk assessing any social media platforms and new technologies before they are used within the organisation
If online abuse occurs, we will respond to it by:
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providing support to all staff and volunteers on dealing with all forms of abuse, including bullying or cyberbullying, emotional abuse, sexting, sexual abuse and sexual exploitation
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making sure our response takes the needs of the person experiencing abuse, any bystanders and our organisation as a whole into account
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reviewing the plan developed to address online abuse at regular intervals, in order to ensure that any problems have been resolved in the long term.
Contact details
Deputy Executive Director
Name: Beth Claire A
Email: contact@riseforlives.org / bethclaireaa@gmail.com