Statement

Board of Horizons College of Learning and Enrichment

The Board of Horizons College of Learning and Enrichment is unequivocally committed to ensuring that every student is safe, respected, supported and able to thrive. We recognise that student safety and wellbeing are fundamental to learning, belonging and positive life outcomes, and we accept our responsibility to provide an environment where every young person feels valued, protected and empowered.

Horizons College exists to serve young people who have often experienced significant challenge, trauma, disengagement or exclusion. Our Vision is for schooling to be a happy and inspiring experience, where every student develops intellectually, personally and socially and is nurtured and challenged to discover their potential, passion and purpose. Our Mission is to deliver an exceptional student experience that motivates and inspires young people to achieve their highest potential and prepare them for a meaningful and successful life after school. These commitments guide every decision we make as a governing body.

We commit to embedding student safety and wellbeing into the leadership, governance, culture and daily practice of the College. We uphold and implement the Child Safe Standards and the Universal Principle under the Child Safe Organisations Act 2024 (Qld), ensuring that the right of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to cultural safety is actively protected, respected and promoted. We recognise that cultural identity, connection to Country and community, and lived experience must be honoured in the way we care for and support students.

We affirm that all students have the right to be safe from harm, abuse, neglect, exploitation and discrimination. This includes students with disability, students who identify as LGBTQIA+, students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and students experiencing vulnerability. We are committed to equity, inclusion and dignity, and we work actively to remove barriers that may prevent any student from feeling safe, heard and respected.

We place student voice at the centre of our approach. Students are encouraged and supported to speak up, to participate in decisions that affect them, and to raise concerns in ways that are safe, accessible and developmentally appropriate. We listen to students, take their views seriously, and respond with care, transparency and accountability.

We commit to building strong, respectful partnerships with parents, carers, families, Elders and community organisations, recognising that student safety and wellbeing are strengthened when schools and communities work together. We value open communication, shared responsibility and collaborative problem-solving.

We ensure that all people working with students at Horizons College are suitable, well-trained and supported to uphold our child-safe values in practice. We maintain high standards for recruitment, induction, professional learning and conduct, and we respond decisively to any concerns, allegations or risks to student safety.

We commit to continuous improvement. We regularly review our policies, procedures, data and practices to identify risks, learn from experience and strengthen our systems of protection and support. We hold ourselves accountable to students, families, regulators and the wider community for the effectiveness of our safeguarding culture.

This Statement of Commitment reflects our PRIDE values — Participation, Respect, Integrity, Determination, Empathy, Kindness, Inclusivity, Resilience, Collaboration, Responsibility, Gratitude, Authenticity and Imagination — and expresses our unwavering belief that every young person deserves to feel safe, belong and be supported to become the best version of themselves.