MEMBERS PARTICIPATION
Each Member is required to:
Duty Roster
Each toy library session requires at least one committee member and one member on duty.
All members are expected to complete two duty sessions per year.
If you are unable to attend your scheduled rostered duty, please email the committee as soon as possible so we can try to arrange a replacement and avoid the possibility of having to close the session. -> Leopoldtoylibrary@yahoo.com.au
We understand that Saturday sports and other commitments can make availability tricky — the committee are navigating this too! If you can’t make your rostered duty, please email the committee as soon as possible so we can try to find a replacement and avoid closing the session.
Duty can be completed by any family member, including extended family. We often have grandparents, aunts, uncles, and others lending a hand. You're also welcome to bring your kids along to play while you help — it’s a great way to explore the toy library and connect with the community!
Break from Duty
If you are expecting a baby please advise the committee so you can be rostered off duty and activities for a period of 6 months.
BORROWING CONDITIONS
Loan Period
Toys are borrowed for 2 weeks, with 1 weeks grace.
Borrowing limits
Familys are limited to 8 toys in total, 2 big toys and 6 small toys.
Overdue Fees
Overdue toys may incur a $1.00 per week per toy fine after 3 weeks. To avoid overdue fees please ask to extend the loan of your toys.
All toys should be catalogued, marked with the identification number, name of toy and number of pieces.
Missing and Damaged Toys
Upon borrowing if you notice a piece from the toy missing, please notify a committee member on its return.
We understand that pieces can go missing. We ask that you please notify a committee member on duty and make every effort to locate the piece. The committee can renew the toy for you to keep while you search for the missing piece.
Toy care and responsibility
In the rare case where toys are clearly misused or damaged, the committee will assess and decide on any replacement or repair costs. However, it’s important to let us know if a toy is already damaged or missing pieces when you borrow it.
That said — please don’t stress! In the last three years on committee, we haven’t had a single case where this has been an issue. We know missing pieces can be a worry for families, but it shouldn't take away from the fun and value of your toy library experience.
Returning toys
Ending Membership
Membership may be withdrawn for not complying with these rules of operation and is at the discretion of the committee and is not negotiable.
If a member wishes to resign from the Leopold Toy Library during the paid year, refunds will not be provided however any requests will be considered on a case by case basis and is at the discretion of the committee.
Other condition of membership
As a member of the Leopold Toy Library I accept responsibility for any injury sustained to myself and/or others whilst using toys belonging to the Leopold Toy Library. I agree to abide by the Leopold Toy Library's Rules of Operation, participate in rostered duties and return toys in a clean condition. I agree to have my contact number available to other members on the roster. I also understand that I may be fined if toys are lost, returned with pieces missing, have been wilfully damaged or are long term overdue.
Appendix 4
LEOPOLD TOY LIBRARY - Waiver, release and indemnity for bicycles and scooters
The LEOPOLD TOY LIBRARY ("Provider") is pleased to make bicycles and scooters available to subscribers ("the Service").
As a subscriber to the Service you acknowledge that there are dangers and risks inherent with bicycle and scooter riding (the “Activity”) to which any child under your supervision ("Your Child") may be exposed.
The Provider does not provide protective clothing or bicycle helmets and it is your responsibility to ensure that Your Child wears a helmet at all times and is otherwise appropriately attired when participating in the Activity. You agree that Your Child will participate in the Activity at your own risk. You also agree to voluntarily assume responsibility for supervising the Activity and any injury, death or property damage you or Your Child may suffer or cause as a result of participating in the Activity.
To the maximum extent possible at law, you (both in your personal capacity and on behalf of Your Child) agree to release, hold harmless and indemnify the Provider and its respective officers, employees, servants, agents and contractors (the “Indemnified Persons”) against all actions, claims, suits, costs, expenses, demands and damages suffered or incurred by the Indemnified Persons or any one or more of them by reason of, or in respect of, or in any manner whatsoever arising out of, or caused by, your use of the Service or Your Child's participation in the Activity.
You agree that you are subscribing to the Service on the express condition that the Provider:[Text Wrapping Break](a) will, under no circumstances be liable or responsible in any manner whatsoever for any death, loss, accident, damage or injury to you, Your Child or any of your servants, agents, contractors, visitors or invitees or any other person whatsoever (“Related Party”) which may happen as a result of your use of the Service or Your Child participating in the Activity; and[Text Wrapping Break](b) will not incur or be under any liability whatsoever to you, Your Child, or to any Related Party for any loss, damage or injury to or in respect of any of your property or of any Related Party’s property.
The Provider is not liable to you, Your Child or any Related Party in respect of any indirect or consequential loss. For the avoidance of doubt, ‘consequential loss’ means loss or damage arising from a breach of contract, tort (including negligence), under statute or any other basis in law or equity of an indirect or consequential nature including, but without limitation, loss of profits, loss of revenue, loss or denial of opportunity, loss of goodwill, loss of business reputation, future reputation or publicity, damage to credit rating and indirect, remote, abnormal or unforeseeable loss, or any similar loss whether or not in the reasonable contemplation of the parties.
Our organisation is committed to child safety.
We want children to be safe, happy, and empowered. We support and respect all children, as well as our staff and volunteers.
We are committed to the safety of all children.
We have zero tolerance of child abuse, and all allegations and safety concerns will be treated very seriously and consistently with our robust policies and procedures.
We have legal and moral obligations to contact authorities when we are worried about a child’s safety, which we follow rigorously.
Our organisation has robust recruitment practices for all staff and volunteers.
We have policies, procedures and education in place that support our staff and volunteers to achieve these commitments.
If you believe a child is at immediate risk of abuse phone 000.
Our staff and volunteers
This policy guides our staff and volunteers on how to behave with children in our organisation.
Children should never be left unsupervised in the care of toy library staff or volunteers. Parents/guardians should always supervise their children at the toy library. Wherever feasible toy libraries should implement the ‘two-person rule’ – ensuring there are two people present when the toy library is open.
All our staff and volunteers must agree to abide by our code of conduct, which specifies the standards of conduct required when working with children.
Our organisational culture aims for all staff and volunteers to feel confident and comfortable in discussing any allegations of child abuse or child safety concerns. Education is important to ensure that everyone in our organisation understands that child safety is everyone’s responsibility. All staff receives training on our code of conduct.
Any inappropriate behaviour will be reported through appropriate channels, including the relevant government department or police, depending on the severity and urgency of the matter.
Training and supervision
Training and education are important to ensure that everyone in our organisation understands that child safety is everyone’s responsibility.
Our organisational culture aims for all staff and volunteers (in addition to parents/carers and children) to feel confident and comfortable in discussing any allegations of child abuse or child safety concerns. We train our staff to identify, assess, and minimise risks of child abuse and to detect potential signs of child abuse.
New employees and volunteers will be supervised regularly to ensure they understand our organisation’s commitment to child safety and that everyone has a role to play in protecting children from abuse, as well as checking that their behaviour towards children is safe and appropriate (please refer to this organisation’s code of conduct to understand appropriate behaviour further). Any inappropriate behaviour will be reported through appropriate channels, including the relevant government department or police depending on the severity and urgency of the matter.
Recruitment
We take all reasonable steps to employ appropriately skilled people to work with our members. We develop selection criteria that clearly demonstrate our commitment to child safety and an awareness of our social and legislative responsibilities.
We carry out reference checks and working with children checks for any paid staff members to ensure that we are recruiting the right people. Please see [enter state link www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/ https://workingwithchildren.wa.gov.au/] for further information
Fair procedures for personnel
The safety and wellbeing of members is our primary concern. We are also fair and just to personnel. The decisions we make when recruiting, assessing incidents, and undertaking disciplinary action will always be thorough, transparent, and based on evidence.
We record all allegations of abuse and safety concerns using our incident reporting form, including investigation updates. All records are securely stored.
If an allegation of abuse or a safety concern is raised, we provide updates to children and families on progress and any actions we as an organisation take.
Privacy
All personal information considered or recorded will respect the privacy of the individuals involved, whether they are staff, volunteers, parents, or children, unless there is a risk to someone’s safety. Wehave safeguards and practices in place to ensure any personal information is protected. Everyone is entitled to know how this information is recorded, what will be done with it, and who will have access to it.
Legislative responsibilities
Our organisation takes our legal responsibilities seriously, including:
Risk management
Organisations are required to protect children when a risk is identified (see information about failure
to protect above). In addition to general occupational health and safety risks, we proactively manage
risks of abuse to our children.
We have risk management strategies in place to identify, assess, and take steps to minimise child
abuse risks, which include risks posed by physical environments (for example, any doors that can
lock), and online environments (for example, no staff or volunteer is to have contact with a child in
the organisation on social media).
Regular review
This policy will be reviewed every two years and following significant incidents if they occur. We will ensure that families and children can contribute to the review. Where possible we do our best to work with local Aboriginal communities, culturally and/or linguistically diverse communities and people with a disability.
Allegations, concerns, and complaints
Our organisation takes all allegations seriously and has practices in place to investigate thoroughly and quickly.
We work to ensure all families, staff and volunteers know what to do and who to tell if they observe abuse or are a victim, and if they notice inappropriate behaviour.
We all have a responsibility to report an allegation of abuse if we have a reasonable belief that an incident took place (see information about failure to disclose above).
If an adult has a reasonable belief that an incident has occurred, then they must report the incident.
Factors contributing to reasonable belief may be:
(Last revised: April 2022)
Our approach to child safety
In continuing to implement and promote a child-safe system of work, we will:
LEOPOLD TOY LIBRARY
KATRINA BERG (secretary)
5/9/2026
All staff, contractors and volunteers are responsible for the safety and wellbeing of children and young people who engage with our organisation. All staff, contractors and volunteers are expected to act in accordance with our Code of Conduct in their physical and online interactions with children and young people under the age of 18 years.
The Wagin Toy Library committee of management has ultimate responsibility for the detection and prevention of child abuse and is responsible for ensuring that appropriate and effective internal control systems are in place. The committee of management is also responsible for ensuring that appropriate policies and procedures and a Code of Conduct are in place.
The President is responsible for:
All committee of management must ensure that they:
Session leaders should be familiar with the types of abuse that might occur within a toy library environment and be alert for any indications of such conduct.
All staff, volunteers and contractors share responsibility for the prevention and detection of child abuse, and must:
Child means a child or young person who is under the age of 18 years.
Child protection means any responsibility, measure or activity undertaken to safeguard children from harm.
Child abuse means
Child sexual assault is any act which exposes a child to, or involves a child in, sexual processes beyond his or her understanding or contrary to accepted community standards. Sexually abusive behaviours can include the fondling of genitals, masturbation, oral sex, vaginal or anal penetration by a penis, finger or any other object, fondling of breasts, voyeurism, exhibitionism, and exposing the child to or involving the child in pornography. It includes child grooming, which refers to actions deliberately undertaken with the aim of befriending and establishing an emotional connection with a child to lower the child’s inhibitions in preparation for sexual activity with the child.
Non-member volunteers are people volunteering at the toy library who are not members of the toy library.
Reasonable grounds for belief is a belief based on reasonable grounds (see below) that child abuse has occurred when all known considerations or facts relevant to the formation of a belief are taken into account and these are objectively assessed. Circumstances or considerations may include the source of the allegation and how it was communicated, the nature of and details of the allegation, and whether there are any other related matters known regarding the alleged perpetrator.
A reasonable belief is formed if a reasonable person believes that:
A “reasonable belief” or a “belief on reasonable grounds” is not the same as having proof, but it is more than mere rumour or speculation.
A “reasonable belief” is formed if a reasonable person in the same position would form the belief on the same grounds. For example, a “reasonable belief” might be formed if:
Session leaders are volunteers who run toy library opening sessions that involve supervising other volunteers.
Supervisor is a person overseeing the work of a staff member, volunteer or contractor. This could be a toy library manager, session leader or President depending on the individual’s role.
Toy librarian is anyone paid to work in a toy library.
Toy library manager is a senior toy librarian who has other staff reporting to them.
Children should never be left in the care of toy library staff or volunteers. Parents/guardians must always supervise their children at the toy library, so that two adults will be present when there are children (other than staff/volunteer’s own children) in the toy library.
Wagin Toy Library will ensure that child safety is a part of its overall risk management approach.
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Guidance note – WWCC for committees, non-member volunteers and session leaders: Requirements for and availability of Working with Children Checks (WWCC) vary by state. |
We do not require all eligible Committee of Management/Board members, non-member volunteers and session leaders to have Working with Children Check, however they must agree to our Code of Conduct.
Wagin Toy Library is committed to ensuring that staff, contractors and volunteers have access to appropriate induction and ongoing training in relation to their child safety responsibilities, including our child safety policies and procedures and the Code of Conduct.
Training will be available through Toy Libraries Australia for staff and volunteer leaders. This training will include how to identify, assess and minimise the risk of child abuse and detect potential signs of child abuse.
All staff, volunteers and contractors are responsible for reporting child safety concerns to their supervisor (e.g. toy library manager or session leader) or the President as soon as possible after receiving such information or forming a belief that a child is at risk.
In situations where the supervisor is suspected of involvement in the activity, or if the person having the suspicion does not believe that the matter is being appropriately addressed or dealt with, the matter should be reported to the President.
Supervisors must report complaints of suspected abusive behaviour or misconduct to the President.
If any staff member or contractor has a reasonable belief that reportable conduct may have occurred, then they must report the incident to the President directly and immediately.
If the incident potentially involves a criminal offence, the incident must also be reported to the local police station or by calling 000. Ensuring the President is notified as soon as reasonably practicable.
Reportable conduct includes the following incidents:
Where a law enforcement agency is seeking to investigate child safety concerns, staff members, contractors and volunteers must co-operate to the best of their ability.
Our President can be contacted by email at leopoldtoylibrary@yahoo.com.au
In the event that the suspected abusive behaviour or misconduct is by the President Toy Library Australia can be contacted by email at info@toylibraries.org.au.
If the appropriate child protection service or the police decide to investigate a report, all employees, contractors or volunteers must co-operate fully with the investigation.
Whether or not the authorities decide to conduct an investigation, the President will consult with the authorities to determine whether an internal investigation is appropriate. If it is decided that such an investigation will not conflict with any proceeding of the authorities, the President may decide to conduct such an investigation. All employees, contractors and volunteers must co-operate fully with the investigation.
Any such investigation will be conducted according to the rules of natural justice including the right to be heard, the right to be treated without bias, and a decision being based on relevant evidence.
The President will make every effort to keep any such investigation confidential; however, from time-to-time other staff and volunteers may need to be consulted in relation to the investigation.
After an initial review and a determination that the suspected abuse warrants additional investigation, the President shall coordinate the investigation with the appropriate investigators and law enforcement officials. Internal or external legal representatives will be involved in the process as deemed appropriate.
If it is alleged that staff member, contractor or volunteer may have committed an offence or breached the organisation’s policies or its Code of Conduct, the person concerned may be stood down (with pay, where applicable) while an investigation is conducted.
Standing down of a staff member, contractor or volunteer during an investigation does not imply that the individual has committed an offence or breached the organisation’s policies or its Code of Conduct and should not be considered as a disciplinary action.
If the investigation concludes that on the balance of probabilities an offence (or a breach of the organisation’s policies or Code of Conduct) has occurred then disciplinary action may follow, up to and including dismissal or cessation of involvement with the organisation.
Wagin Toy Library will respect the privacy of the individuals involved unless there is a risk to someone’s safety. We will have safeguards and practices in place to ensure that any personal information considered or recorded remains confidential. Information will be provided to relevant authorities in compliance with State, territory or federal law as required.
In accordance with privacy laws, everyone is entitled to know how the personal information will be recorded, what will or can be done with it, and who may be able to access it.
Every two years, and following every reportable incident, a review shall be conducted to assess whether the organisation’s child protection policies or procedures require modification to better protect the children under the organisation’s care.
This policy must be read in conjunction with:
Last reviewed: April 2025