Child Safety

Last updated: June 2026

Our commitment

At Starlings, children’s safety, wellbeing, and dignity are our highest priority.

We believe every child deserves to learn, move, and grow in an environment where they feel genuinely safe and respected. We take our responsibility to protect children with the utmost seriousness, and we expect everyone who works with or for Starlings to do the same.

This policy applies to all Starlings coaches, employees, volunteers, and contractors.

Working With Children Checks

Every Starlings coach and adult representative who has direct contact with children holds a current Working With Children Check (WWCC) issued under the Working with Children Act 2005 (Vic).

We maintain and verify records of all WWCCs before any coach works with children and ensure checks remain current. No person will be permitted to deliver Starlings programs unless a valid WWCC has been confirmed.

Centre directors are welcome to request WWCC numbers for any Starlings team member before or at the time of service.

Code of conduct

Everyone who works with Starlings agrees to the following standards when working with children.

Always:

  • Treat every child with dignity, patience, and genuine respect
  • Use age-appropriate language and communication
  • Maintain appropriate physical boundaries at all times
  • Prioritise a child’s safety and comfort over program delivery
  • Listen and take seriously anything a child tells you
  • Report any child safety concern immediately

Never:

  • Use physical punishment or any form of discipline involving physical contact
  • Engage in any form of emotional, verbal, or physical abuse or humiliation
  • Use language that demeans, mocks, or excludes any child
  • Be alone with a child in a setting that is not visible to Centre educators
  • Photograph or film children using personal devices
  • Use personal mobile phones during sessions

Physical contact

Some physical contact in movement programs is a normal and appropriate part of supporting young children — steadying a child during a balance activity, guiding an arm through a throwing motion, or a high-five after a great effort.

Our guidelines:

  • Physical contact is only appropriate when it serves a clear purpose of support, safety, or encouragement directly related to the activity
  • Contact is brief and limited to hands, head, or shoulders.
  • If a child indicates (verbally or through body language) that they do not want to be touched, coaches respect this immediately and without question
  • Coaches do not engage in extended or repeated one-on-one physical contact with individual children

One-to-one situations

Coaches must not be alone in an enclosed or private space with a single child. Where a child requires individual attention, this should happen in a space that is open and visible to Centre educators.

If an educator leaves the room during a session, the Starlings coach ensures another adult is present or visible before continuing.

Photography and filming

Images and footage of children are sensitive personal information.

Starlings coaches and staff:

  • Do not photograph or film children using personal devices during any session
  • Do not share images of children on personal social media accounts, under any circumstances
  • Only use authorised Starlings devices where program photography is required for legitimate business purposes
  • Will only capture images of children where the Centre has confirmed that written parental consent is in place

Centres are responsible for holding appropriate photo consent from families before authorising any photography during Starlings sessions.

Recognising signs of concern

All Starlings coaches receive guidance on recognising indicators that a child may be experiencing harm or neglect. Signs may include unexplained physical marks, significant changes in behaviour or mood, or a direct disclosure from the child.

If a child discloses abuse

If a child says or does something that suggests they are being harmed or are at risk of harm, Starlings coaches are committed to:

  1. Stay calm and listen without interrupting
  2. Do not promise to keep what they say a secret
  3. Do not ask leading questions or press for further details
  4. Acknowledge the child — “Thank you for telling me. You’ve done the right thing.”
  5. Report it to the Centre Director immediately after ensuring the child is safe

Coaches will not attempt to investigate, comfort excessively, or take any action beyond these steps before the Centre has been notified.

Mandatory reporting

Under the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 (Vic), certain individuals who work with children are mandatory reporters, including early childhood workers. Where Starlings coaches are engaged in activities that bring them within the scope of this obligation, they will comply fully with their duty to report a reasonable belief that a child is in need of protection.

Starlings also operates in accordance with Victoria’s Child Safe Standards, established under the Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005 (Vic) and overseen by the Commission for Children and Young People (CCYP). These standards guide how we design our programs, train our coaches, and respond to concerns.

Any concern about a child’s safety or wellbeing will be reported to the Centre Director promptly. If we believe a child faces immediate risk of harm, we will contact:

  • Child Protection — Victoria (DFFH): 13 12 78 (after hours / crisis line)
  • Emergency services: 000

Responsibilities of childcare centres

When Starlings delivers programs at a Centre:

  • The Centre retains overall responsibility for the supervision and welfare of children in its care
  • Centre educators must remain in the room, or within direct line of sight, during all Starlings sessions
  • The Centre must inform Starlings before each session of any medical, behavioural, or safety information relevant to participating children
  • The Centre must meet its own mandatory reporting and child protection obligations under applicable law

Starlings coaches do not count toward or supplement the Centre’s required educator-to-child ratios.

Complaints

If a parent, carer, educator, or Centre Director has any concern about the conduct of a Starlings coach, or about any aspect of child safety in our programs, we want to hear about it immediately.

Email us: [email protected]

We treat all concerns seriously and with full confidentiality where possible. We will acknowledge your concern promptly and keep you informed of the outcome.

Where a complaint involves conduct that may be criminal, we will report it to Victoria Police and cooperate fully with any regulatory investigation by the Commission for Children and Young People or any other authority.

Policy review

This policy is reviewed annually and updated as required to reflect changes in legislation, regulation, or best practice in child safety.

Next review due: June 2027

Contact us

Starlings
Email: [email protected]
Website: starlings.au