The Child Safe Podcast

Unpacking the Code of Practice: Practice requirement 3 - Participation of family and community

Unpacking the Code of Practice miniseries
This podcast has been produced by the Office of the Children’s Guardian OOHC Directorate team to support the out-of-home care sector implement the new accreditation criteria, the Code of Practice.
Join us for insightful conversations with the OOHC Directorate’s Accreditation and Monitoring Team about each practice requirement. We unpack what each practice requirement means, how we assess the practice requirements, challenges we see in the sector and good practice examples.
This is episode 4 on Practice requirement 3 - Participation of family and community.

Unpacking the Code of Practice: PR2 Special Edition episode with Associate Professor Tim Moore and Dr Mary Ann Powell

Unpacking the Code of Practice miniseries
This podcast has been produced by the Office of the Children’s Guardian OOHC Directorate team to support the out-of-home care sector implement the new accreditation criteria, the Code of Practice.
Join us for insightful conversations with the OOHC Directorate’s Accreditation and Monitoring Team about each practice requirement. We unpack what each practice requirement means, how we assess the practice requirements, challenges we see in the sector and good practice examples.
This is episode 3, a special edition episode on Practice requirement 2 - children and young people’s participation in out-of-home care with Associate Professor Tim Moore and Dr Mary Ann Powell.

Unpacking the Code of Practice: Practice requirement 2 - Supporting participation of children

Unpacking the Code of Practice miniseries
This podcast has been produced by the Office of the Children’s Guardian OOHC Directorate team to support the out-of-home care sector implement the new accreditation criteria, the Code of Practice.
Join us for insightful conversations with the OOHC Directorate’s Accreditation and Monitoring Team about each practice requirement. We unpack what each practice requirement means, how we assess the practice requirements, challenges we see in the sector and good practice examples.
This is episode 2 on practice requirement 2 - Supporting participation of children.

Unpacking the Code of Practice: Practice requirement 1 - Governance and leadership

Unpacking the Code of Practice miniseries
This podcast has been produced by the Office of the Children’s Guardian OOHC Directorate team to support the out-of-home care sector implement the new accreditation criteria, the Code of Practice.
Join us for insightful conversations with the OOHC Directorate’s Accreditation and Monitoring Team about each practice requirement. We unpack what each practice requirement means, how we assess the practice requirements, challenges we see in the sector and good practice examples.
This is episode 1 on Practice requirement 1: Governance and leadership.

Policy and Practice in Focus: Child safe risks in ECE contexts - Part B

Organisations that work with children have a responsibility to keep them safe from harm and abuse as described in their duty of care and in the NSW Child Safe Standards. This episode will explore this topic further with guest speakers from the ECEC sector.
 
About this episode
Staff in ECEC services are managing risks everyday as part of their daily work. Risks can be described as the likelihood and potential impact of harm resulting from exposure to a hazard. It is not always possible to completely eliminate every risk, and staff need to be attuned to how to best minimise or respond to risks of harm to children. This is particularly important when considering risks that may lead to the harm or abuse of children. The second part of this episode looks at conflicts of interest in ECEC organisations and the documentation and processes around risk, including involving the perspectives of children. 
 
About our speakers
Pauline O’Kane is the CEO of Network of Community Activities, and brought extensive experience in play movement from the UK to advocate for children and educators in out of hours contexts in Australia. Network is the only training provider specifically dedicated to OOSH. Their professional development programs are meticulously crafted by experts in the field and include modules on risk, leadership courses, child protection, active supervision and behaviour management, as well as personalised professional learning for your organisation (link below).
 
Kerrie Maguire is a professional learning and development specialist at Community Early Learning Australia (CELA) with more than two decades of experience in children’s services and a passion for supporting educators. CELA is the voice for Australia’s early education and care sector and has successfully supported and advocated for ECEC services for nearly 50 years. CELA provides a wealth of training for educators and leaders available at the link below.
 
Louise Doolin worked at the NSW Early Childhood Education and Care Regulatory Authority as an Authorised Officer, specialising in the Family Day Care context. The Regulatory Authority’s primary goals are to raise quality and drive continuous improvement in the ECEC sector, ensure the safety, health and wellbeing of children attending ECEC services, and improve educational and developmental outcomes of children attending ECEC services.
 
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Module 5 eLearning 'Hiring and Managing Child Safe Staff' - https://ocg.nsw.gov.au/training-and-resources/elearning 
Be You Mental Health Support for Educators - https://beyou.edu.au/
CELA training - https://www.cela.org.au/training
Network of Community Activities professional learning - https://networkofcommunityactivities.org.au/what-we-do/professional-development/
Lundy participation model - https://participationpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Compressed-PP-_-Lundy-Model-Explained-2.pdf
National regulations - https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/sl-2011-0653
Mandatory reporters guide (MRG) - https://reporter.childstory.nsw.gov.au/s/mrg
OCG Reportable Conduct Factsheets – https://ocg.nsw.gov.au/organisations/reportable-conduct-scheme/reportable-conduct-fact-sheets
OCG Early Childhood Education and Care eLearning - https://ocg.nsw.gov.au/training-and-resources/elearning
OCG Grooming animation - https://ocg.nsw.gov.au/resources/about-grooming-information-child-related-organisations
OCG WWCC verification for families - https://ocg.nsw.gov.au/parents-and-carers/what-parents-need-know-about-working-children-check#section-target-2
OCG Risk handbook: Responding to Risk - https://ocg.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-03/G_CSS_Risk%20Management_Resourceprt1.pdf
OCG Risk handbook: Identifying Risk - https://ocg.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-03/G_CSS_Risk%20Management_Resourceprt2.pdf
OCG Child Safe Template pack, including Child Safe Risk Management Plan - https://ocg.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-03/t_css_childsafe-templatepack.zip
ACECQA Qualification checker - https://www.acecqa.gov.au/qualifications/nqf-approved 
Brian Sutton, The Ambiguity of Play - https://www.amazon.com.au/Ambiguity-Play-Brian-Sutton-Smith/dp/0674005813
Simon Nicholson, Theory of Loose Parts - https://www.gowriensw.com.au/thought-leadership/loose-parts-play
FDC NSW PD in your Pocket - https://nswfdc.org.au/pd-in-your-pocket/
Risky Play PD by Ellen Sandseter and Alistair Bryce-Clegg (UK) - https://worldofeducation.tts-group.co.uk/cpd-topic-2-learning-through-risk/
Eva Cox, Building the capacity of communities - https://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/JlIndigP/2014/43.pdf 
 
If you are looking for support on how to improve your child safe practices, or to speak to a child safe officer, contact childsafe@ocg.nsw.gov.au
Have a concern or a complaint about a child-related organisation? You can contact us via this form - https://ocg.nsw.gov.au/contact-us or call us on (02) 8219 3600

Policy and Practice in Focus: Child safe risks in ECE contexts - Part A

Organisations that work with children have a responsibility to keep them safe from harm and abuse as described in their duty of care and in the NSW Child Safe Standards. This episode will explore this topic further with guest speakers from the ECEC sector.
 
About this episode
Staff in ECEC services are managing risks everyday as part of their daily work. Risks can be described as the likelihood and potential impact of harm resulting from exposure to a hazard. It is not always possible to completely eliminate every risk, and staff need to be attuned to how to best minimise or respond to risks of harm to children. This is particularly important when considering risks that may lead to the harm or abuse of children. The first part of this episode looks at the people involved in setting a child safe, risk aware contexts, and how organisations can lower risks involved in hiring people to work with children.
 
About our speakers
Pauline O’Kane is the CEO of Network of Community Activities, and brought extensive experience in play movement from the UK to advocate for children and educators in out of hours contexts in Australia. Network is the only training provider specifically dedicated to OOSH. Their professional development programs are meticulously crafted by experts in the field and include modules on risk, leadership courses, child protection, active supervision and behaviour management, as well as personalised professional learning for your organisation (link below).
 
Kerrie Maguire is a professional learning and development specialist at Community Early Learning Australia (CELA) with more than two decades of experience in children’s services and a passion for supporting educators. CELA is the voice for Australia’s early education and care sector and has successfully supported and advocated for ECEC services for nearly 50 years. CELA provides a wealth of training for educators and leaders available at the link below.
 
Louise Doolin worked at the NSW Early Childhood Education and Care Regulatory Authority as an Authorised Officer, specialising in the Family Day Care context. The Regulatory Authority’s primary goals are to raise quality and drive continuous improvement in the ECEC sector, ensure the safety, health and wellbeing of children attending ECEC services, and improve educational and developmental outcomes of children attending ECEC services.
 
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Module 5 eLearning 'Hiring and Managing Child Safe Staff' - https://ocg.nsw.gov.au/training-and-resources/elearning 
Be You Mental Health Support for Educators - https://beyou.edu.au/
CELA training - https://www.cela.org.au/training
Network of Community Activities professional learning - https://networkofcommunityactivities.org.au/what-we-do/professional-development/
Lundy participation model - https://participationpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Compressed-PP-_-Lundy-Model-Explained-2.pdf
National regulations - https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/sl-2011-0653
Mandatory reporters guide (MRG) - https://reporter.childstory.nsw.gov.au/s/mrg
OCG Reportable Conduct Factsheets – https://ocg.nsw.gov.au/organisations/reportable-conduct-scheme/reportable-conduct-fact-sheets
OCG Early Childhood Education and Care eLearning - https://ocg.nsw.gov.au/training-and-resources/elearning
OCG Grooming animation - https://ocg.nsw.gov.au/resources/about-grooming-information-child-related-organisations
OCG WWCC verification for families - https://ocg.nsw.gov.au/parents-and-carers/what-parents-need-know-about-working-children-check#section-target-2
OCG Risk handbook: Responding to Risk - https://ocg.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-03/G_CSS_Risk%20Management_Resourceprt1.pdf
OCG Risk handbook: Identifying Risk - https://ocg.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-03/G_CSS_Risk%20Management_Resourceprt2.pdf
OCG Child Safe Template pack, including Child Safe Risk Management Plan - https://ocg.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-03/t_css_childsafe-templatepack.zip
ACECQA Qualification checker - https://www.acecqa.gov.au/qualifications/nqf-approved 
Brian Sutton, The Ambiguity of Play - https://www.amazon.com.au/Ambiguity-Play-Brian-Sutton-Smith/dp/0674005813
Simon Nicholson, Theory of Loose Parts - https://www.gowriensw.com.au/thought-leadership/loose-parts-play
FDC NSW PD in your Pocket - https://nswfdc.org.au/pd-in-your-pocket/
Risky Play PD by Ellen Sandseter and Alistair Bryce-Clegg (UK) - https://worldofeducation.tts-group.co.uk/cpd-topic-2-learning-through-risk/
Eva Cox, Building the capacity of communities - https://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/JlIndigP/2014/43.pdf 
 
If you are looking for support on how to improve your child safe practices, or to speak to a child safe officer, contact childsafe@ocg.nsw.gov.au
Have a concern or a complaint about a child-related organisation? You can contact us via this form - https://ocg.nsw.gov.au/contact-us or call us on (02) 8219 3600

Policy and Practice in Focus: Reporting in an ECEC context

Please note, this episode covers content regarding disclosures of abuse that may be upsetting for some listeners. Please take care when listening to this episode and seek support if needed. Free confidential support services are listed below.
Reporting in an ECEC context can take many forms from noting breaches of a Code of Conduct to far more serious incidents. This episode looks at reporting considerations in early childhood settings, including obligations to the Reportable Conduct Scheme.
 
About this episode:
This episode is part of a short series produced by the Office of the Children's Guardian and funded by the NSW Department of Education, the NSW regulatory authority for early education and care as part of their Safety and Quality Practice program.
Simon chats to two education professionals and a representative from the OCG’s Reportable Conduct Directorate to discuss setting up a reporting culture within the early education and care sector, information on how and what to report and how organisations can ensure their reporting processes are child friendly.
 
About our speakers:
Vanessa Hextall, the National Child Safe Officer from a large outside school hours care service provider with services across Australia. Vanessa has 18 years experience in the early childhood education sector specialising in quality and compliance, and risk. Her experience with reportable conduct is to educate and support the organisations with the process and determine best practice within the service delivery.
Stephanie Menear, from the Office of the Children’s Guardian, is a Manager in the Investigations unit within the Reportable Conduct Directorate, with responsibility for its work with the early childhood education and care sector. She has a decade of experience working in child protection, with seven years’ experience providing guidance and support to the early childhood sector on reportable conduct matters.
Preeti Khural is the Director of Education at a long day care service in Sydney’s Hills District and has a bachelor of teaching degree. She has 20 years experience in early childhood education. Preeti strongly believes in continuous education and training for educators so that they are well-informed and have the skills and knowledge to keep children safe in early childhood settings.
This episode was recorded and edited on Gadigal land. The NSW Department of Education and the NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian recognise that the land we work and live on always was and always will be Aboriginal land, and we pay our respects to Elders past and present.
 
Resources mentioned in this episode:
About the Reportable Conduct Scheme - https://ocg.nsw.gov.au/organisations/reportable-conduct-scheme/how-scheme-works
Reportable Conduct Factsheet - Identifying Reportable Allegations - https://ocg.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-02/FS_RC_Identifying_reportable_allegations.pdf
Reportable Conduct forms - https://ocg.nsw.gov.au/organisations/reportable-conduct-scheme/reportable-conduct-notification-forms
Reportable Conduct  Factsheet - Planning and Conducting an Investigation - https://ocg.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-02/fs_rc_planning_conducting_investigation.pdf
OCG (Reportable Conduct) eLearning - https://ocg.nsw.gov.au/training-and-resources/elearning
OCG resources - https://ocg.nsw.gov.au/our-resources
OCG Safe Series Protective Behaviours program events/training - https://ocg.nsw.gov.au/events
Mandatory Reporters Guide - Child Story Reporter - https://reporter.childstory.nsw.gov.au/s/mrg
Blue Knot Foundation - https://blueknot.org.au/
 
If you’re unsure about what needs to be reported or need any support, call the Reportable Conduct enquiries line on (02) 8219 3800
If you are looking for support on how to improve your child safe practices, or to speak to a child safe officer, contact childsafe@ocg.nsw.gov.au
Have a concern or a complaint about a child-related organisation? You can contact us via this form - https://ocg.nsw.gov.au/contact-us or call us on (02) 8219 3600
Free confidential support organisations:
Lifeline on 13 11 14
Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36
Headspace on 1800 650 890
Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511
13 YARN on 13 92 76
 
 

Policy and Practice in Focus: Voice and Choice in the NQF - Part B

Episode 2: Voice and Choice in the National Quality Framework PART 2
In this episode, host Katey Street sits down with educators Lisa Warburton and Angie Camilleri, and Child Safe Officer Rachel Norman to get to grips with child-centred practice in the early childhood education and outside school hours care (ECEC) sector following the update of the Approved Learning Frameworks.
 
About this podcast: 
This episode is part of a short series produced by the Office of the Children's Guardian and funded by the NSW Department of Education, the NSW regulatory authority for early childhood education and care services in NSW as part of its Safety and Quality Practice program. 
In part 2 of this episode, Katey and the group discuss practices and policies in the ECEC sector which encourage children to be empowered when learning and playing, as well as ways in which they contribute to educators' planning cycles. 
 
About our speakers: 
Lisa Warburton is an innovative Family Day Care Educator and children's advocate from Sydney. Her career spans more than two decades in early childhood education across the globe while her breadth of experience as a parent and as a former management consultant fuels her passion in providing all children with the strongest possible start in life. Lisa's creative approach to early childhood education is underpinned by integrity, tenacity and a lifelong love of learning. Her latest venture is supporting children and their carers is a parenting book to be released next year.
Angie Camilleri has worked in the Early Childhood sector for 15 years. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education and a Master's Degree in Education (Primary). Angie currently holds the role of Education Leader in a long daycare service and has done so for 5 years.
Rachel Norman, from the Office of the Children's Guardian, has a Master's Degree in Disability Policy and Practice. She worked with the ECEC sector for three years and is passionate about educating service providers about the risks of abuse in organisations. 
This episode was recorded and edited on Gadigal land. The NSW Department of Education and the NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian recognise that the land we work and live on always was and always will be Aboriginal land, and we pay our respects to Elders past and present.
 
Resource mentioned in this episode:
OCG Child Safe Self Assessment - https://cssa.ocg.nsw.gov.au/
OCG SAFE Series Protective Behaviours program events/training - https://ocg.nsw.gov.au/events
OCG SAFE Series Protective Behaviours program resources - https://ocg.nsw.gov.au/resources?combine=&field_published_date_value=&field_topic_target_id%5B173%5D=173
OCG Empowerment and Participation handbook - https://ocg.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-12/g_CSS_EmpowermentandParticipation.pdf
eSafety Commissioner's website - resources for parents - https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents?gclid=Cj0KCQiAtaOtBhCwARIsAN_x-3JJUl6kZ42FTGxx9QbTGjD9gnWlKmgnFKMvXT1DIjJyCeGuA2DY47QaAj_rEALw_wcB
3D Dinosaur viewer from Google: How to - https://blog.google/products/search/travel-back-time-ar-dinosaurs-search/
Early Childhood Australia learning hub - https://learninghub.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/
Bravehearts - https://bravehearts.org.au/
Teeny Tiny Stevies - Boss of my own body song - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLpjNJnXZlU
Educate2Empower - https://e2epublishing.info/
If you are looking for support on how to improve your child safe practices, or to speak to a child safe officer, contact childsafe@ocg.nsw.gov.au
Have a concern or a complaint about a child-related organisation? You can contact us via this form - https://ocg.nsw.gov.au/contact-us or call us on (02) 8219 3600

Policy and Practice in Focus: Voice and Choice in the NQF - Part A

Episode 2: Voice and Choice in the National Quality Framework PART 1
 
Having children as active participants in their learning is as easy as ABC! In this episode host Katey Street sits down with Rhonda Livingstone, the National Educational Leader for a chat about the updates to the National Quality Framework.
 
About this podcast: 
 
This episode is part of a short series produced by the Office of the Children's Guardian and funded by the NSW Department of Education, the NSW regulatory authority for early education and care as part of their Safety and Quality Practice program. 
 
Katey and Rhonda discuss the background of how and why the Frameworks for Early Education and Care; Being, Belonging and Becoming and My Time, Our Place, were updated and how voice and choice were promoted to ensure that children are supported to become active participants in their learning. 
 
About our speaker: 
 
Rhonda Livingstone is ACECQA's National Educational Leader. She also leads the teams responsible for promoting and recognising quality educational programs, practices and policies and supporting the sector and authorised officers to build a shared understanding of commitment to implementing and administering the National Quality Framework (NQF); and continuous quality improvement.
 
Rhonda's extensive involvement in the National Quality Agenda reforms saw her contribute to the development of the National Quality Standard and its guide, assessment and rating tools and processes, the training and testing program for authorised officers and the refresh of the national approved learning frameworks.
 
This episode was recorded and edited on Gadigal land. The NSW Department of Education and the NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian recognise that the land we work and live on always was and always will be Aboriginal land, and we pay our respects to Elders past and present.
 
Resources mentioned in this episode: 
OCG resource page - https://ocg.nsw.gov.au/our-resources
OCG SAFE Series Protective Behaviours program - https://ocg.nsw.gov.au/resources?combine=&field_published_date_value=&field_topic_target_id%5B173%5D=173
OCG Child Safe Self Assessment - https://cssa.ocg.nsw.gov.au/
Australian Human Rights Commission - https://humanrights.gov.au/
Be You - https://beyou.edu.au/
Emerging Minds - https://emergingminds.com.au/
Australian Institute of Famiy Studies - https://aifs.gov.au/
Alannah and Madeline Foundation - https://www.alannahandmadeline.org.au/
Guide to the National Quality Framework - https://www.acecqa.gov.au/nqf/about/guide
eSafety Commissioner's website - https://www.esafety.gov.au/
Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child - https://www.digitalchild.org.au/
ACECQA info sheets - https://www.acecqa.gov.au/resources/supporting-materials/infosheet
ACECQA Kahoot! quiz instructions - https://www.acecqa.gov.au/media/27341
ACECQA Starting Blocks for Families - https://www.startingblocks.gov.au/
ACECQA newsletter - https://www.acecqa.gov.au/newsletters
ACECQA Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/ACECQA/
NQF changes overview - https://www.acecqa.gov.au/national-quality-framework/nqf-changes-overview
Approved Learning Frameworks matching game - https://www.acecqa.gov.au/media/38741
Department of education - educator resources - https://education.nsw.gov.au/early-childhood-education/working-in-early-childhood-education
Reconciliation Australia resources - https://www.reconciliation.org.au/our-work/narragunnawali/
If you are looking for support on how to improve your child safe practices, or to speak to a child safe officer, contact childsafe@ocg.nsw.gov.au
Have a concern or a complaint about a child-related organisation? You can contact us via this form - https://ocg.nsw.gov.au/contact-us or call us on (02) 8219 3600

Policy and Practice in Focus: The Child Safe Scheme in an ECEC Context

Policy and Practice in Focus: an ECEC child safe podcast miniseries
Episode 1: The Child Safe Scheme in a ECEC context
Early Childhood Educators face unique challenges when applying the Child Safe Scheme. In this podcast Simon Luckhurst talks to two early childhood professionals and an Office of the Children’s Guardian compliance officer to answer some common questions.
About this episode:
This episode kicks off a short series produced by the Office of the Children's Guardian and funded by the NSW Department of Education, the NSW regulatory authority for early education and care as part of their Safety and Quality Practice program.
The NSW Child Safe Scheme means child-related organisations (including those involved in Early Childhood Education and Outside School Hours Care) must be able to demonstrate their commitment to child safety by employing the ten Child Safe Standards handed down by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
If organisations and their staff and volunteers are applying the Child Safe Standards, children are safer from harm and abuse. While many organisations understand what it means to keep children safe – and are also meeting the requirements under their National Quality Framework obligations – the Child Safe Scheme is designed to ensure all aspects of child safety are maintained and improved.
In this podcast Simon Luckhurst talks to two early childhood professionals and an OCG compliance officer to find out more about the scheme in the Early Childhood Education context.
About our speakers:
Meg Mendham, previous CEO of Community Connections Solutions Australia and also a board member, advisor and executive with over thirty years’ experience in the Early Childhood sector, including as an educator.
Angela Gillespie, a Senior Manager the Blue Mountains-based Connect Children and Families organisation, and winner of the 2023 Early Childhood Australia Barbara Creaser Champion Award.
Brittany Taylor, a Child Safe Officer in the Compliance Team at the Office of the Children’s Guardian.
This episode was recorded and edited on Gadigal land. The NSW Department of Education and the NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian recognise that the land we work and live on always was and always will be Aboriginal land, and we pay our respects to Elders past and present.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Office of the Children’s Guardian resources page - https://ocg.nsw.gov.au/our-resources
OCG Child Safe Self-Assessment - https://cssa.ocg.nsw.gov.au
OCG Child Safe eLearning - https://ocg.nsw.gov.au/training-and-resources/elearning
Coffee Conversations - https://ccsa.org.au/learn-with-us/professional-dev/coffee-connecting-and-conversations/
If you are looking for support on how to improve your child safe practices, or to speak to a child safe officer, contact childsafe@ocg.nsw.gov.au
Have a concern or a complaint about a child-related organisation? You can contact us via this form - https://ocg.nsw.gov.au/contact-us or call us on (02) 8219 3600