Children’s safety, health, wellbeing, rights and best interests are paramount. In early childhood education educators play a crucial role in providing a child safe environment, protecting children from harm, abuse and neglect, and responding to and reporting incidents, suspected incidents and concerns.
The Child Safe Scheme commenced in NSW in February 2022. This Scheme requires services to implement the Child Safe Standards recommended by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, to better prevent and respond to child abuse.
The Child Safe Standards provide a framework for enhancing the safety of children in services. They consist of 10 Standards designed to drive cultural change in improving and maintaining child safe practices. The Children's Preschool aligns their practice with the requirements of the Child Safe Standards and use the Standards through their systems, policies and processes.
The 10 Child Safe Standards are:
Child safety is embedded in organisational leadership, governance and culture
Children participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously
Families and communities are informed and involved
Equity is upheld and diverse needs are taken into account
People working with children are suitable and supported
Processes to respond to complaints of child abuse are child-focused
Staff are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children safe through continual education and training
Physical and online environments minimise the opportunity for abuse to occur
Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is continuously reviewed and improved
Policies and procedures document how the organisation is child safe.
If you think the child or young person is in immediate danger, phone 000 immediately.
Child Protection Help line 132111
The Childrens Preschool service educators are Mandatory Reporters for children at risk of significant harm. Anyone can make a report to the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) a person needs to have formed a reasonable belief that a child has suffered or is likely to suffersignificant harmas a result of abuse or neglect.
This following links is to assist you in making an eReport about a child or young person’s safety to the NSW Child Protection Helpline and Child Wellbeing Units (CWU).
