Alpha Shows Pty Ltd is a Child Safe organisation.
We have specific policies in place to protect children from harm, which is a core part of our philosophy and practices. We share responsibility for the safety of children at all levels, at the leadership level and by junior staff. In the past, our cast members on site at schools or other venues with children present were not permitted to be alone with students or children at any time, and supervision must occur by an on-site member of staff (for example, a teacher or parent). And we had a strict vetting and interview process.
On August 1st, 2017 a legislative change came into effect which removed the ‘supervisor clause’ in the Working With Children Act (2005). This means that no longer is it enough, according to the legislation, for our actors to be ‘supervised’ by teachers and/or our Company Manager. As such, we have updated our policy to require all Alpha Shows Cast Members to obtain their WWCC prior to starting their tour into schools or at other venues with children.
Our existence as a company, and ongoing culture as a whole, is driven by a passion for the empowerment and protection of children. Any issues that arise in our relationship with customers or the children in their care is encouraged to be discussed openly, and any concerns will be dealt with promptly and professionally.
Any situation where a child is feeling unsafe or at risk they are encouraged by our staff in all communications to seek help and to report the incident/s to someone they trust. Indeed, the messages of our shows encourage children to be truthful and have courage to speak out for things they know to be wrong.
If you have a question about our Child Safe Policies, please email ben@alphashows.com.au or call 03 9999 6060. Alternatively, you can also contact child.safe.schools@edumail.vic.gov.au
NOTES ON OUR HIRING PRACTICES AND DAY OF LOGISTICS:
Our hiring practices emphasise both talent as a professional actor–who may not generally be a ‘children’s performer’ and thus never considered obtaining their WWC–as well as psychological health, in order for appropriate casting of actors that support these goals for Child Safety and the highest quality theatre show we can provide. As part of our hiring policy we now also include the requirement for a WWCC. If you do require copies of these WWCC, please ask for them in advance of your show, as we will not have time on the day to present them. Alpha has strict policies as part of the conditions of booking that are available on all statements prior to booking a show, that it may not be possible to be present for in-person sign ins by all of our staff–either due to early start times before the office is open or a time restraint where we wouldn’t be able to be ready in time for the show if we had to all sign in at the front desk. By receiving copies of WWCC (or the application number if the card has not been received yet by the Department of Human Services) you can use that information to create sign in records for our staff so that they are free to begin the complicated set up of our show that takes 90+ minutes.
