Information for Parents_ Campbell PS

Information for Parents/Guardians (Year 4 to Year 6)
Speaking Out Survey
The Commissioner for Children and Young People is asking students from Year 4 to
Year 12 in schools across WA for their views on matters that affect their wellbeing and
would like your child to take part.
Who is the Commissioner for Children and Young People?
Colin Pettit is the Commissioner for Children and Young People. The Commissioner is
independent and works to improve the wellbeing of all children and young people in
WA.
What will my child be asked to do?
If your child chooses to take part, they will be asked to complete a 30-40 minute
survey on a tablet. This will take about 60 minutes of their regular class time.
Your child will be asked questions about their background and a range of issues that
are important to their wellbeing such as their health, family, friendships, school,
involvement in community and cultural activities and safety.
Some of the more specific and sometimes sensitive issues which are covered include
weight and body image; feelings and emotional wellbeing; bullying; smoking; and
alcohol use. These questions will be voluntary and children will not have to answer
them if they do not wish to.
Staff from the Commissioner’s office will provide assistance to your child to complete
the survey if and when required. All of the Commissioners staff have Working with
Children Checks. A teacher will also be present to help supervise children, but they will
not be able to read any children’s responses to any questions.
If answering any survey questions raises issues for children or they become upset, the
Commissioner’s staff will encourage them to talk to a trusted adult (e.g. a parent or a
teacher); contact one of the help services listed on a card which will be given to them
before the survey, such as Kids Helpline or Beyond Blue; or write their name on a
‘Referral Form’ if they would like someone at school to contact them confidentially.
Will people know what my child says?
Your child will not be asked to provide their name, so it will not be possible to identify
any individual child from their survey responses.
All information will be stored securely and can only be accessed by a restricted number
of the Commissioner’s staff or researchers from the Telethon Kids Institute who are
helping the Commissioner by analysing the responses collected.
The project has been approved and is supported by the Department of Education.

What will the information be used for?
The Speaking Out Survey is an initiative supported by the WA Government and the
views of students will be included in publications about the wellbeing of children and
young people that the Commissioner sends to government and other organisations to
help improve policies and services available to children and their families. They may
also be used in publications including his annual report, electronic newsletters and the
website.
The Speaking Out Survey is confidential and no individual student or school will be
identified in any reports on the results.
A general results file that won’t identify individual schools or students will be made
available to supporting government departments to assist in improving their programs
and services for children and families.
What do I need to do now?
It is up to you and your child to decide whether to take part. You are completely free
to say yes or no. What you decide will not affect your child’s grades, how you get on
with teachers or the school, and the government and the Commissioner will not be told
of your choice.
Your child has been provided with information from the Commissioner that we
encourage you to discuss with him/her.
If you and your child are both happy for them to be involved, then you do not need to
do anything now. Your child will be called by a teacher on the day the Commissioner’s
staff come to their school to do the survey.
If your child changes their mind and does not want to take the survey on the day, that
is okay. They can just let their teacher know. Any children who do not take part in the
If you do not want your child to take part:
Please complete and sign the following page and return to your school as soon
as possible but no later than 6 June 2019.
survey, will continue with normal school activities.
Who can I contact for more information?
If you would like to speak to someone at the school about the arrangements on the
day of the survey, please contact Mandy Ward for more information.
Marketa Reeves from the Commissioner for Children and Young People WA can help
answer any questions you have about the survey, or how the survey responses will be
used. You can phone her on 6213 2211, or email marketa.reeves@ccyp.wa.gov.au
If you would like to read more about the Speaking Out Survey or the Commissioner’s
work visit our website at www.ccyp.wa.gov.au

Thank you for your support.

Non-Consent Form for Parents/Guardians
Speaking Out Survey
• I have read and understood the information about the survey, or have had it explained
to me.
• I understand that my child does not have to participate.
• I have discussed this survey with my child.
Non-Consent for my child to participate in the survey
I do not give permission for my child to participate in the survey.
Full name of child (printed): _________________________________________________
Name of parent/guardian (printed): _____________________________________________
Signature of parent/guardian: __________________________________________________
Date: ______________________________________________________________________
Please return this form to the Administration Office at your child’s school.