31-Jul-25
Child Safe Standard 1 – Organisations establish a culturally safe environment in which the diverse and unique identities and experiences of Aboriginal children and young people are respected and valued
- Display Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander books, artwork, and flags as part of Child Safe
- Incorporate Aboriginal viewpoints (such as language and dreamtime stories) into the educational program
- Celebrate cultural events such as NAIDOC Week
- Talk to community organisations or local Aboriginal elders.
- Any instances of racism should be addressed and reported
Child Safe Standard 2 – Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in organisational leadership, governance and culture
- In the foyer, put up a Child Safe Statement of Commitment
- At team meetings and performance evaluations, talk about child safety on a regular basis
- Incorporate child safety into the strategic plan and service philosophy
- Make sure the Code of Conduct specifies appropriate conduct when working with children
- Incorporate risk management into daily procedures and policies to ensure the safety of children.
Child Safe Standard 3 – Children and young people are empowered about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously
- Children can learn about their right to feel safe through role-playing, puppetry, or books
- Children should be taught to say “no” and to tell an adult they can trust if they feel unsafe
- Give older children reflection journals or suggestion boxes
- Establish calm, secure areas where Children can talk to educators in private
- During conversations, give children’s thoughts and feelings validation
Child Safe Standard 4 – Families and communities are informed, and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing
- Include information about child safety in family welcome packs or newsletters
- Families should be invited to workshops or meetings on child safety issues
- In areas that are easily accessible, post complaint and feedback procedures
- Keep the lines of communication open so that families can voice their concerns
Child Safe Standard 5 – Equity is upheld and diverse needs respected in policy and practice
- When necessary, supply interpreters, translated materials, or visual aids
- Activities and routines should be modified to accommodate children with special needs
- When speaking with families and children, use inclusive language.
- In the program plan, honor the diversity of cultures and religions
Child Safe Standard 6 – People working with children and young people are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice
- Ask about child safety when conducting reference checks
- Verify that every employee has a current Working With Children Check
- Give comprehensive refresher training and an induction into child safety
- Regularly supervise and mentor employees to keep an eye on their performance
Child Safe Standard 7 – Processes for complaints and concerns are child focused
- Make picture charts or posters that demonstrate to children and how to ask for assistance
- Make sure every employee is aware of how to handle disclosures or complaints
- Give families a variety of ways to voice their opinions to encourage them to do so
- Respond quickly and maintain the privacy of complaint records
- Regularly go over complaint handling protocols with employees
Child Safe Standard 8 – Staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education and training
- Provide yearly training on child protection to all employees and volunteers
- Professional development plans should cover topics related to inclusion and cultural safety
- Conduct scenario discussions on how to handle harm during staff meetings
- As soon as the Commission releases new materials or updates, provide them
Child Safe Standard 9 – Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for children and young people to be harmed
- Verify the safety of both indoor and outdoor spaces every day
- Always keep an eye on, especially in high-risk areas like restrooms
- Communicate with families via secure channels (no personal social media)
- Establish explicit guidelines for taking and keeping pictures of children
Child Safe Standard 10 – Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is regularly reviewed and improved
- Check the efficacy and relevance of policies and procedures on a regular basis
- Examine incidents and complaints to find patterns or areas where practice is lacking
- Use surveys or feedback forms to get input from staff and families
- Present review results in newsletters or team meetings
- Document any modifications brought about by evaluations
Child safe standard 11 – Policies and procedures document how the organisation is safe for children and young people
- Make sure every policy covers all 11 of the Child Safe Standards
- When writing policies, use simple language and, if at all possible, include illustrations
- Provide policies on the service website and in foyer of the centre
- Engage communities, families, and employees in the creation of policies
- Incorporate policy talks into team meetings and new hire orientations.
At Suzan Johnston Australia, we are passionate about empowering our childcare course students and all early childhood educators to uphold the highest standards and best practices in early childhood education.
If you’re considering studying early childhood education — or looking to advance your career as an early childhood professional — we’d love to support you every step of the way. Contact us today on 03 9654 0999 to find out how we can help you get started.
Study early childhood and become an Early Childhood Educator — make a positive difference every day!
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