ECEC in focus : Guardian Childhood & Education reinforces safeguarding culture during Child Protection Week

As part of National Child Protection Week 2025, Guardian Childhood & Education is reinforcing its commitment to child safety and wellbeing by focusing on the power of everyday conversations and the importance of turning them into action.

This year’s campaign theme, ‘Every Conversation Matters: Shifting Conversation to Action’, highlights that while open dialogue is essential, safeguarding requires more than awareness. It demands deliberate, sustained action by educators, leaders, and services alike.

Drawing on this year’s theme, Every Conversation Matters: Shifting Conversation to Action‘ Guardian has placed particular emphasis on the importance of everyday interactions between children, educators, families and communities.

“At Guardian, the safety and wellbeing of children is our highest priority,  it’s not just a policy or a checklist, it’s part of our culture every single day,” said Sharon Whiteman, Chief Network Officer. “It shows up in the small things: how we listen, how we respond, and how we make sure children feel seen, heard and valued.”

In the lead-up to Child Protection Week, teams at Guardian centres across Australia have engaged in reflective discussions and professional learning focused on recognising signs of harm, strengthening protective practices, and ensuring policies are well understood and consistently applied.

The organisation’s approach is grounded in the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations, aligning closely with the Education and Care Services National Regulations and the National Quality Standard, particularly QA2 and QA7.

Guardian’s internal campaign encourages educators to see safeguarding as an active, relational process that relies on strong communication, between educators, between teams, and with families.

“Our role is to create safe, welcoming spaces where children can thrive and that includes ensuring every child knows they have the right to feel safe and speak up,” Ms Whiteman said.

Guardian has also shared resources with families and teams to support open conversations about safety and wellbeing, both in services and at home.

Child Protection Week serves as a timely reminder that safeguarding is ongoing, and requires collective responsibility at every level of a service.

“At Guardian, we believe that every conversation has the power to protect,” Ms Whiteman said. “By embedding that mindset into our daily practice, we strengthen the safety net around every child in our care.”

Guardian Childcare & Education operates more than 180 early learning centres across Australia, supporting thousands of families each year. For more information, visit guardian.edu.au.