Meet Richard: an award-winning safeguarding champion

Name: Richard Salyliss
Role: National Safeguarding Lead, Quality Education and Compliance
Location: Melbourne, JAG Head Office
Years with JAG: 1.5 years

Tell us about your journey, and what drew you to this role?

My introduction to safeguarding came early in my career, although I did not realise it at the time. I spent several years working at a summer camp in upstate New York supporting children and adults with a wide range of disabilities, from physical to complex cognitive needs, across all ages from 5 to 80. It was an incredibly rewarding environment, but also one that showed me how important the right training, communication and support systems are. Many staff were young and international, often with limited experience, and I learnt how quickly things could go wrong without the right structures in place. That was my first real exposure to safeguarding in practice.

In the off-season I worked in schools across the UK, including mainstream primary and secondary settings, specialist schools and alternative education environments in some of the most disadvantaged communities in southeast London. Those experiences were both challenging and eye-opening. For some children, school was the one place where they felt safe, supported and listened to. It also opened my eyes to impact we can make in the time we have kids in our care. I also spent time in a specialist primary setting in London supporting children with high and complex needs. It was an environment that required patience, care and teamwork every single day. While some situations were confronting, the connection you built with children and families was incredibly powerful, and it reinforced the impact that safe, consistent and compassionate care can have.

After moving to Australia, I shifted my career into Corrections Victoria, where I spent many years working maximum security prison across a range of roles, including youth units, mainstream population, child offenders, tactical operations and high-risk populations, and later in risk and compliance. I was fortunate to receive the National Service Medal of Australia for my service to corrections. That experience gave me a deep understanding of criminal behaviour & mindset, systems and how offenders can exploit gaps if they exist. It also strengthened my skills in investigations, incident management and organisational governance.

I later moved into a safeguarding and audit role with KPMG, where I worked with organisations across the country to assess their practices against regulatory standards. This is where I really refined my understanding of what good safeguarding looks like at an organisational level, and how culture, systems and leadership all play a part.

When I took time to reflect on my career, safeguarding was the clear thread throughout. I had seen the risks, but also the difference that strong systems and people can make when they are done well. I reflected on what safeguarding means in practice with special needs children, and vulnerable populations and where opportunities to stamp out abuse, neglect and behaviours of concern. That is when the National Safeguarding Lead role came up at JAG. It felt like a natural next step, bringing together my experience and giving me the chance to contribute to something that genuinely makes a difference in the lives of children, families and communities.

Can you explain your role and how it connects to the day-to-day experiences of children and families?

In a nutshell my role is an arm of the Risk, Quality and Compliance team. As the National Safeguarding Lead I’m here to ensure we have frameworks, mechanisms, systems, policies and procedures in place to keep children safe and free from harm and abuse.

I support our children and families by ensuring that the paramountcy principles are embedded, and that children are at the centre of what we do. I also support our team members with advice and guidance with child protection matters and safeguarding best practice.

I will also lead investigation if needed, and work with our external stakeholders in each state to make sure our investigations are transparent and not only align with legislation but also with the intent of the legislation. I may also liaise with parents and families to support them if any concerns arise. I also have regular catch ups with our international JAG partners in the UK, New Zealand and Ireland to discuss safeguarding matters and trends.

While much of this work happens behind the scenes, it directly shapes what children and families experience every day. When safeguarding is working well, services feel safe, consistent and supportive, and our teams feel confident in how they respond when something is not right.

What does a great day at work look like for you?

A great day of safeguarding is connecting with our JAG children and sharing their experiences (such as the Children’s Council) – listening to their ideas and experiences in their own voice and sharing that with other services around the country and watching the learnings grow, develop and snowball. Seeing the buy-in from children and staff at all levels is such a reward !!

What's a moment that made you feel proud to do this work?

Supporting the teams in NSW and Vic to bring the Children’s Council to life. To just be a part of the process and watching the leaders thrive and bring the kids from different services together and watching their meetings grow from strength to strength – for example the development of the new child’s voice safeguarding policy.

Also, centralising the Reportable Conduct Scheme notifications, investigations and continuous improvement has been personally satisfying – providing piece of mind that as an organisation we practice the paramountcy principle and ensure that the voice of our children are at the centre of what we do, and they are heard and respected during incidents. [Pictured above: Richard at Fleetwood OSHClub in Victoria facilitating child protection week activities]

What’s something people might not realise about the work that happens behind the scenes at JAG?

If we are doing our job well, most people will never see it.

Our role is to make sure teams on the ground have the tools, guidance and confidence they need. When that is in place, services run smoothly and families can focus on their children’s experience, knowing they are in safe hands.

There is a lot of thought, care and responsibility behind that, even if it is not always visible.

What’s something you’ve learned about yourself since stepping into this role at JAG?

Patience! And different ways to communicate the same message to reach the right ears. Words on a page can be boring and hard to get excited about. I found I really enjoy the face-to-face training, interacting with people and seeing in real time when the “the penny drops”.

And of course, also hearing the feel-good stories from children who feel heard, supported and safe.

Thank you, Richard, for everything you do to support our teams, families and children!

Learn more about JAGs safeguarding policies and commitments here: https://www.junioradventuresgroup.com/policies/au/safeguarding-children-and-young-people/

Or contact our Safeguarding Team at: safeguarding@junioradventuresgroup.com.au