2024-2025 Impact Report

Throughout the year, our strong partnership with the National Y Safeguarding Team enabled active participation in multiple Communities of Practice and national training initiatives. These sessions served as valuable platforms for knowledge sharing, professional development, and sector alignment on best-practice safeguarding approaches.

The Y Canberra Region team have been involved in the consultation phase of the National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse, launched through their Change Academy. This program aims to create training for staff regarding disclosures from children and we were honoured to be part of the development prior to its roll out.

In addition, we worked in close collaboration with our National Safeguarding Manager to undertake a comprehensive self-assessment of our current practices to further align with the National Principals for Child Safe Organisations and the ACT Child Safe Standards. This process allowed us to further align our systems and culture, reinforcing our commitment to continuous improvement

By contributing to national consultation and consistently engaging in professional communities, the Y Canberra Region continues to play a proactive role in shaping and implementing high-quality, evidence-based safeguarding practices that prioritise the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people.

This year, we prioritised sharing our deep commitment to safeguarding with our families across the Y Canberra Region. To enhance transparency and build trust, the Safeguarding Team developed a tailored presentation and actively participated in centre open nights and information sessions.

These sessions provided an opportunity to walk families through our comprehensive safeguarding framework, including robust onboarding procedures, ongoing staff training, and our commitment to being a Child Safe Organisation. We also addressed important topics such as safe recruitment practices and clear reporting pathways, in response to questions from families.

The engagement was overwhelmingly positive, fostering greater awareness and confidence in our safeguarding culture, and reinforcing the vital partnership between families and the Y in keeping children and young people safe.

As part of our ongoing commitment to strengthening child safeguarding practices, the Y Canberra Region’s Safeguarding Lead attended the 7th National Child Protection Forum in Brisbane.

This important sector-wide event brought together national leaders, keynote speakers, and specialists in child protection, trauma-informed care, and systems reform. With a strong emphasis on lived experience, the forum challenged attendees to think critically about the gaps in current systems and explore ways to drive meaningful, child-centred change.

Participating in this forum provided valuable insights into the diverse approaches to safeguarding across states and territories. It enabled us to benchmark our own practices against national trends, learn from other jurisdictions, and consider how shared challenges can be addressed through innovation, collaboration, and alignment.

Our Protective Behaviours sessions are thoughtfully designed to introduce preschool-aged children to personal safety concepts in a gentle, age-appropriate way. Using engaging activities and purposely selected content, we empower children with the foundational message that everyone has the right to feel safe and be safe at all times.

Children are guided to identify their personal “Safety Network” – trusted adults they can turn to when feeling worried, unsafe, or unsure. Sessions also explore the body’s Early Warning Signs and a broad range of emotions, helping children to understand and articulate their feelings in a supportive environment.

Aligned with Learning Frameworks and the ACT Child Safe Standards, these sessions provide an accessible and meaningful way for children to engage with important safety concepts. Each session concludes with a take-home activity or worksheet that reinforces learning and encourages continued conversations with families or within the service.

By making body safety learnings both fun and educational, we’re equipping children with the knowledge and confidence to recognise unsafe situations and seek support when needed.

The Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) sector is undergoing significant reform, with wide-ranging changes to laws, regulations, and national frameworks set to take effect. These reforms aim to strengthen child safety, improve service quality, and ensure greater transparency and accountability across all providers.

At the Y Canberra Region, we welcome these developments as a vital step toward ensuring that every child feels safe, is safe, and provided the opportunity to thrive. With our contribution to National Jurisdictional Forums and feedback invitationals, we are helping to create positive change and a safer world with and for children and young people.