Keeping children safe is our highest priority, and it’s built into how we operate every day – not treated as a separate program. Every decision we make is guided by our Child Centered – Decision Making Framework, where the child is always the highest priority. This includes strong supervision practices and ratios, mandatory child safety training for every team member, and a dedicated child safety team. Our approach is aligned with the National Quality Framework and current Child Safe Standards, and we regularly review and strengthen our practices as regulations and best practice evolve. 

Every team member is thoroughly screened before they ever work for us, including a Working With Children Check, reference checks, and social media screening. Screening isn’t a one-off: checks are tracked and renewed throughout employment, not just at the point of hire. Every team member also signs our Child Safe Commitment, setting out our expectations of them and the standards of conduct we require. From there, ongoing training, regular supervision, and performance monitoring help make sure our safeguarding culture stays strong, not just present on day one. 

At OAC, Children learn about safety through everyday, age-appropriate conversations and experiences. Our Bunji program helps children understand their bodies, their rights, and the difference between safe and unsafe feelings, and gives them the language and confidence to speak up if something doesn’t feel right. Educators are trained to have these conversations sensitively and appropriately for each child’s age and stage, and to recognise and respond when a child is trying to tell them something important. 

Every concern is taken seriously and responded to promptly. Team members are trained to listen without judgement, respond appropriately in the moment, and follow clear internal reporting processes including meeting mandatory reporting obligations under child protection legislation where required. Concerns are documented and reviewed as part of our ongoing commitment to reflection and improvement, and families are kept informed throughout the process, so they’re never left wondering what’s happening. 

Families can raise a concern at any time, in person, by phone, or by email with their Campus Director or a member of the campus leadership team. If a concern needs to go further, our Support Office team is also available. We want families to feel comfortable raising anything, big or small, and we’re committed to acknowledging concerns quickly, keeping communication open, and making sure families feel heard and supported throughout. 

We’re committed to every child feeling heard, safe and that they belong. This includes embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives through programs like Narragunnawali, working in partnership with families to understand each child’s identity, culture, and background, and connecting children with additional support including inclusion support and specialist services whenever it’s needed. 

We regularly review our policies, training, and practices against the National Quality Framework, Child Safe Standards, and current legislation which varies and changes across different states and territories. We monitor child safety performance across our network, and reflection and continuous improvement are built directly into our Decision Making Framework, so learnings from one part of the network helps strengthen practice everywhere. 

In an emergency

If a child or another person is at immediate risk of harm, call 000.

For non-urgent Police assistance, call 131 444.

If in doubt, speak up

You don’t need proof or certainty to raise a concern. If you’ve seen something, heard something, or simply have a feeling that a child may not be safe or well, please tell us.

We would always rather hear from you and look into it than have a concern go unreported.

Please speak up if you:

• Are worried about the safety or wellbeing of a child
• Believe a child may be experiencing abuse, neglect or harm
• Have concerns about the behaviour or conduct of an educator, employee, volunteer, contractor or visitor
• Have witnessed behaviour that does not reflect our commitment to child safety
• Are unsure whether something is serious enough to report

You can choose the option that feels most comfortable for you.

Speak with your Campus Director

For most concerns, this is the quickest way for us to understand what’s happened and respond.

Contact our Family Support Team

They can help with child safety concerns, complaints, feedback and grievances of any kind.

Email: [email protected]

Escalate further

If you do not feel comfortable raising your concern through the usual channels, please email:

[email protected]

Reporting anonymously

You’re welcome to raise a concern without giving your name. It can limit our ability to follow up with you directly, but we review and respond to every concern we receive. Only About Children does not tolerate retaliation against anyone who raises a concern in good faith.

What happens after I make a report?

1. We listen carefully and treat your concern seriously.
2. We make sure the right people within Only About Children are informed.
3. We take action to protect children, wherever that’s required.
4. We meet any mandatory reporting or regulatory obligations that apply.
5. We handle your information confidentially, wherever possible

Some concerns must, by law, be reported to a regulatory authority or law enforcement agency. Where that applies, we’ll manage this in line with our legal obligations.

We also welcome feedback about your child’s experience, our programs, or the services we provide. Speak with your Campus Director, or contact our Family Support Team at [email protected]..

You can raise a concern directly with your state’s early childhood education regulator at any time — you don’t need to contact us first.

New South Wales

NSW Early Learning Commission
1800 619 113
[email protected]

Victoria

Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority (VECRA)
1300 307 415
[email protected]

Queensland

Early Childhood Regulatory Authority, Department of Education
13 74 68
[email protected]

You don’t need proof or certainty — just a genuine concern. We’d always rather hear from you and assess the situation properly than have something go unreported.

Only About Children is committed to the safety and wellbeing of every child in our care, in line with the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations.