National Child Protection Week – A Child is Never Alone at the Y
This National Child Protection Week we join with all other Ys across Australia to support the Y Australia Policy Statement Early Childhood Education and Care
At The Y Canberra Region we are proud of our decades long commitment to Safeguarding:
👉 A child is never alone at the Y:
We exceed National Quality Standards by always ensuring a minimum of two-staff ratio is always place, prioritising child safety and support for our educators over profit.
👉 Accountability and direct proven commitment to the Royal Commission Recommendations:
We have consistently implemented and invested in the recommendations from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
👉 Safeguarding is embedded in our DNA:
As the first Y member to adopt the National Safeguarding Framework, we integrate child safety across leadership, governance, culture, and daily practice.
👉 Board-level governance on Safeguarding:
We are the only NFP ECEC provider in Canberra with an independent board sponsor for Safeguarding—ensuring access to frontline voices.
👉 Independently accredited for Safeguarding excellence:
The Y Canberra Region is proud to have its commitment to child safety independently recognised by the Australian Childhood Foundation (ACF), achieving an Excellence rating in Safeguarding through external accreditation.
👉 Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility:
All Y staff, volunteers, and board members undergo national police checks and WWVP, mandatory safeguarding training, and are subject to internal and external audits.
👉 We (re)-invest in child safety over profit:
Even in a tough economic climate, The Y refuses to compromise on safety, investing in staff ratios, specialist Safeguarding roles, training, governance, and culture
👉 “No unauthorised photography or filming” rules in place:
The Y maintains strict policies regarding the use of photography, filming and personal devices. Mobile phones are strictly prohibited during any activities involving the education and care of children and young people.
👉 Children are educated and empowered:
We teach children age-appropriate safety behaviours and amplify their voices, promoting rights-based, child-led participation in their own safety.
👉 We Invest in recruitment and onboarding to enhance safety:
Our recruitment and onboarding process applies sophisticated background checks and pattern analysis, because diligence is not a burden, it’s a duty
👉 Long-term specialist leadership in Safeguarding👈
We are one of the only NFP Canberra-based ECEC providers with a long-serving, senior-level Safeguarding Coordinator ensuring continuity, expertise, and strategic focus.
We hold ourselves to high standards of Safeguarding. We know we are not immune to criminal behaviour, and we stand humble, vigilant, and transparent in building a better, safer Canberra Region for our children.
Children should always feel safe and be feel safe at The Y.