Parents across Australia are understandably anxious about safety in early learning. The good news: there’s a robust (and recently strengthened) national system designed to protect children and there are concrete steps you can take to assess any centre before you enrol.
Below is a clear, research‑based guide to help you evaluate safety, ask the right questions, and know what to do if something doesn’t feel right.
What’s changed lately (2024–2025): the quick brief
- New child‑safety guidance and upcoming regulation changes under the National Quality Framework (NQF): Two new Child Safety Guides (Child Safe Culture and Online Safety) will help services prepare for changes commencing 1 September 2025.
- Tighter Working With Children Check (WWCC) rules (NSW): Stronger safeguards and centralised decision-making with the Office of the Children’s Guardian, plus a fee increase for paid employees from 1 July 2025.
- Device bans rolling out in centres (state‑led): States such as South Australia and Victoria are implementing strict bans on personal phones/devices for staff while on the floor, with compliance spot checks and penalties.
- These changes sit on top of the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations and the existing NQF system.
Step 1: Do a five‑minute online check before you tour
- Confirm the service is approved & view its quality rating (NQS). Use the government’s StartingBlocks search to see a centre’s rating, fees and more.
- Scan recent regulatory context: Ratios, qualifications and supervision are set in law. Some states publish public guidance and calculators for ratios and ECT requirements.
- Read mainstream guidance for red flags: Checklists from reputable sources can help you identify concerns.
Step 2: Tour with a safety lens: questions to ask
- Culture & policies (the non‑negotiables):
- Child‑safe policy & code of conduct: Ask to see their written child‑safety policy aligned to the National Principles.
- WWCC & screening: Confirm how they verify and re‑verify checks for all staff and contractors.
- Incident reporting & escalation: Understand the procedure for serious incident reporting to regulators and families.
- Phones/cameras policy: Ensure personal devices are banned on the floor, with clear rules for centre devices.
- Online safety for children: Ask how they manage photos, portfolios and connected technology.
- People & supervision:
- Ratios and room coverage: Confirm how ratios are maintained at all times.
- Qualifications & training: Check educator qualifications and identify the Early Childhood Teacher.
- Open‑door culture: Ask if you can visit unannounced and how concerns are handled.
- Environment & routines:
- Visibility: Ensure spaces have clear sightlines.
- Health & medical: Ask how allergies, medication, sleep checks and injuries are managed.
- Transitions: Observe calm and supervised movement between spaces.
A simple parent safety checklist (bring this on your tour)
- The centre can show: current NQS rating, child‑safe policy, WWCC processes, incident reporting flow
- Staff greet children by name; leadership is visible and approachable.
- Clear no‑phones policy; secure device management.
- Ratios and supervision are confidently explained.
- Photos and digital portfolios follow a strict online safety protocol.
- You are encouraged to raise concerns and shown how.
- Red flags: vague answers, reluctance to show documents, poor visibility, frequent ratio breaches, or dismissive attitudes.
If you’re worried or need to report something
- Talk to the centre promptly and ask for their complaints procedure.
- Report concerns to your state or territory Regulatory Authority and the Office of the Children’s Guardian if applicable.
- In emergencies, call 000.
How Little Scribblers Upholds Child Safety
- Thorough Recruitment: Every staff member undergoes WWCC, police checks, reference checks, and careful interviews to ensure they align with child safety values.
- Comprehensive Induction: New educators are trained in child protection, safe sleep, supervision, and positive guidance before they begin.
- Ongoing Training: Annual refreshers and regular professional development sessions keep child safety at the heart of our practice.
- Clear Policies & Procedures: We have strict guidelines covering supervision, safe environments, mobile phone use, and responding to concerns.
- Empowering Children: We teach body safety, protective behaviours, and encourage children to speak up and make choices.
- Open Partnership with Families: Families are informed and involved in our safety measures, policies, and incident responses.
- Community Connections: We work closely with child protection services, health providers, and support networks to ensure every child is safeguarded.
- Regular Audits & Oversight: Leaders conduct frequent checks to make sure safety standards are met and exceeded.
- Strong Child Safe Culture: Our teams are committed to vigilance, respect, and a zero-toleranc
