Children’s Wellbeing & Safety at Montessori Academy
The safety and wellbeing of every child is at the heart of everything we do. At Montessori Academy we are committed to creating safe, nurturing, and inclusive environments where children feel secure, valued, and supported to thrive. Through robust policies, ongoing staff training, and a proactive approach to risk management, we ensure that children are protected and cared for at all times. Our team works together with families and the wider community to promote a culture of safety and wellbeing across every aspect of our service.
Our Commitment to Child Safety Statement
At Montessori Academy, we are fully committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and nurturing environment where all children and young people feel valued, respected, and protected. We acknowledge our responsibility to uphold the National Child Safe Principles and implement the Child Safe Standards to strengthen our ability to prevent, identify, and respond to any risks or incidents of child abuse.
Child protection is our highest priority. We ensure all staff members undergo comprehensive screening prior to employment, including Working with Children Checks, detailed inductions on child safety policies and procedures, and ongoing training in child protection, appropriate interactions, and mandatory reporting obligations. These measures ensure that every employee is equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to maintain a safe and supportive environment for children and young people.
Our service maintains clear guidelines on acceptable and unacceptable behaviour between adults and children, ensuring professional boundaries are upheld at all times. These expectations extend to all staff, volunteers, contractors, and the wider community, reinforcing our zero-tolerance approach to any form of abuse or harm.
We have a Child Safe Environment Policy that aligns with the Child Safe Standards, reinforcing our strong commitment to safeguarding children and ensuring their well-being. Additionally, our Child Protection Policy outlines our legal and ethical responsibilities regarding mandatory reporting, ensuring that any concerns related to physical, sexual, emotional, or psychological abuse or neglect are reported and addressed promptly, appropriately, and lawfully.
In accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, we actively promote children’s right to safety, protection, and self-expression. We empower children to speak up if they feel unsafe and encourage their participation in decisions that affect them. Their voices are heard, respected, and valued within our service.
As part of our ongoing commitment to child safety, we welcome feedback from children, families, and carers, taking all concerns seriously and addressing them with transparency and urgency. Our policies and procedures are regularly reviewed and updated to reflect best practices, legislative changes, and the evolving needs of our community, ensuring continuous improvement in our child protection measures.
At Montessori Academy, we stand united in our commitment to fostering a culture of safety, trust, and respect for every child in our care.
How we prioritise children’s safety and wellbeing
A culture of safety
At Montessori Academy, child safety and wellbeing are our highest priorities. We uphold rigorous safety standards through daily checks, monthly audits, and ongoing monitoring by our Senior Compliance Team. Our Area Managers conduct regular reviews using our internal Quality Assurance Framework to ensure alignment with the National Quality Standard (NQS), while continuous training and team meetings keep safety front of mind.
We embed a culture of safety through consistent leadership communication, daily compliance practices, monthly staff meetings, and mandatory annual child protection training, ensuring every team member actively contributes to a safe and supportive environment.
Mandatory reporting
All Montessori Academy educators are Mandatory Reporters, as outlined in our policies and reinforced through staff training. This responsibility is everyone’s collective responsibility and actively promoted and supported at all levels of the organisation. All allegations are taken seriously and investigated without delay.
Best practice in safety and compliance
Transparency and accountability in incident management are fundamental to our approach to child safety. All incidents involving injury, trauma, or illness are documented within 24 hours, with families and the Regulatory Authority notified promptly. Each incident undergoes a thorough internal review, including CCTV footage and witness statement analysis, ensuring a structured and transparent response. To prevent future incidents, we investigate thoroughly, regularly review supervision strategies, conduct safety audits, refine our policies, strengthen our practices, and maintain rigorous risk management protocols.
Our culture of safety means that the above is reinforced through daily compliance check-ins, weekly compliance meetings, regular policy reviews, continuous staff training, and ongoing safety audits. These practices uphold child protection responsibilities, mandatory reporting obligations, policy compliance, and overall safety awareness.
Workforce excellence
At Montessori Academy, workforce excellence is driven by our commitment to nurturing qualified, passionate, and well-supported educators. With majority of permanent educators holding a Diploma or Bachelor qualification, and more than 100 staff advancing through sponsored studies, we prioritise professional growth, fair pay, and recognition. As a Great Place to Work Certified™ organisation, we foster a culture of continuous learning, inclusivity, and staff wellbeing to deliver exceptional early childhood education.
We believe that continuous improvement is essential to delivering the highest quality care. Through regular audits, reflective practice, and proactive solutions, we remain focused on evolving and enhancing every aspect of our services. Our highest priorities are ensuring the safety, wellbeing, and holistic development of every child in our care. We are unwavering in our commitment to upholding the highest standards across all areas of our operations now and into the future.
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At Montessori Academy, we celebrated the excellence, dedication, and innovation of Montessori Academy’s educators and team members at the 2024 Gala Awards held across Canberra, Melbourne, and Sydney.
Turramurra Montessori Academy has achieved an “Exceeding” rating in four crucial quality areas during our recent assessment by the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA). This remarkable achievement underscores the exceptional teamwork, dedication, and visionary leadership of our early childhood educators.
Montessori Academy is proud to support its educators and staff with a 10% pay increase as part of the Federal Government’s worker retention initiative. Learn more about our commitment to our team.