Child Safe Commitment Statement

OUR COMMITMENT TO CHILD SAFETY

At Little Zak’s Academy, we are dedicated to maintaining a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment where every child can grow, learn, and thrive. We believe every child has the right to be safe and feel empowered in an environment that is nurturing, respectful, and free from harm.

We uphold a zero-tolerance policy towards any form of child abuse and are resolutely committed to protecting children from harm. Our leadership, educators, and team members are united in our mission to create a culture of safety, vigilance, accountability, and transparency across all our centres.

STRONG GOVERNANCE & SYSTEMS

Our child safety policies and practices are guided by the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations, and we actively engage with the NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian and Department of Education to meet and exceed our legal and moral obligations.

To uphold the highest safety standards, all our staff and volunteers must:

• Hold a valid Working With Children Check
• Undergo rigorous reference checks
• Complete a mandatory off-floor induction at our training centre
• Sign a statutory declaration before a Justice of the Peace, affirming their fitness to work with children — including full disclosure of any prior allegations or concerns not captured in the WWCC

We require all team members to:

• Understand and comply with mandatory reporting requirements
• Follow clear guidelines for appropriate conduct
• Participate in ongoing child protection training, including identifying grooming behaviour and responding to disclosures
• Our staff are also engaged in the Child Safe Series program, which ensures they remain up-to-date on the latest safety practices and standards.

HEARING CHILDREN’S VOICES & EMPOWERMENT

We believe children are safest when they are listened to. We are committed to:

• Educating children about their rights
• Encouraging them to speak up if they feel unsafe
• Providing age-appropriate ways for children to raise concerns
• Empowering children to express their needs and be heard
• We foster a culture of diversity and inclusion, creating a welcoming space that respects the cultural, linguistic, and individual needs of every child.

FAMILY & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Safety is a shared responsibility. We work closely with families to build trust, promote mutual respect, and involve them in shaping our child safety practices.

We:

• Provide transparent communication about child safety measures
• Offer regular updates and invite feedback
• Review our safety policies annually to ensure effectiveness

RESPONDING TO CONCERNS

We take all child safety concerns seriously and act immediately when an issue is raised. Our response includes:

• Promptly notifying relevant authorities (Police and regulatory bodies)
• Removing and standing down the individual from duties pending investigation, and if a breach of our child safety policies is identified, taking decisive action including termination. We always take a precautionary approach to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of children.
• Informing affected families
• Conducting a full review of the organisations policies, procedures, and processes
• We are committed to learning from every incident and continually strengthening our systems

A CULTURE OF ACCOUNTABILITY

Child safety is embedded at every level of Little Zak’s from our Board and CEO to every educator and team member.

Dedicated senior leaders within our organisation oversees child safety compliance, staff training, and ongoing cultural improvements across all centres. We are committed to regularly reviewing and strengthening our child safety strategy and actively welcome input from staff, families, and regulators.

Through clear policies, comprehensive systems, and a steadfast commitment to the Child Safe Standards, Little Zak’s Academy ensures a safe, nurturing, and empowering environment for every child in our care.