The content of this article was updated on 28 August 2024.

Quality Area 3 of the National Quality Standard (NQS) sets a benchmark for what early childhood education and care (ECEC) services should do to ensure children’s safety in physical environments. There is some alignment between Quality Area 3 and the Child Safe Standards, which provide a framework for enhancing the safety of children in child-related organisations.

Links between the Standards

Child Safe Standard 2 and Standard 3.1 – Design

Physical environments should be designed and set up to facilitate good relationships between educators and children. Strong relationships, where children trust educators, empower children to speak up if they ever feel unsafe or are harmed.

Child Safe Standard 8 and Element 3.1.1 – Fit for purpose

Ensuring that physical environments support supervision is key to both Standards. Lines of sight to educator and child interactions, as well as child-to-child interactions, should be clear.

Good supervision practices, together with a sound knowledge of your Child Safe Code of Conduct and reporting obligations (Child Safe Standard 6, 7 and 10), help create a child safe culture where harm and abuse is prevented, responded to and reported.

Child Safe Standards 2 and 4, and Element 3.2.1 – Inclusive environment

A child safe perspective focuses on accessibility and inclusivity as a way of reducing risks of harm and abuse. Children should feel welcome and culturally safe in the service.

Digital technology and the environment

If children are accessing digital devices while at your service, you should ensure the physical and online environments support appropriate use and supervision of children when they are online. While there are many benefits to online learning, there are also risks, which vary across different service types and the way devices are used.

To help you manage these risks, here are some questions to consider in your service:

• Are devices used appropriately and safely within the environment?
• Is there adequate supervision when digital devices are used?
• Are child safe practices in place to ensure appropriate access? For example, do children have access to education apps only and are security measures or limitations on internet viewing in place?
• What support is provided to children about online safety? How do you communicate with families about your digital device practices?
• Within outside school hours care (OSHC) services, do you have procedures around children’s use of personal devices? How is the use and posting of material managed at your service?

Other online considerations include:

• how information is stored online and the security of apps used to communicate with families
• how and when CCTV is used
• how to monitor online channels, such as WhatsApp groups.

ACECQA has developed a new voluntary National Model Code and Guidelines to promote a child safe culture when it comes to taking, sharing and storing images or videos of children. The Code applies to centre-based services that provide education and care for children aged 0-5 years. Although not directly applying to OSHC, these services are encouraged to apply the Code to their service context as appropriate. Resources, including an explainer video and posters, are available on the ACECQA website to support your service to engage with the Model Code.

eSafety Commissioner resources

The eSafety Commissioner website has a range of resources to educate children, educators and parents on how to keep children safe online, including:

• eSafety Early Years program for educators
• eSafety Early Years professional learning
• The eSafety Champions Network
• Parent resources.

OSHC services can also use resources for schools, such as:

• the eSafety Commissioner’s Toolkit for Schools, which includes checklists and resources to assess and manage online risks
• Classroom resources to educate school-aged children about online risks in age-appropriate ways.

More information

Visit the Office of the Children’s Guardian website or email childsafe@ocg.nsw.gov.au for support and guidance on the Child Safe Standards.

Tools and resources

OCG

• Child Safe Self-Assessment
• Training and resources

ACECQA

• Policy guidelines for providing a child safe environment information sheet (PDF 217 KB)
• National Model Code for Early Childhood Education and Care (PDF 94.8 KB)
• Guidelines for the National Model Code (PDF 168 KB)

NSW Department of Education

• Providing a child safe environment
• Compliance focus – harm and hazards in the physical environment
• Tips to meet Standard 2.2: protecting children through effective supervision and emergency management