Child Safety in Early Childhood Settings

The Victorian Child Safe Standards provide the framework to support this responsibility, helping organisations move beyond compliance to build cultures where child safety and wellbeing are embedded in everyday practice. At the heart of the Standards is a clear expectation: that the safety, wellbeing, and best interests of children remain the primary consideration in every decision an organisation makes.

The Geccko training modules have become an important resource for services. These modules provide practical guidance on understanding the Standards, recognising indicators of harm, responding appropriately to concerns, managing risks, and embedding child-safe practices across all aspects of an organisation’s operations. The training supports participants to move beyond compliance and develop a deeper understanding of how child safety is demonstrated in everyday practice.

Importantly, responsibility for child safety does not rest solely with staff and school leaders. The revised Child Safe Standards place significant emphasis on governance and leadership. Boards and governing authorities are expected to actively oversee child safety risks, monitor compliance, and ensure that child safety remains a strategic priority for the organisation.

For this reason, it is essential that Board members undertake the Geccko Child Safe Standards training. Participation in training enables Board members to better understand their governance obligations, strengthen oversight of child safety systems, and contribute to a culture of accountability and continuous improvement. It also ensures that governing bodies are well positioned to ask informed questions, review organisational practices, and provide assurance that the modules are being effectively implemented.

By investing in ongoing training and maintaining a strong governance focus, services can create environments where children feel safe, valued, respected, and empowered. Ultimately, the Child Safe Standards are not simply a compliance requirement; they are a commitment to placing the wellbeing of children at the centre of everything an organisation does.

It is acknowledged that many services are currently required to undertake multiple layers of child safety training, often resulting in perceived overlap and repetition of content across programs. In particular, organisations are frequently completing training through the Geccko modules, alongside additional mandatory child safety and reporting training requirements.

This matter has been raised with the Department of Education, reflecting sector feedback regarding the duplication of content and the associated time commitment for staff. While these concerns have been acknowledged, the Department has maintained its expectation that organisations continue to complete the PROTECT training requirements in addition to the National Geccko modules. The Department’s position is that each training program addresses varying aspects of child safety, safeguarding responsibilities, and mandatory reporting obligations, and therefore forms an important component of a comprehensive child safety framework.