Child Safe...

You may be looking at this resource because you have concerns about a child's safety or you may be looking to prepare and build the capacity of your team for a 'big situation' that may occur.

Sensitive content warning:

This resource supports educators to respond when they are concerned a child has been, or is at risk of being harmed. Talking about the maltreatment of children can be distressing. Please take care while reading, and if you think you would benefit from some support, please call Lifeline 131 114 or 1800 RESPECT – 1800 737 732 for 24-hour information and support.

Before you do anything... safety comes first

If you have immediate concerns for a child's safety...

• Keep everyone safe. Avoid injuries or harm by making your site physically safe and keeping things as calm as possible.
• Follow the directions of emergency services.
• Follow regulatory requirements and implement relevant policies, including informing management, and your Regulatory Authority where needed e.g. critical incident or service closure. This includes raising and reporting child safety concerns following mandatory reporting requirements. See Information for educators below.
• Be ready to say no if people ask you to do things that are outside your scope or that could be harmful for children and calmly explain why.
• Seek or ask for help as needed.

To access further tips for responding right now, click here.

Concerns relating to a child's safety or wellbeing in the home or in the service arise in response to things educators observe and hear when working with children and families.

If educators are concerned that a child is at risk of harm, their immediate responsibility is to keep children safe and provide reassurance. As mandatory reporters, educators must follow relevant jurisdictional reporting guidelines. For information to support you, see Information for educators section below.

Educators may also have an ongoing role in supporting children and their families.

This resource aims to support educators to include all children while responding to, and supporting recovery from, events that impact on the lives of children, families, and communities. This is not about educators needing to know everything, or feeling pressured to resolve or fix big situations. This resource is designed to be a starting point to quickly connect educators with the targeted support and resources they need to keep going with their important work with children and families when big situations happen.

An Inclusion Professional can support educators to proactively prepare to have the skills and confidence to respond to big situations that may occur. This preparation could include support to use this resource and may involve strategic inclusion planning. It should be noted that big situations often require support from experts that sit outside the role and expertise of the Inclusion Professional. Inclusion Professionals can help educators connect with external organisations and agencies as needed. If educators feel prepared to respond to big situations, they are more able to remain inclusive of all children and continue to deliver a quality program.

Maintain routines and rhythms

Children benefit from consistency. You can help them feel safe by continuing to do things the way you usually would. Acknowledge events and how children feel, but also provide the usual play opportunities and experiences.

Encourage connections and conversations

Children process experiences through play and interactions with people they trust. Children will connect through play, and conversations about big situations may happen as they play. Adults may need more encouragement and structure, so create opportunities for this where you can, or encourage families and your team members to access community supports and networks where relevant. People especially benefit from support from those they already know and trust.

Link to specialist services when necessary

In a crisis, practical help (e.g. housing, food, finances) is usually what is needed first. Not everyone needs counselling or psychological assistance. Be aware of people who are distressed, especially those whose distress continues over time, as they may need specialist help.

Take care of yourself

Big situations often bring up big feelings, at the time and also afterwards. Helping others can be demanding and tiring. Being part of a supportive team can really help. Sometimes it helps to set priorities and accept that you can’t do what you would usually do. Accessing professional support (such as Employee Assistance Program) can help especially if an incident brings up feelings from your own past, or you feel uncertain, overwhelmed or burdened by your role in the situation.

Next time

After responding to a child safety situation, it’s helpful to review how you and your team have coped. If you want to be better prepared in the future, you might like to access information about ChildStory Reporter Community - Mandatory reporting in NSW (NSW Department of Communities and Justice), or Child protection - Mandatory reporting in ACT (ACT Government Community Services). Additional resources to support you may include the Community Trauma Tool Kit (Emerging Minds) and/or sign up for National Mental Health Education Initiative (Be You) to help you develop a positive, inclusive and resilient learning community. You can also seek support to plan for the future by contacting your Inclusion Professional or contact us to send us an email.

• As a mandatory reporter, are you aware of your responsibilities and regulatory requirements in relation to child safety? What supports and professional development would be helpful to your team?

• As a mandatory reporter, how confident do you feel responding to child safety concerns? What supports or professional development would be helpful to you and your team, in relation to different forms of abuse and grooming behaviours?

• Considering the diverse ages and needs of all children at your service:
  • How could you teach protective behaviours to all children?
  • How can you promote understanding of child safety issues, responsibilities and protective behaviour with families and your local community?
• What do you do to cope with distressing situations that might happen in the course of your work?
• How can policies and procedures support your responses and planning? Do you need to develop or review any policies or procedures?

• Below is a range of resources that may support you to respond to or be prepared for responding to child safety concerns

Information for educators

• ChildStory Reporter Community - Mandatory reporting in NSW - Information to assist mandatory reporters to understand their reporting responsibilities and making an eReport about a child or young persons safety to the NSW Child Protection Helpline (NSW Department of Communities and Justice)

• Child protection - Mandatory reporting in ACT - Information to assist mandatory reporters to understand their reporting responsibilities (ACT Government Community Services)

• ACT Report child abuse or neglect (ACT Government Community Services)

• Responding to incidents, disclosures and suspicions of child abuse (NSW Department of Education)

• Responding to children and young people's disclosures of abuse poster (Australian Institute of Family Studies)
• eLearning for educators in ECEC in NSW - Child safety modules for Centre based, Outside School hours and Family Day Care services. Educators will need to register in order to access these free learning modules (NSW Office of the Children's Guardian)
• Child protection training for educators in ACT (ACT Government Community Services)
• Family Connect and Support (NSW Department of Communities and Justice)
• NSW Reportable conduct factsheets (NSW Office of the Children's Guardian)
• ACT Reportable Conduct (ACT Ombudsman)

• Implementing Child Safe Standards (NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian)

• ACT Child Safe Standards Scheme (ACT Human Rights Commission)

• Multilingual resources - translated information about the Standards (NSW Office of the Children's Guardian)

• Child safe handbooks - comprehensive resources that will support your implementation of the Child Safe Standards (NSW Office of the Children's Guardian)

• SAFE Series - Protective behaviour program to teach children under 6 years to stay safe (NSW Office of the Children's Guardian)

• Implementing the Child Safe Standards A guide for early childhood education and outside school hours care services (NSW Department of Education)

Finding help for families in NSW

• Family Connect and Support

Find the local non-government agency funded to connect families needing support with the right agency. Educators can refer a family or receive advice about how to connect them with help. (Formerly known as the Family Referral service).

• Parentline NSW

Phone support and counselling for parents of children 0-18 years living in NSW. Open 9am-9pm weekdays and 4pm-9pm weekends. 1300 1300 52.

• Resourcing Parents

Where to find parenting programs in NSW, and information to help identify the most appropriate program to meet a family’s needs.

Finding help for families in ACT

• ACT Care and Support Services - ACT directory

For families in the ACT to find relevant information and to connect families with support agencies they may need.

• Parentline ACT

Phone counselling, support and referral for parents, Open weekdays 9am-4pm. (02) 6287 3833.

Information for families

• Family Connect and Support (NSW Department of Communities and Justice)
• NAPCAN: Prevent Abuse and Neglect brochures for families and carers
• Responding to disclosures of abuse (Kids Helpline)
• Triple P Parenting course Happier, healthier, less stressed kids and families
• Supporting the community - Child Abuse Prevention Service
• Child safe early childhood education and care services - Factsheet explains what a safe early childhood service looks like (NSW Department of Education)
• Child safe guide for parents and carers - includes a checklist for parents and carers to consider when choosing and ECEC service (NSW Department of Education)
• Information for parents and carers (ACT Human Rights Commission)

Children's books relating to this big situation

• Only for Me by Michelle Derrig
• Everyone’s got a bottom by Tess Rowley
• Body Boundaries Make Me Stronger by Elizabeth Cole
• Where Hands Go the Power of No by Krystaelynne Sanders Diggs
• My Body Belongs to Me From My Head to My Toes by Dagmar Geisler
• Some Secrets Should Never Be Kept by Jayneen Sanders
• My Body, My Rules by Nicki Esler Gill & Dasha Riley

Tip: Look for these books on YouTube if you want to view them before purchasing.

• ChildStory Reporter Community - Mandatory reporting in NSW (NSW Department of Communities and Justice)

Information to assist mandatory reporters to understand their reporting responsibilities and making an eReport about a child or young persons safety to the NSW Child Protection Helpline

• Child protection - Mandatory reporting in ACT (ACT Government Community Services)

Information to assist mandatory reporters to understand their reporting responsibilities

• ACT Report child abuse or neglect (ACT Government Community Services)

Information to assist mandatory reporters to report suspected abuse or neglect

• NSW Reportable conduct factsheets (NSW Office of the Children's Guardian)

Information and guides to help organisations covered by the Reportable Conduct Scheme in NSW

• ACT Reportable Conduct (ACT Ombudsman)

Information and guides to help organisations covered by the Reportable Conduct Scheme in ACT

• Education and Care Service National Law Act 2010

• National Mental Health Education Initiative (Be You)

Access professional learning modules for educators, or to get the most benefit from Be You, sign up your service to create a learning community and access a Be You consultant from Early Childhood Australia.

• Community Trauma Toolkit for Educators (Emerging Minds)

Access short courses and resources to help educators support children following a disaster or community trauma.

Disclaimer:

Links within this website provide a starting point for accessing support and resources and are not exhaustive. If you have any feedback on this resource please contact us.