Information for Parents_ Campbell PS
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
<strong>In<strong>for</strong>mation</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Parents</strong>/Guardians (Year 4 to Year 6)<br />
Speaking Out Survey<br />
The Commissioner <strong>for</strong> Children and Young People is asking students from Year 4 to<br />
Year 12 in schools across WA <strong>for</strong> their views on matters that affect their wellbeing and<br />
would like your child to take part.<br />
Who is the Commissioner <strong>for</strong> Children and Young People?<br />
Colin Pettit is the Commissioner <strong>for</strong> Children and Young People. The Commissioner is<br />
independent and works to improve the wellbeing of all children and young people in<br />
WA.<br />
What will my child be asked to do?<br />
If your child chooses to take part, they will be asked to complete a 30-40 minute<br />
survey on a tablet. This will take about 60 minutes of their regular class time.<br />
Your child will be asked questions about their background and a range of issues that<br />
are important to their wellbeing such as their health, family, friendships, school,<br />
involvement in community and cultural activities and safety.<br />
Some of the more specific and sometimes sensitive issues which are covered include<br />
weight and body image; feelings and emotional wellbeing; bullying; smoking; and<br />
alcohol use. These questions will be voluntary and children will not have to answer<br />
them if they do not wish to.<br />
Staff from the Commissioner’s office will provide assistance to your child to complete<br />
the survey if and when required. All of the Commissioners staff have Working with<br />
Children Checks. A teacher will also be present to help supervise children, but they will<br />
not be able to read any children’s responses to any questions.<br />
If answering any survey questions raises issues <strong>for</strong> children or they become upset, the<br />
Commissioner’s staff will encourage them to talk to a trusted adult (e.g. a parent or a<br />
teacher); contact one of the help services listed on a card which will be given to them<br />
be<strong>for</strong>e the survey, such as Kids Helpline or Beyond Blue; or write their name on a<br />
‘Referral Form’ if they would like someone at school to contact them confidentially.<br />
Will people know what my child says?<br />
Your child will not be asked to provide their name, so it will not be possible to identify<br />
any individual child from their survey responses.<br />
All in<strong>for</strong>mation will be stored securely and can only be accessed by a restricted number<br />
of the Commissioner’s staff or researchers from the Telethon Kids Institute who are<br />
helping the Commissioner by analysing the responses collected.<br />
The project has been approved and is supported by the Department of Education.
What will the in<strong>for</strong>mation be used <strong>for</strong>?<br />
The Speaking Out Survey is an initiative supported by the WA Government and the<br />
views of students will be included in publications about the wellbeing of children and<br />
young people that the Commissioner sends to government and other organisations to<br />
help improve policies and services available to children and their families. They may<br />
also be used in publications including his annual report, electronic newsletters and the<br />
website.<br />
The Speaking Out Survey is confidential and no individual student or school will be<br />
identified in any reports on the results.<br />
A general results file that won’t identify individual schools or students will be made<br />
available to supporting government departments to assist in improving their programs<br />
and services <strong>for</strong> children and families.<br />
What do I need to do now?<br />
It is up to you and your child to decide whether to take part. You are completely free<br />
to say yes or no. What you decide will not affect your child’s grades, how you get on<br />
with teachers or the school, and the government and the Commissioner will not be told<br />
of your choice.<br />
Your child has been provided with in<strong>for</strong>mation from the Commissioner that we<br />
encourage you to discuss with him/her.<br />
If you and your child are both happy <strong>for</strong> them to be involved, then you do not need to<br />
do anything now. Your child will be called by a teacher on the day the Commissioner’s<br />
staff come to their school to do the survey.<br />
If your child changes their mind and does not want to take the survey on the day, that<br />
is okay. They can just let their teacher know. Any children who do not take part in the<br />
If you do not want your child to take part:<br />
Please complete and sign the following page and return to your school as soon<br />
as possible but no later than 6 June 2019.<br />
survey, will continue with normal school activities.<br />
Who can I contact <strong>for</strong> more in<strong>for</strong>mation?<br />
If you would like to speak to someone at the school about the arrangements on the<br />
day of the survey, please contact Mandy Ward <strong>for</strong> more in<strong>for</strong>mation.<br />
Marketa Reeves from the Commissioner <strong>for</strong> Children and Young People WA can help<br />
answer any questions you have about the survey, or how the survey responses will be<br />
used. You can phone her on 6213 2211, or email marketa.reeves@ccyp.wa.gov.au<br />
If you would like to read more about the Speaking Out Survey or the Commissioner’s<br />
work visit our website at www.ccyp.wa.gov.au
Thank you <strong>for</strong> your support.
Non-Consent Form <strong>for</strong> <strong>Parents</strong>/Guardians<br />
Speaking Out Survey<br />
• I have read and understood the in<strong>for</strong>mation about the survey, or have had it explained<br />
to me.<br />
• I understand that my child does not have to participate.<br />
• I have discussed this survey with my child.<br />
Non-Consent <strong>for</strong> my child to participate in the survey<br />
I do not give permission <strong>for</strong> my child to participate in the survey.<br />
Full name of child (printed): _________________________________________________<br />
Name of parent/guardian (printed): _____________________________________________<br />
Signature of parent/guardian: __________________________________________________<br />
Date: ______________________________________________________________________<br />
Please return this <strong>for</strong>m to the Administration Office at your child’s school.