The silent oath: Why child protection is personal for every educator

Before continuing to read this piece, readers should be aware that the content of this article may prove distressing, and should consider their own circumstances before continuing to engage. A list of support services has been provided at the conclusion of the article.

When early childhood educators begin their careers, there is no official pledge, no induction ceremony, and no moment where someone hands us a script that says, “You’ve just made a promise.” 

But we have. Whether we realised it at the time or not, we each took a silent Oath an unspoken, deeply personal commitment to protect children, always.

This promise is not framed on our walls, but it shows up in every choice we make. Every moment we offer safety, every time we trust our gut, and every instance we notice a subtle change in behaviour, we are upholding that oath.

To the outside world, our job may look like play, songs, nappy changes, and learning outcomes. However, we know that early childhood education is also about safeguarding.

It is about advocacy, vigilance, and accountability. We are often the first adults to notice when something is not right. We see it in a child’s hesitation, in the shift in their drawings or play themes, or in their sudden withdrawal. When no one else sees it, we do.

That responsibility comes with pressure, but it also comes with purpose.

For some of us, this is not just a professional duty. It is personal. I was once that child: the one who was not protected, the one who needed someone to notice, to speak up, and to act.

That lived experience is why I do this work. It is also why I hold this sector to a high standard when it comes to child protection. For every child we work with, we might be their only chance at safety. I promised myself that when I stepped into this profession, I would be what I once needed. I know I am not alone in that promise.

Here is the truth I do not say out loud often: my trauma is still real. Even at 33, I carry it with me, It does not vanish with age. It becomes quieter, heavier, and more complicated. That is why this work matters. What happens to children stays with them sometimes forever. It is incredibly hard and truly devastating to read about what is happening to children in the media. Every story, every report of harm, makes the pain we carry as educators even more real.

It fuels the urgency to act and reminds us that the silent oath we took is more important now than ever. It’s a harsh reminder that children’s safety can never be taken for granted, and it pushes us to keep fighting for better protection, better awareness, and better care.

The reality is that child protection is not just about following policy or legislation. It is about making brave choices, and sometimes that means standing up to people we work closely with. Our loyalty must always be to the child not to a friend recording a child on Snapchat, not to a co-worker who “did not mean it like that,” and not to a team member who dismisses a red flag.

This work demands that we hold our peers accountable. It requires that we act, not because it is easy, but because it is right. When we do not, children bear the consequences. Yes, mandatory reporting is the law. However, it is also much more than that. It is a core part of our identity as educators. We are expected to investigate if something feels off. 

We must report if something looks wrong. If something does not sit right, we must not look away. That action can be the difference between harm and healing for a child in our care.

This work is demanding and often messy. We are tired. Staffing shortages, pressure to meet documentation targets, and endless expectations can make it easy to become disconnected from our “why.” Yet, our silent oath is still there. It is in the way we show up every day. It is in the quiet moments when we kneel beside a child and simply say, “I see you.”

Every time we enter a service, a room, or a family day care home, we recommit to that promise. Whether anyone hears it or not, we say it again and again: I will protect you. I will speak up. You are safe with me.

You are not “just” an educator. You are a protector, an advocate, and a difference-maker. You are part of the safeguarding chain, and that chain is only as strong as our willingness to act.

If you have forgotten it lately, let this be your reminder: you matter. Your voice matters.  What you do every single day absolutely matters. We took the oath the day we chose this career, and we say yes to it again every time we walk through the door.

If you, or someone you know, is impacted by child sexual abuse or online exploitation, support services are available.

Jade has worked in the early childhood profession for over 16 years and holds a diploma in children’s services. Jade has managed multiple childcare services and is currently the compliance and best practice specialist at Z Staffing.