Child Safe Commitment

Sydney Early Education Centres has a long-standing commitment to the safety, well-being, and empowerment of all children. The Child Safe Standards and the National Principles of Child Safe Organisations are embedded in our policies, procedures, and practices.

We will:

• Promote standards of excellence in child safety and wellbeing, and embed child safety in our organisational leadership, governance, and culture.
• Ensure that the health, safety and well-being of children at our Service is protected at all times through our strict policies, procedures and, supervision and safety measures (for both physical and online environments).
• Respect and advocate for children’s rights as in The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989). 
• Empower children to know their rights- to feel safe, nurtured, valued and heard, and to participate in decisions that affect them.
• Teach children age-appropriate personal safety and protective behaviours.
• Inform and involve families and our community in our child-safe culture, policies and procedures.
• Respect diversity and promote equality and inclusion. We recognise that children who appear vulnerable are more at risk of harm. We support the needs of children with a disability, from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, from LGBTQ+ families, and children with culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
• Have strict policies and procedures in relation to recruitment, employment, training and performance planning of all our educators and staff, to ensure they are the most suitable people to work with children and act in the best interests of the children at all times.
• Ensure complaints, concerns and allegations regarding child safety are taken seriously and responses are child-focussed. Our Service has zero tolerance for child abuse and as Mandatory Reporters we have a legal obligation to report any suspicions we may have that a child is at risk of harm.
• Continuously review our implementation of the Child Safe Standards and our Risk Management Plans to improve our child-safe practices and keep up to date with current knowledge.
• Ensure our policies, procedures and practices are continuously reviewed to improve the safety and well-being of all children in our Service.