Code of Conduct, Child Safety and Social Media Policy

Milton Follies Inc. Combined Conduct, Child Safety and Social Media Policy

Purpose

Milton Follies Inc. is committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment for all participants, with a special emphasis on child safety. This policy incorporates our Code of Conduct, Child Safety Policy, and Social Media Policy, ensuring the well-being of all members, fostering professional behaviour, and guiding the ethical use of online platforms.

Scope

This policy applies to all Milton Follies committee members, volunteers, production team members, performers (including children), and anyone involved in Milton Follies activities.

  1. Code of Conduct

All Milton Follies Inc. members must read, understand, and agree to this policy.

General Behaviour

All members must:

  • Treat everyone with dignity, equality, and respect.
  • Be fair, honest, and considerate.
  • Listen to and value all contributions.
  • Be positive role models.
  • Respect privacy and only disclose confidential information on a need-to-know basis.
  • Act professionally, including in communication, punctuality, and dress.
  • Report breaches of conduct promptly to a committee member.

Prohibited Conduct

Members must not:

  • Discriminate based on age, gender, culture, disability, sexuality, or religion.
  • Humiliate, belittle, bully, or isolate others.
  • Be under the influence of alcohol or illicit substances during activities.
  • Photograph or film anyone without explicit permission (parental consent required for under-18s).
  1. Child Safety Policy

Milton Follies is committed to upholding child safety in line with the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 and the Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012.

Working with Children Checks (WWCC)

The following roles must hold a valid WWCC:

  • Committee members
  • Workshop tutors, mentors, and production team working with under-18s
  • Performers over 18 in productions involving children
  • Technical/creative crew with child contact

Roles not requiring WWCC include:

  • Casual front-of-house/tech staff without child contact

WWCC details are recorded and retained for 7 years.

Child Privacy and Dressing

  • Children must change in designated, private, age/gender-appropriate areas.
  • Children must not enter adult dressing rooms, and vice versa.
  • Supervision must be discreet and conducted by WWCC-cleared personnel.

Inappropriate Behaviour Toward Children (Zero Tolerance)

Strictly prohibited conduct includes:

  • Unnecessary physical contact or overly familiar affection
  • Showing preferential treatment without legitimate reasons
  • Isolating or punishing a child
  • Entering changing rooms without authorisation
  • Giving a gift or money to a child which is more than a token
  • Distressing, or manipulating children emotionally

Child Safety Officer (CSO)

A designated CSO will be present at all Milton Follies events involving children and will:

  • Monitor compliance with child safety protocols
  • Be the primary contact for concerns from children, parents, or volunteers

Additional Rehearsals Involving Minors

  • Any rehearsals involving minors that fall outside the agreed rehearsal schedule must be approved in advance by the Milton Follies Committee and must be attended by the designated Child Safety Officer.

Sign-In / Sign-Out Procedures

  • All children must be signed in and out by a parent/guardian.
  • Only authorised individuals may collect children, with ID checks where needed.

Media and Privacy

  • No image or video of a child may be published without written parental consent.
  • Media shared by Milton Follies will only promote its activities and events.
  1. Social Media Policy

Milton Follies supports positive online engagement while protecting members’ rights and the organisation’s reputation.

Acceptable Use

Members should:

  • Use personal social media to positively promote Milton Follies
  • Obtain consent before posting others’ images
  • Respect others’ privacy
  • Think carefully before posting—avoid emotional or impulsive content

Prohibited Online Conduct

Members must not:

  • Post photos or media without consent (especially of minors)
  • Engage in bullying, harassment, or offensive language
  • Ridicule or defame members, sponsors, or suppliers
  • Imply personal content is sanctioned by Milton Follies
  • Breach copyright or legal obligations
  • Post content that damages Milton Follies’ reputation

Cyberbullying

Any online bullying or harassment is strictly prohibited and may result in legal consequences.

  1. Reporting, Breaches & Consequences

Reporting Incidents

  • Concerns must be reported to the CSO or a committee member.
  • Suspected child abuse must be reported to the NSW Child Protection Helpline (132 111) or police.

Consequences for Breaching This Policy

Sanctions may include:

  • Verbal or written reprimand
  • Apology (verbal or written)
  • Suspension or exclusion from rehearsals, performances, or future events
  • Referral to relevant authorities, including police
  1. Communication and Policy Access
  • This policy is publicly accessible via the Milton Follies website. A printed copy will be provided on request.
  • Regular training on child safety and social media expectations is provided.
  • The policy is reviewed regularly to align with legal and best-practice updates.
  • Matters relating to this policy will be discussed at each general committee meeting.

Policy Date: 14th December 2025
Next Review Due: 14th December 2026