Child Safety at C&K

At C&K, we are committed to creating learning and care environments that uphold the cultural safety, identity, and rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. 
We do this by: 

• Actively support children to express their culture, language, and identity.
• Create culturally safe, inclusive environments where all children feel a strong sense of belonging.
• Acknowledge the vital role and knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in nurturing children’s safety and cultural connection.
• Promote the meaningful participation and inclusion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families, and community.
• Equip C&K Representatives to acknowledge, respect and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.
• Ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices are heard, respected, and reflected in decisions.
• Build and sustain partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders, controlled organisations, services, communities, and families.
• Implement culturally safe practices that promote inclusion and participation of children from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds.

At C&K, we make child safety our priority right from the start. Every staff member goes through a rigorous selection process before joining our team.

This includes a National Police check, and professional reference checks that specifically ask about employment history, including if any concerns have been previously raised about their interactions with children.

All of our staff hold a current Blue Card or Exemption Card before they begin working with children. We regularly monitor card currency to ensure every team member continues to meet all safety and screening requirements.

Child safety is a shared responsibility. At C&K, we recognise child safety and wellbeing are best achieved when families and communities are informed, empowered, and actively engaged. 

All C&K employees, students, volunteers, and contractors working with children, are required to comply with our child safety and protection policy, procedures, the C&K Code of Conduct, complete mandatory training, and immediately report any concerns regarding a child’s safety or wellbeing. Expected behaviours include maintaining professional boundaries, actively supervising children, and responding promptly to disclosures or signs of harm.

Parents and carers also share in this responsibility. They are asked to follow the C&K Parent and Community Code of Conduct, communicate any concerns about their child’s safety, and take part in child safety initiatives at their centre. Visitors, too, are expected to respect our child safe environment, follow procedures, and report any risks they notice.

Restricted Persons are not permitted to enter a C&K centre at any time; this includes any parents who may be Restricted Persons.

By fulfilling these responsibilities, all members of our community contribute to a safe, respectful, and protective environment for children.

At C&K, we are committed to making sure every staff member has the knowledge and skills needed to protect children. 

C&K employees complete child safety training during their induction and then annually thereafter. This training includes recognising and responding to signs of child abuse or grooming, supporting children who disclose concerns, and mandatory reporting responsibilities. This training emphasises the importance of speaking up immediately about any concerns for a child’s safety or wellbeing.

During induction, new staff also complete training on safe, respectful interactions with children and how to support children’s behaviour, ensuring everyone has a clear understanding of their responsibilities and expected behaviours.

At C&K, supervising children is one of our most important responsibilities. Guided by the C&K Supervision Procedure, every centre has a Supervision Plan with strategies tailored to ensure active and effective supervision of children, including:

• Arranging equipment and furniture to maximise visibility of children.
• Educators adjusting their position as children move and play.
• Conducting ‘look before your lock’ checks when transitioning between learning environments and before closing storage rooms or sheds.
• Completing regular head counts throughout the day.
• Keeping viewing windows into nappy change areas, children’s toilets and infant sleep rooms clear and unobstructed.
• Carrying out regular, documented checks on sleeping children.
• Ensuring students, volunteers and visitors are always supervised and never left alone with children.
• Rostering at least two educators with each group, with meal breaks and programming time always covered by another educator.

At C&K, we are committed to creating safe physical and online environments for children.
We do this by:  

• Regular safety checks, ensuring risks are identified, reported, and actioned.
• Actively supervising children’s safe use of digital technologies.
• Following the National Model Code for Taking Images or Videos of Children while Providing Early Childhood Education and Care. Educators are not permitted to use personal devices such as their mobile phone while working directly with children, unless authorised for essential purposes e.g. emergency evacuations. Educators are required to use C&K issued devices to record photographs and videos of children.
• Where possible and appropriate, recording and using de identified images of children.
• Teaching children about their digital footprint in age-appropriate ways.
• Safeguarding the privacy of children and families by handling personal information in line with policies and legislation.

At C&K, we believe compliance with the Education and Care Services National Law and Regulations is the foundation of quality early childhood education and care.

Families can speak with the Centre Director about their centre’s record of compliance or visit the Starting Blocks Website for more information about child safety and compliance across the early childhood sector.

At C&K, we believe every child has the right to feel safe, respected and heard. Listening to children’s voices is central to creating safe and supportive learning environments.
We do this by:

• Building positive, safe, and respectful relationships together with children.
• Creating calm, welcoming and inclusive spaces where children feel confident to speak up.
• Valuing children as active participants with the right to share their views and have them genuinely heard and acted upon.
• Responding with care and sensitivity when children show distress or disclose harm, ensuring they are believed, supported, and protected.
• Teaching personal safety and protective behaviours in age-appropriate ways.
• Modelling and teaching consent, helping children understand boundaries, bodily autonomy, and respectful interactions.
• Supporting healthy peer relationships by encouraging friendship, empathy, and connection.

In an emergency or if someone is at immediate risk of harm, C&K employees will call 000 for Police or Emergency Services.

At C&K, we take all child’s safety concerns seriously. Children, families, staff, and community members can raise concerns by:

1. Speaking directly with the Centre Director
2. Calling or emailing C&K’s Central Office on 3552 5300 or feedback@candk.asn.au
3. Completing C&K's online feedback form.

You may choose to remain anonymous, though it helps if we are able to contact you if we need more details about your concern. Depending on the type of concern raised, we will also report the matter to the relevant regulatory authority, as required by law.

For more information, please see our Complaint Management Procedure or our Reporting an Allegation of Child Harm Occurring at C&K Centre Procedure.