ReRunBriz Tours Child and Youth Risk Management Strategy

Statement of Commitment

At ReRunBriz tours, we are committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for the young people (children, youths, minors, those under 18 years of age) who participate in our tours. We are dedicated to respecting and supporting the rights of young people during our tours, in line with Queensland child safety standards.

Our mission is to offer entertaining, active and educational experiences that prioritise the well-being and safety of all participants. ReRunBriz tours are designed to foster curiosity, learning, and respect, ensuring that young people can safely explore the South Brisbane Reach under responsible adult supervision. 

A printed copy of this commitment statement is maintained and in the possession of tour guides and is available for review upon request.

Code of Conduct

Our code of conduct sets clear expectations for all individuals involved in our tours, including employees, volunteers, parents, and participants of all ages. We emphasise the importance of respectful language, appropriate supervision, and safe interactions. Key guidelines include:

• Language Use: We maintain a professional tone, avoid inappropriate language or behaviour, and endeavour to use age and audience-appropriate terminology. 
• Supervision: Supervision ratios (a maximum of 1:10) are maintained when young participant groups are on a tour. Group leaders/organisers are required to accompany and supervise the youths, students, team or club members they are associated with. (Standard public tours: Direct parental or adult guardian supervision is required for children under the age of 18 years old who participate; for those under age 12 years parent-only supervision is mandatory.)
• Physical Contact: Physical contact by ReRunBriz Tour guides is limited to immediate situations where it is necessary for aid such as assisting a participant with an injury, or for safety guiding them away from path hazards or other path users.
• Boundaries: Clear boundaries are established prior to tour commencement and techniques implemented during the tour to avoid favouritism and to ensure that no adult is alone with a young person who is not their child.
• Behaviour Management: We will immediately address bullying, participant conflicts, and situational stress with positive behaviour management strategies. 
• Public Disturbance: Only adults who are associated with the school or club on the tour will be permitted to accompany the group on the tour route. In encounters with members of the public displaying distress, anxiety, aggression, mental health impairment, or suspected intoxication, we will take immediate measures to distance and safeguard all, but particularly young, participants from a disturbance.

Recruitment, Selection, Training, and Management

Our recruitment and selection processes ensure that only individuals with the required skills and attributes are involved in assisting on or leading our tours. All staff and volunteers undergo screening for their role, including blue card checks for those who may be assigned to guide school or club groups.

Position descriptions clearly outline duties, tasks, and required values. Training programs cover child safety and interactions, mandatory and flexible tour management practices, and risk mitigation strategies. 

Ongoing human management at ReRunBriz Tours involves periodic reviews of the tours and the performance of guides, with reflection, feedback and support opportunities enabling the maintenance of high standards of conduct and safety.

Reporting Disclosures and Suspicions of Harm

We have established a clear and confidential procedure for reporting disclosures or suspicions of harm. All staff and volunteers are trained to recognise signs of suffering (abuse, distress, harm) and to follow a structured process for acting on concerns. This process includes:

• Being attentive to individual and group dynamics and interactions during all stages of a tour.
• Acting on suspicions if a young person on the tour is, has, or may be at risk for suffering.
• Listening carefully without leading or influencing any young person deemed at risk, and subsequently factually documenting any disclosure.
• Ensuring the privacy and confidentiality of the young person while taking necessary actions to protect them.
• Reporting concerns to the tour operator and disclosures to designated child safety contacts or authorities within required timeframes.
• Providing support and resources where applicable and within the capacity of the guide and/or tour operator, to both the affected young person and the primary person receiving the disclosure.

Managing Breaches

Breaches of our child safety strategy are taken seriously and are addressed promptly by the tour operator, or the most senior guide. A breach could involve a failure to comply with the code of conduct, negligence in supervision on the tour, or inappropriate behaviour from a guide or volunteer.

Our response plan includes:

• Immediate investigation of the breach and documentation of the incident by the tour operator.
• Classifying breaches based on their severity, ranging from low (minor lapses) to high (serious misconduct).
• Appropriate actions, such as additional training, increased supervision, or disciplinary measures are determined, scheduled and completed (or enacted until satisfactory competence is achieved).
• Reviewing and updating ReRunBriz Tour policies and procedures where necessary to prevent recurrence.

Risk Management Plan for High-Risk Activities

Certain tours and activities on tour may be classified as high-risk due to factors such as location, terrain, traffic, route closures, or participant demographics. Extra precautions are taken to mitigate these risks, including:

• Pre-tour safety briefings and health screenings.
• Adequate supervisor to young adult participant ratios.
• Consideration of environmental hazards (e.g., weather, water bodies) and proactive management of these risks.
• Ensuring that first aid, emergency contact details, and contingency plans are in place.
• Implementing assessments such as describing activities, identifying risks, analysing and evaluating them, and reviewing the management plan periodically.

Risk Management Analysis Table

 

Managing Compliance with the Blue Card System

We comply fully with Queensland’s blue card system by:

• Ensuring tour guide staff and tour volunteers who interact with youth groups maintain valid blue cards.
• Regularly updating records and notifying authorities of any changes in eligibility or scope of work.
• Monitoring the renewal process to prevent lapses in blue card compliance.

Communication and Support

Effective communication with and support for the ReRunBriz Tour team is key to our strategy. We provide:

• Clear written guidelines for all staff, volunteers, and participants.
• Reinforcement of responsibilities, ideal behaviours and strategies, and proactive responses.
• Ongoing training and updates to ensure everyone is aware of their responsibilities.
• Reviews to examine and reinforce child safety practices

Our goal is to maintain a culture of openness where concerns can be raised, addressed, and resolved in a supportive environment.

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Published 27 August 2024