Child Safety & Wellbeing

Nothing matters more than keeping children safe

We have a legal and ethical duty to keep every child safe, respected and cared for.

Every child deserves to feel safe, valued and understood

We have a legal and ethical responsibility to provide a safe, friendly environment where every child is respected and valued. Children's safety guides every decision we make, at every centre.

Our centres are welcoming and inclusive, and each room is set up so children feel comfortable and secure enough to learn and explore. We care for children from 0 to 6 years.

Our safeguards

How we keep your child safe, every day

Safety is not a single policy. It is built into how each centre is designed, staffed and run. Here is what that looks like in practice, and how it connects to the National Quality Standard (NQS).

01

Secure premises and supervision

Every centre is designed so that only the right people can come and go, and so that children are always in sight of an educator. This sits under Quality Area 2 (children's health and safety) and Quality Area 3 (the physical environment).

  • Controlled-access entry and secure fencing at every centre
  • CCTV monitoring and strict sign-in and sign-out records
  • Children are only released to a parent or an authorised person, verified at pick-up
  • Active supervision, with indoor and outdoor supervision plans reviewed every year and educators positioned so children are always visible
  • Emergency evacuation and lockdown procedures, practised regularly with the children
  • Risk assessments reviewed regularly to prevent and prepare for any incident that may occur
02

Qualified, checked and trained educators

The single biggest factor in a child's safety is the adults in the room. Everyone who works or volunteers at a Kidz centre is screened, qualified and kept up to date, in line with Quality Area 4 (staffing arrangements).

  • A valid Working With Children Check for every staff member and volunteer, verified and continuously monitored by the Office of the Children's Guardian
  • All staff, volunteers and students who work at the centre recorded on the National Worker Register
  • Reference and background checks completed before anyone starts
  • Educators qualified under the National Quality Framework, with maintained educator-to-child ratios
  • Current first aid, CPR, asthma and anaphylaxis training
  • Ongoing child protection training, plus the new nationally mandated child safety training for everyone working under the NQF

Working With Children Check (Office of the Children's Guardian) (opens in a new tab)

03

Health, hygiene and medical care

Keeping children well is everyday work: clean rooms, careful routines, and clear plans for allergies, medication and illness. Every centre is nut-free.

  • Cleaning by external contracted cleaners, plus daily cleaning routines carried out by our staff, alongside regular hand-hygiene routines
  • Illness exclusion in line with NSW Health guidelines, and families contacted straight away if a child becomes unwell
  • Medical Management Plans, and Allergy and Anaphylaxis plans, for every child who needs one, with staff trained to act
  • Food Handling Certificates held by staff who prepare and serve food
  • Medication administered only with written authorisation and clear records

Allergy Aware (National Allergy Council) (opens in a new tab)

04

Safe sleep and sun safety

Rest and outdoor play are part of every day, and both have their own safety practices grounded in national guidance.

  • Safe sleep and rest following Red Nose guidelines, with sleeping children supervised
  • SunSmart practices: hats, shade, sun-protective clothing, sunscreen and plenty of water

Safe sleeping (Red Nose) (opens in a new tab)SunSmart (opens in a new tab)

05

Immunisation at enrolment

Under the NSW Public Health Act 2010, we cannot enrol a child unless the family provides approved immunisation documentation. This protects every child in our care, including those too young or unable to be vaccinated.

  • An Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) Immunisation History Statement is required at enrolment
  • Children on a recognised catch-up schedule, or with an approved medical exemption, can enrol with the right documentation
  • Records are kept for every child, as the Act requires

Immunisation and child care enrolment (NSW Health) (opens in a new tab)

06

A child safe culture, and children's wellbeing

Keeping children safe is more than locks and checks. It means a culture where children are respected, listened to, and helped to speak up, which is the heart of the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations and the wellbeing outcome of the Early Years Learning Framework.

  • Age-appropriate protective behaviours: children learn about their bodies, feelings and how to ask for help
  • Children are encouraged to share their views and are taken seriously (National Principle 2)
  • Inclusive of all abilities, backgrounds, cultures and family structures
  • Cultural safety for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families
  • Families kept close through daily updates, incident reports and open communication

Keeping Our Kids Safe: child safety for First Nations children (opens in a new tab)

The frameworks behind the care

The rules every centre has to follow

Early childhood education in Australia is one of the country's most regulated sectors. Every service, including each Kidz Childcare centre, works within these national and NSW frameworks. Each link below goes to the official government page if you would like to read more.

National Quality Framework and Standard

The National Quality Framework (NQF) sets the rules for education and care across Australia. Every service is assessed and rated against the National Quality Standard, which has seven quality areas. Quality Area 2 covers children's health and safety. The framework is administered by ACECQA, and in NSW it is regulated by the NSW Department of Education.

National Quality Framework (ACECQA) (opens in a new tab)NSW Department of Education: child safety (opens in a new tab)

National Principles for Child Safe Organisations

Ten national principles describe what a child safe organisation looks like, from leadership and culture through to how concerns are handled. They come from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse and are led by the National Office for Child Safety.

National Principles for Child Safe Organisations (opens in a new tab)

NSW Child Safe Standards

Under the Children's Guardian Act 2019, education and care services must meet ten Child Safe Standards. The NSW Office of the Children's Guardian oversees how organisations put them into everyday practice.

NSW Child Safe Standards (Office of the Children's Guardian) (opens in a new tab)

Working With Children Checks

Everyone who works or volunteers with children in NSW must hold a valid Working With Children Check. Checks are verified and continuously monitored by the Office of the Children's Guardian, and we keep records for every person in child-related work.

Working With Children Check (opens in a new tab)

Mandatory reporting and reportable conduct

Our educators are mandatory reporters. If anyone holds a concern that a child is at risk of significant harm, they must report it to the NSW Department of Communities and Justice. Allegations involving staff are handled under the Reportable Conduct Scheme.

Mandatory reporting (Communities and Justice) (opens in a new tab)Office of the Children's Guardian (opens in a new tab)

Online and device safety

Personal phones and any device that can take photos or video are not used while educators work directly with children. We follow the eSafety Commissioner's early years guidance and teach personal safety in age-appropriate ways, supporting children's wellbeing under the EYLF.

eSafety Commissioner: Early Years program (opens in a new tab)

A national focus

Stronger child safety rules across the sector

Through 2024 and 2025 the Australian Government introduced the biggest strengthening of child safety in early education since the National Quality Framework began in 2012. Measures rolling out across every service include a national register of early childhood workers, mandatory national child safety training, restrictions on the use of personal devices, tying Child Care Subsidy approval to safety and quality, and higher penalties for services that put children at risk.

Quality and safety (Australian Government Department of Education) (opens in a new tab)

If you are ever worried

How to raise a concern

If something ever worries you about your child's safety, please talk to the centre director or Nominated Supervisor first. You can also contact the NSW Department of Education, which regulates our centres.

If you believe a child is at risk of harm, you can contact the NSW Child Protection Helpline at any time, day or night.

Child safety information for families (NSW Department of Education) (opens in a new tab)

Read more

Official resources for families

See our safe, welcoming centres

See the secure entry, sign-in system and sleep rooms for yourself, and ask us anything about how we keep children safe.

Book a TourFind a Centre