Educational Leaders strengthen child safety practice in South Australia

Eden Academy’s South Australian Educational Leaders recently came together for a workshop centred on a topic at the heart of the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector: child safety.

The Eden Academy-led workshop provided an opportunity to unpack the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations, explore their application in everyday practice, and reflect on how services can continue to protect and empower children.

The morning session focused on detailed case studies, prompting leaders to consider how to respond to concerns, elevate children’s voices, and engage families in meaningful dialogue. These discussions emphasised the importance of proactive communication and consistent approaches across teams.

Leaders then participated in an interactive workshop on “Planning for Empowered, Safe, and Confident Children”, where they brainstormed ways to integrate child safety concepts into programming for all age groups. Strategies included embedding play-based, developmentally appropriate activities that help children learn about consent, body autonomy, and recognising safe or unsafe feelings. The emphasis was on making these ideas a natural part of daily routines and curriculum decisions, rather than isolated conversations.

The day concluded with a session on strengthening evidence in Quality Improvement Plans (QIP). Leaders explored practical ways to capture and document progress, link practice to the National Quality Standard (NQS), and demonstrate alignment with ACECQA expectations. The focus was on ensuring evidence remains meaningful for teams, while still meeting regulatory requirements.

Already, all Eden Academy’s Educational Leaders are reviewing how they communicate about child safety with staff and families. This includes:

• Introducing new language around consent into daily routines.
• Strengthening privacy measures within documentation.
• Linking program planning more closely with child safe standards.

These shifts demonstrate how professional learning translates directly into practice, building safer and more empowering environments for children.

The workshop was a timely reminder that child safety is everyone’s responsibility. By coming together with a shared purpose, Eden Academy’s leaders demonstrated how collaborative learning can support stronger sector-wide practice.

One Eden Academy participant reflected that the day reinforced the idea that embedding child safety is not a compliance exercise, but rather about creating environments where children are respected, protected and supported to thrive. 

“Our Educational Leader networking day was such a success because it gave our leaders the time and space to collaborate deeply on key areas that shape the quality of our practice. By coming together, our leaders not only strengthened their own knowledge and confidence, but also shared practical strategies that they can take back to their teams. The real benefit flows directly to the children, as these discussions ensure that our practices are consistently safe, inclusive, and responsive to their voices and needs. Eden is passionate about these kinds of collaborations being a regular part of our culture, as they reinforce the power of collaboration and reflection, reminding us that when we grow together as professionals, we create even stronger, safer, and more enriching environments for children to thrive.”- Lisa

This work also aligns closely with National Child Protection Week on the 7–13 September 2025, led by NAPCAN, which highlights the theme “Every conversation matters: shifting conversation to action.” The week provides an opportunity for services to strengthen their child safety focus, engage families in meaningful dialogue, and reaffirm their commitment to children’s rights and wellbeing.  More information and resources can be found here. 

Eden recognises that the work around child safety is never done and is committed to continuous improvement in both leading and lifting its safety standards. Child safety is embedded across every centre, from rigorous recruitment and reference checks through to quarterly compliance audits and ongoing child protection training. Recent examples of how Eden has converted conversation into meaningful actions included strengthening policies on digital safety, establishing a dedicated Eden Academy Safety Group, and adopting the National Model Code banning personal devices across all services.

Further details about Eden Academy’s approach to early learning and care can be found here.