Our Safety Commitment
Every child in our care has the right to feel safe, respected and heard. At Affinity Education, that right is non-negotiable.
We follow Australia's national best practice in early childhood education and care, with a zero-tolerance approach to child abuse or harm in any form. That commitment is set out in named policies and procedures that every centre operates under, reviewed regularly against the National Quality Standard, and it runs through every level of our organisation, from the educators in our centres to the executive team.
Safety is a culture, not a checklist
Our #ChildSafetyStartsWithMe culture puts personal accountability at the centre of how we work. Every team member, regardless of role or seniority, is expected to see or sense a risk, say something about it, and do something about it, whether that's a hazard, a concern about a child, or practice by a colleague, including a long-term or more senior team member, that falls short of our standards.
This isn't left to interpretation. It's set out in our Child Safe Organisation Principles and Standards Procedure and our Child Safety and Protection Procedure, and reinforced by our national Safety, Compliance and Education teams, who conduct regular centre visits, audits and coaching to ensure consistency across our network.
How we act when something is raised
Any concern, big or small, is acted on immediately, following our formal Incident Management Process. Team members are expected to raise concerns with their Centre Manager straight away, and every incident is followed up and addressed promptly.
If someone doesn't feel able to raise a concern with their manager, they can report it confidentially and anonymously to [email protected]. This channel exists precisely so that no concern goes unheard because of who it involves. Read our Whistleblower Policy.
Doing nothing is never an option at Affinity Education. Where a concern is substantiated, we take decisive action, including removing individuals who do not meet our standards, without exception.
How we keep children safe every day
Child protection and mandatory reporting
All educators are trained in child protection and understand their legal obligations under mandatory reporting laws. We work closely with relevant authorities on any matter that requires it.
Recruitment and screening
Every team member goes through our Suitability, Criminal Record and Background Checks Procedure before they set foot in a centre, and screening continues throughout their employment, not just at the point of hire.
Secure, monitored environments
Centres operate with secured, monitored entry points, maintained perimeter fencing, and strict sign-in and sign-out procedures - only authorised carers may collect a child. Many centres also operate under our CCTV Policy.
Active supervision
Our educators maintain engaged, anticipatory supervision at all times, not passive monitoring. Every team member plays an active role in identifying and responding to risk, in line with our #ChildSafetyStartsWithMe approach.
Rest and sleep safety
Children rest in calm, individual sleep spaces. We follow national safe sleep guidelines and our own Safe Sleep and Rest Procedure, including 5-10 minute sleep checks, to ensure every child is safe and comfortable while they rest.
Sun safety
We follow SunSmart guidelines and our own Sun Safety Policy and Procedure across all centres. Outdoor play is scheduled at low-UV times, and children wear hats and SPF 50+ sunscreen, both provided as part of our standard inclusions.
Health, hygiene and medical needs
We follow strict hygiene protocols every day, including handwashing routines, safe chemical storage, food handling standards and illness prevention practices. Individual medical and dietary needs are documented and communicated clearly, with allergy placemats, food identification cards and medical management plans in place for every child who needs them.
Excursions and transport
Excursions are not a regular feature of our programs. When they do occur, a detailed risk assessment and our transport safety procedures are in place before any child leaves the centre.
Emergency preparedness
Educators and children take part in regular emergency drills under our Emergency Response and Evacuation Procedure, so every team member knows exactly what to do.
Every safeguard above sits within a named, documented policy - you can view our full library on our Policies & Procedures page.
Working with families
Child safety is most effective when it's a shared commitment. We work in close partnership with families, encourage open communication, and take every concern seriously through our Complaints Policy and Procedure.
Centre Managers are available to speak with families at any time. If something doesn't feel right to you, we want to hear it.
National oversight, local accountability
Our national Safety, Compliance and Education teams work directly alongside centre teams, not just as auditors, but as coaches and partners. Safety is embedded into every induction, team meeting and training session across our network.
At Affinity, protecting children isn't just a responsibility. It's our purpose.
