Protecting children from harm and abuse

The national and NSW child safety reforms provide stronger protections for children in early learning services and ensure their best interests are the paramount consideration in all decisions and actions.

Implementing child safe practices and understanding your reporting obligations helps prevent abuse and risk of harm to children and young people.

The 'Protecting children from harm and abuse practice guide' covers:

• child safe culture
• child safe induction and training
• Working with Children Check obligations
• active supervision
• managing risks
• positive and respectful relationships with children
• mandatory reporting.

Safe and suitable family day care environments

Child safe environment requirements must be implemented at all family day care services to reduce risks to the health and safety of children and young people.

The 'Safe and suitable family day care environments practice guide' covers:

• active supervision
• Working with Children Check obligations
• risk assessments
• water hazards
• environment and equipment checks
• policies and procedures
• online environments.

Safe sleep and rest

Safe sleep and rest requirements must be implemented by all service types to reduce any risks to the health and safety of children and young people.

The 'Safe sleep and rest practice guide' covers:

• risk assessments
• policies and procedures
• safe sleep and rest environments
• record keeping
• supervision
• physical checks.

Emergency preparedness

Understanding what emergency situations may arise at your service and how to reduce and manage risks will help you to respond calmly and effectively in the event of an emergency.

The 'Emergency preparedness practice guide' covers:

• evacuation diagrams and instructions
• risk assessments
• rehearsing emergency responses
• roles and responsibilities
• policies and procedures for services in multi-storey buildings.

Regular transportation of children

Effective risk management, supervision and record keeping are key to reducing the critical risks of harm to children during transportation.

The 'Regular transportation of children practice guide' covers:

• risk assessments
• checking authorisations
• policies and procedures
• record keeping
• child restraint laws
• the Look Before You Lock awareness program.

How to engage with the guides in your service

Service leaders

Service leaders should:

• consider incorporating the guides into induction processes for new staff
• share and discuss the guides at staff meetings
• support educators and teachers to reflect on policies, procedures and practice using the guides
• print the guides to display in appropriate places at your service, such as staff rooms or cot rooms.

Educators and teachers

Educators and teachers should:

• use the guides to refresh your knowledge in key practice areas
• refer to the guides as a quick reference point for new trainees and Certificate III students
• share the guides as a resource when mentoring new educators or teachers
• read the guides before participating in a related policy review.