4U FOUNDATION

Our Purpose

4U Foundation is committed to strengthening community by empowering young people, improving the health and well-being of people of all ages and inspiring action in and across communities

We believe that everyone – no matter who they are or where they’re from – deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential. Everything 4U Foundation does is in service of ensuring people and communities thrive.

Our purpose fuels our commitment to promoting safe, positive and inclusive environments for all. 4U Foundation supports all people – of every race, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, ability, socio-economic status, and religion – in reaching their full potential

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Our Values

Our core values guide us to achieving our purpose, giving people of all ages, backgrounds and walks of life the opportunity to reach their full potential with dignity.

We hold ourselves accountable to these core values because they guide our behavior, decisions, and actions toward a future where good health, opportunity and safety is within reach for everyone.

Integrity

• We strive to be honest, open, ethical and fair, sharing what we achieve, and admitting when we fail

• We do the right thing even when it is difficult

Collaboration

• We create strong partnerships through open communication, mutual respect and trust

• We value joint effort and step up to provide leadership when needed, partnering across teams, industry, community and borders

Innovation

• We commit to continuous improvement and are responsive to individuals through creative solutions

• We have the courage and resolve test new ideas, challenge the status quo, and apply what we learn

Equity

• We strive to eliminate the obstacles created by our (society) conscious and unconscious biases and correct injustices prioritising diversity, equity, and inclusion in everything we do, celebrating the difference in our identities and life experiences. Human diversity is beautiful and powerful

• We treat all people and organisations with dignity, compassion, humility and appreciation

Impact

• We prioritise solutions to the most significant issues in the communities of the greatest need no matter how difficult and hard it is, so those we serve are empowered to overcome their challenges

• We build local capacity and programs that last – going after symptoms is temporary. Going after causes is permanent. Evidence, research, metrics and evaluation inform our choices

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Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion:

4U Foundation creates a culture where diversity of people, thought and experience is celebrated, and everyone is seen and welcomed equally.

4U Foundation is cultivating a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment where:

• Everyone connected with us is free and safe to be who they are, so that we all succeed and thrive.

• Our donors and external partners aspire to experience a deep sense of pride and belonging in our shared commitment to excellence and social responsibility.

• Our  programs increasingly centre diversity and inclusion in our daily work.

• The people of the communities where we work experience concrete evidence of our commitment to these principles in our practices as we work together.

Because we need each other.

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Our commitment to safety and wellbeing of children and young people

4U Foundation is committed to protecting and enhancing the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people engaged in our services and activities, and in our physical and online environments. All children and young people are valued, we actively create opportunities for their voices to be heard and take action to prevent, and safeguard them from future, abuse, harm, and neglect.

We respond to all safety concerns for children and young people identified through disclosures, allegations, or suspicions of harm including if the safety concern is a direct result of engagement with us. Staff, volunteers, and contractors are supported to adhere to our robust policies and procedures, to ensure a timely and thorough response to safety concerns and to protect children and young people from future harm.

4U Foundation will continue to invest in a culture that prioritises the safeguarding of all children and young people, through appropriate resourcing, seeking the advice and support of relevant stakeholders, prioritising transparency and a continuous learning environment and ensuring adherence and alignment to relevant legislation and best-practice related to child and youth safety.

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Child Safe Organisation – National Principles

The safety and wellbeing of children and young people is placed at the centre of our values and actions. 4U Foundation adheres to and is guided by the 10 National Principles for Child Safe Organisations, developed by the Human Rights Commission from the findings of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

The National Principles underpin the processes and procedures that aim to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children and young people across all areas of the organisation’s work. View Child Safety National Principles.

Child Safe Youth Safe Framework

Our Child Safe Youth Safe Framework is approved and supported by the 4U Foundation Board, Chief Executive Officer and staff. The Child Safe Youth Safe Framework outlines the strategies and actions 4U Foundation will take to provide safe environments for children, young people and their families.

The Framework ensures our commitment to child and youth safety through:

• Creating environments and services where the safety and wellbeing of children and young people is at the centre of our values and decision-making

• Genuinely valuing and engaging with, the voices of children and young people, their families and communities

• Having robust recruiting practices to ensure compliance with legislation and practice consistent with the National Principles, including a Child Safe Youth Safe Code of Conduct

• Compulsory training for all 4U Foundation workers to increase knowledge of abuse, neglect and harm and how to respond to these concerns, disclosures, and allegations, relevant to their role

• Having an accessible and responsive complaints process, including one that is accessible and understood by children, young people, people with a CALD background, people and people with literacy barriers

• A commitment to continuously reviewing and improving our systems to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children and young people across our organisation.

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Complaints and Concerns

4U Foundation welcomes feedback from clients about their experience with our services. Your feedback helps us to improve. We will take all feedback, complaints and concerns seriously and respond promptly. We are committed to supporting the community with an ongoing responsibility for continual improvement. Should you have any concerns about the safety of a child, please contact via email childsafe@4ufoundation.org.au.

In the spirit of reconciliation, 4U Foundation Ltd acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea, and community. We pay our respect to their ancestors and Elders; past, present and emerging and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across the nation.