Introduction

ECKA’s purpose, Enriching children’s lives through learning, can only be achieved where children are in education and care environments that are safe, welcoming and inclusive for children and their families; and ensure that children’s health safety and wellbeing is protected at all times. Importantly, children must not only be safe but also feel safe. The welfare of children in ECKA services is at all times our priority and ECKA has a zero tolerance to child abuse.

ECKA operates under a range of legislative, policy and procedural requirements that prioritise the safety of children as paramount at all times, and these are available on the ECKA website, ECKA office, and ECKA Services

ECKA encourages all children, families, employees and others involved with ECKA services to participate in regular evaluation and review of policies and practices, or at any time provide feedback, anonymously if desired, via the ECKA website, ECKA office or ECKA service. At all times, any complaints or concerns about child safety will be treated with the highest priority.

Statement of Commitment

ECKA:

• is committed to the rights of all children to feel safe, and be safe at all times, including:
• • promoting the cultural safety of Aboriginal children

• • promoting the cultural safety of children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
  • promoting the safety of children with a disability
  • promoting the safety of trans and gender diverse children and their families in ECEC settings
  • ensuring that LGBTIQ+ children and families feel included
• values, respects and cares for children
• empowers children’s voices by fostering opportunities for each child to participate, express their views, and to learn and develop
• always acts in the best interests of each child and has zero tolerance of child abuse

• takes all reasonable steps to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of children at all times, whilst also promoting their learning and development
• actively manages the risks of abuse or harm to each child, including fulfilling our duty of care and legal obligations to protect children and prevent any reasonable, foreseeable risk of injury or harm
• continuously improves the way our service identifies risks of and responds to child abuse, and encourages reporting and improved responses to allegations of abuse.
• proactively sharing information with relevant authorities to promote the wellbeing and/or safety of a child or a group of children, consistent with their best interests