A community petition has been launched to overturn a decision by Yarra Ranges Council to stop a popular local school crossing guard from high-fiving young students on their way to and from school.
The Council says it has received a complaint from a parent at Mount Dandenong Primary School about crossing supervisor, John Goulden (pictured), giving high-fives to children as they are being driven past him on Farndons Road, Mount Dandenong.
Mr Goulden is well-known in the local area after he was named ‘Region 4 School Crossing Supervisor of the Year’ just last month at the School Crossing Victoria Awards for his “outstanding contributions to community safety”.
In a statement, the Council said the safety of children was of paramount importance for all Council staff, contractors and volunteers.
“If the high-five is undertaken in accordance with Council’s Code of Conduct, considering the safety and supervision of all children on the crossing, the traffic on the road and is initiated by the child, then they are not universally banned,” the Council stated.
It said Council’s internal policies and the Victorian Standards state that unacceptable behaviours include:
- Exhibiting behaviours with children and young people which may be construed as unnecessarily physical;
- Initiating unnecessary physical contact with children or young people.
“Council has reminded the contractor who is currently supervising children at the Mount Dandenong Primary School of expectations of the role regarding interactions with children,” the Council said.
A community petition is calling on Council to reverse the decision.
