How to Tell if Your Child’s Early Learning Service is a Child Safe Organisation

As parents and carers, the most important question we ask when choosing an early learning service is: “Will my child be safe here?”

Child safety isn’t just about having policies on paper—it’s about the culture, leadership, and day-to-day practices of a service.

A truly child safe organisation puts children first in every decision, creates a safe environment for them to thrive, and ensures families feel confident and included.

Here’s what you should look for to know if your child’s service is genuinely child safe.

• Leadership That Puts Children First

  Safe organisations are led by people who champion child safety every day. Leaders:

  • Talk openly about the importance of keeping children safe.

  • Make sure staff know what’s expected of them.

  • Take reports and concerns seriously, acting quickly and fairly.

  • Role model respectful and protective behaviour.

  If you see leaders prioritising reputation over safety, dismissing concerns, or avoiding accountability, these are red flags

• Children Are Heard and Taken Seriously

  Children should feel safe to share their thoughts and know they’ll be listened to. Look for services where:

  • Educators ask children for their opinions and involve them in decisions.

  • Children know who they can talk to if they feel unsafe.

  • The environment encourages children to express themselves and build strong friendships

• Families and Communities Are Involved

  A child safe service works in partnership with families. Signs of this include:

  • Open, two-way communication between educators and families.

  • Clear, accessible policies that parents can view.

  • Opportunities for families to give feedback and be part of decision-making.

  • Updates provided to families if concerns or complaints arise

• Staff Are Suitable, Supported and Trained

  Safe services carefully recruit, screen, and support their staff. You should expect to see that:

  • All staff have a valid Working With Children Check, plus reference checks.

  • Staff complete child safe training and understand their reporting obligations.

  • Educators are regularly supervised and supported to maintain safe practices

• Clear Processes for Complaints

  Children and families should know exactly what to do if something goes wrong. In a child safe service:

  • There’s a clear complaints process that is explained to parents and children.

  • Children are encouraged to speak up without fear of getting in trouble.

  • Concerns are acted on promptly, fairly, and confidentially

• Safe Physical and Online Environments

  A safe environment reduces opportunities for harm. This includes:

  • Classrooms and play areas that are visible and supervised.

  • Guidelines for safe use of technology and online platforms.

  • Ongoing education for children, staff, and families about online safety

• A Culture of Continuous Improvement

  Child safety is not “set and forget.” Safe services regularly review and improve their practices. This looks like:

  • Child safe policies and codes of conduct that are easy to access.

  • Ongoing reviews of safety practices after incidents or complaints.

  • Services asking families and children for feedback on how safe they feel

• Questions You Can Ask Your Service

  • How do you ensure children’s voices are heard?

  • How are families involved in decision-making?

  • What training do your staff receive around child safety?

  • How do you handle complaints or concerns about child safety?

  • Where can I access your Child Safe Policy and Code of Conduct?

A child safe early learning service is one where children feel safe, respected and included, and where families are valued as partners. If your service demonstrates openness, accountability, and a strong commitment to child safety, you can feel more confident that your child is in safe hands.