Our commitment to safeguarding children

At Goodstart, we take any action necessary to ensure all children feel safe, are safe and are heard. This means we are dedicated to safeguarding children from abuse, neglect and harm, and fostering an environment of cultural safety where every child, family, and staff member feels valued, respected, and included. We recognise and celebrate the rich diversity of cultures, languages, and traditions within our community including First Nations People, those with culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, LGBTIQA+, and those with diverse abilities. We are committed to keeping all children safe and protected, ensuring they gain a strong sense of wellbeing, optimism and confidence so they have the learning, development and wellbeing outcomes they need for school and life. This is more than just meeting compliance responsibilities. Underpinned by the ‘Look, Do, Tell’ framework, we amplify and promote the voice and rights of children through the prevention, identification and response to child abuse, neglect and harm.

The National Principles for Child Safe Organisations reflect ten child safe standards recommended by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, with a broader scope that goes beyond sexual abuse to cover all forms of child abuse, neglect and harm.  

While the National Principles aren't currently mandatory in every state and territory, Goodstart is committed to implementing the National Principles in every centre.  

Being a child safe organisation means doing more than the minimum regulatory requirements.  At Goodstart, children, families and communities can feel confident that we provide safe environments where children’s rights, needs and interests are met. 

The National Principles and the Guide for Parents and Carers are available in 11 languages.  Visit the Government's National Office for Child Safety website and download the resources in different languages (scroll down to the bottom of the page).  

While the National Principles are a nation-wide set of standards, the implementation of them is the responsibility of each state and territory, and each takes a slightly different approach. Discover the current child-safe standards in your state.

A child safe organisation is one that puts the best interests of children first and: 

• Creates an environment where children’s safety and wellbeing is at the centre of thoughts, values and actions. 
• Places emphasis on genuine engagement with and valuing of children and young people. 
• Creates conditions that reduce the likelihood of harm to children and young people. 
• Creates conditions that increase the likelihood of identifying any harm. 
• Responds to any concerns, disclosures, allegations or suspicions of harm.

The NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian has developed this video to help parents and carers choose organisations or individuals to work with their child. 

Our safeguarding children framework was developed as a simple way to build a shared understanding about safeguarding children - together we "Look, Do and Tell" and prevent, identify and respond to child abuse, neglect and harm.