Childsafe Organisation & Safe Childcare

Child Safety & Commitment at Starfish ELC

At Starfish ELC, we have a zero tolerance for Child abuse, and believe all children have the right to feel safe, secure and happy.

We have legal and moral obligations to contact authorities when we are worried about a child’s safety, which we follow rigorously.

We value diversity, equity and inclusion and will not tolerate discriminatory practices or behaviour. We actively work to listen to and empower children.

We have policies and systems in place to protect children from abuse and are committed to regularly training and educating our educators, staff and volunteers on child abuse risks.

We take all allegations of abuse very seriously and respond to them consistently, in line with our policies and procedures.

We are committed to promoting cultural safety of Aboriginal children, cultural safety of children of Cultural and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds, and to providing a safe environment for children with a disability.

We are committed to critically reflecting on our practices, and collaborating with others to see different perspectives.

Early learning activity table with puzzles, counting beads and wooden blocks supporting play based childcare.

Children exploring outdoor play spaces with natural elements at Starfish Early Learning Centre

Our Approach

Take a preventative, proactive and participatory approach to child safety;
Value and empower children to participate in decisions which affect their lives;
Foster a culture of openness that supports all persons to safely disclose risks of harm to children
Respect diversity in cultures and child rearing practices while keeping child safety paramount;
Provide written guidance on appropriate conduct and behaviour towards children;
Engage only the most suitable people to work with children and have high quality staff and volunteer supervision and professional development;
Ensure children know who to talk with if they are worried or are feeling unsafe, and that they are comfortable and encouraged to raise such issues;
Report suspected abuse, neglect or mistreatment promptly to the appropriate authorities;
Share information appropriately and lawfully with other organisations where the safety and wellbeing of children is at risk; and
Value the input of and communicate regularly with families and carers.

Child Safe Standards

Starfish Early Learning Centre (ELC) is committed to the safety and well-being of all children and young people. We uphold the 11 Child Safe Standards as outlined by the Victorian Government in July 2022. This policy outlines how we implement and comply with these standards to ensure a safe and supportive environment for all children and young people in our care.

Standard 1: Culturally Safe Environment

Establish a culturally safe environment where the diverse and unique identities and experiences of Aboriginal children and young people are respected and valued.

Standard 2: Organisational Leadership, Governance, and Culture

Embed child safety and wellbeing in organisational leadership, governance, and culture.

Standard 3: Empowering Children and Young People

Empower children and young people about their rights, ensure their participation in decisions affecting them, and take their opinions seriously.

Standard 4: Involving Families and Communities

Inform and involve families and communities in promoting child safety and wellbeing.

Standard 5: Upholding Equity and Respecting Diverse Needs

Ensure equity is upheld and diverse needs are respected in policy and practice.

Standard 6: Suitable and Supported Workforce

Ensure people working with children and young people are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice.

Standard 7: Child-Focused Complaints Processes

Establish processes for complaints and concerns that are child-focused.

Standard 8: Ongoing Education and Training

Equip staff and volunteers with the knowledge, skills, and awareness to keep children safe through ongoing education and training.

Standard 9: Safe Physical and Online Environments

Promote safety and wellbeing in physical and online environments, minimizing opportunities for harm.

Standard 10: Regular Review and Improvement

Regularly review and improve the implementation of the Child Safe Standards.

Standard 11: Documented Policies and Procedures

Ensure policies and procedures document how the organisation is safe for children and young people.

Starfish ELC is dedicated to creating a child-safe environment that respects and values the diverse identities and experiences of all children. We are committed to continuous improvement in our child safety practices and to upholding the highest standards of care and protection.

To learn more about the 11 Child Safe Standards please visit the Commision for Children and Young People via their website here.
Or please contact us via our website here.

Safe Organisation – Starfish ELC

Starfish Early Learning Centre Child Safe Policy