Statement attributed to City of Ballarat CEO, Evan King
Child safety and wellbeing is our highest priority at all City of Ballarat operated education and care services. As a Council-run not-for-profit service, we operate solely to provide a safe, nurturing environment where children can learn, grow, and thrive.
We are aware that recent distressing allegations in Melbourne's early childhood education sector have raised concerns in our community. Although no Ballarat-based centres are involved, we understand the anxiety this causes and assure the community that the wellbeing and safety of every child in our care remains our top priority.
Our practices, policies, and staff actions are all designed to ensure child safety, following the National Quality Framework (NQF) and Child Safe Standards. We also have our own Practice Guide for Educators, which outlines our commitment to best practices in early childhood education.
Our policies and procedures, reviewed annually, exceed standard requirements and are available for viewing via our online portal, accessible to families enrolled in City of Ballarat services. These policies are also available in hard copy at each service. The two key safeguarding policies include:
Child Protection Policy: Ensures staff protect children from harm, understand reporting obligations, and follow risk management strategies.
Child Safe Environment Policy: Ensures our environments and practices are always safe.
Our recruitment process includes the following requirements:
- All staff must have a minimum Certificate III qualification to be employed. We do not employ 'working towards' or trainees.
- We use our own bank of qualified casual educators who have undertaken all required City of Ballarat screening processes. We do not use recruitment agencies to hire educators.
- Reference checks are completed as part of the recruitment process.
- Current National Police Checks which must be less than three months old upon appointment and updated every three years.
- Working with Children Checks which are updated every six months.
Examples of our child safety practices across our policies and procedures that we are proud to highlight include:
- Consistent staffing arrangements and strict adherence to minimum educator to child ratios at all times in all programs, and above-ratio arrangements as necessary.
- No personal devices for staff in centre-based learning spaces since August 2023.
- Regular quality and compliance visits from a leadership team that was established in 2018 and expanded in 2024.
- At least five Child Safe Officers within our organisation.
- Annual training on Child Safe Standards and mandatory reporting.
- Strong leadership structure promoting a culture of child safety.
- Thorough policies that are reviewed on an annual basis.
- An open-door policy for family access to learning areas.
- Visual displays supporting children to report concerns.
- Strict requirements for students on work placements.
- Partnerships with early years services and associated programs.
The 'four eyes' principle is also currently being considered as an addition to our current policies and procedures.
While we work through requirements from separate State and Federal Government reviews, our Children's Services management team continues to meet regularly to discuss, review and edit policies and procedures.
The City of Ballarat is committed to keeping our families updated regarding this matter and will inform the community as further developments arise.
I wish to reassure the entire community that child safety remains our ultimate priority in all of our childcare services.
Should you have any concerns or questions, please do not hesitate to contact your Centre Coordinator.
