At Gowrie NSW, we believe every child has the right to feel safe, respected, and heard. We are committed to creating environments where children can thrive - free from harm, supported by strong relationships, and surrounded by people who care deeply about their wellbeing.
We take this responsibility seriously and are committed to meeting and exceeding our legal and ethical obligations to keep children safe.
What Guides Our Work
Our child safety approach firmly adheres to our legal responsibilities and is grounded in our pedagogical framework:
- Gowrie NSW Policies and Procedures - Our policies and procedures guide our everyday practices and are based on best practice, and any legislative requirements
- National Law and National Regulations - We comply with all national standards and aim to exceed requirements.
- Child Safe Standards - These are integrated into our policies, procedures and the culture of child safety, helping us protect children in a consistent and thoughtful way.
- Child Protection Legislation - We follow clear procedures to identify and respond to any concerns quickly and appropriately.
- Primary Educator Relationships - Our relationship-based approach ensures every child is known, valued, and supported.
Our Child-Centred Approach
Children are at the centre of everything we do. We have a shared responsibility to make sure their rights, needs and voices shape our practice by:
- Building respectful, trusting relationships between children, families and educators.
- Creating learning environments where children feel understood, safe, confident and included.
- Supporting children, regardless of age, to verbally or non-verbally express their views and take part in decisions that affect them.
How We Keep Children Safe
We have clear policies and processes to manage risk and respond to concerns:
- Reporting – Team members are mandatory reporters. We have a culture of ‘See Something, Say Something’ and every concern raised is thoroughly investigated.
- Risk management – We regularly monitor, assess, communicate and minimise risks across our services.
- Zero tolerance – We have a zero-tolerance policy for any unacceptable behaviour or interactions towards children including any form of harm, abuse, neglect or inappropriate conduct.
Our People
We commit to a skilled, and trusted workforce who understand their responsibilities:
- Child safe recruitment - All staff are carefully selected through a rigorous screening, recruitment and onboarding process.
- Ongoing professional development and training - Staff receive regular training on child safety, and supporting children's emotional wellbeing including cultural safety, best practice, regulatory and policy changes.
- Child Safe Committee - A team of educators and leaders meet regularly to review and improve our child safe practices and policies. We also seek advice from external child safety professionals.
Partnering with Families and Communities
The role of a teacher or educator carries immense responsibility - the care and development of another human being. Each one of our services strives to form meaningful relationships with families. Gowrie NSW services with families and communities to keep children safe and supported:
- Open communication - Families and children can speak up, ask questions and raise concerns at any time.
- Consultation and Family engagement - Families, children and staff participate in decisions that affect our centres and programs policies and procedures
- Feedback systems - We actively seek feedback through family consultation, surveys and advisory groups to keep improving.
Our Ongoing Commitment
It is our commitment to building strong and nurturing relationships with children and families that are the foundation of our work, ensuring we are attuned, responsive and present with children. We understand the trust placed in us, and we are committed to upholding that trust through action, reflection, and continuous improvement.