At Young Academics, child safety is embedded in the way we teach, care, communicate and build relationships with children, families and educators every day.
As part of our ongoing commitment to creating safe, nurturing and responsive early learning environments, Young Academics has partnered with the Mummy Safety Security Project to deliver practical child safety training, professional development for educators and age-appropriate child safety education that supports children’s confidence, wellbeing and school readiness.
The partnership, recently featured by The Sector, reinforces Young Academics’ ongoing commitment to child safety, educator wellbeing and best-practice care across our early learning environments. As Young Academics CEO Ian Fionda said, “Child safety is our most important responsibility.”
This partnership is an important step in strengthening what matters most: ensuring every child feels safe, heard, respected and empowered to use their voice.
A Partnership Built on Child Safety
Early childhood education and care services are trusted with the wellbeing of young children every day. This responsibility is one we take seriously.
Through our partnership with Mummy Safety Security Project, Young Academics educators are supported with practical training that focuses on child safety, professional awareness, compliance responsibilities and best-practice responses in everyday centre environments.
The program helps educators build confidence in recognising, responding to and speaking up about safety concerns. It also reinforces the importance of clear processes, open communication and a shared commitment to protecting children.
For Young Academics, this partnership represents another meaningful step in our continuous improvement journey. As Mr Fionda noted, “This partnership is another step in that journey.”
Safety is not a box to tick. It is a culture to build.
Giving Children a Strong Voice
A key focus of the partnership is helping children understand safety in a way that is age-appropriate, practical and empowering.
Child safety education gives children the language, confidence and awareness to understand boundaries, recognise their feelings and know when to speak to a trusted adult. These are foundational skills that support not only personal safety, but also emotional development, communication and school readiness.
When children are encouraged to express themselves, they begin to understand that their voice matters. They learn that their feelings are valid, their boundaries are important and trusted adults are there to listen and support them.
This is central to the Young Academics approach. We believe children should be active participants in their own learning and wellbeing. Giving children a strong voice does not mean placing adult responsibilities on young shoulders. It means giving them the tools, language and confidence to be heard.
Connection Before Correction
One of the most powerful ideas within the program is “connection before correction.”
In early childhood, behaviour is often a form of communication. A child may not always have the words to explain that they feel overwhelmed, unsure, tired, frustrated or unsafe. Their behaviour may be telling us something important.
When educators build strong, trusting relationships with children, they are better able to understand what a child may be feeling and how best to support them. This relationship-first approach creates calmer, more responsive learning environments where children feel heard, valued and understood.
Rather than simply correcting behaviour, educators are encouraged to look deeper. What is the child communicating? What support do they need? How can we respond in a way that protects their dignity, builds trust and helps them develop emotional awareness?
For children, this creates a stronger sense of security. For educators, it builds confidence and consistency. For families, it reinforces the assurance that their child is being cared for by professionals who see the whole child, not just the moment in front of them.
Supporting Educator Confidence and Wellbeing
Child safety and educator wellbeing go hand in hand.
Educators do deeply important work every day. They support children’s learning, manage routines, build relationships, respond to emotions, communicate with families and create safe environments where children can thrive.
Through this partnership, Young Academics educators are supported with practical professional development that strengthens confidence, emotional awareness and team connection. This helps educators feel more prepared to respond to safety concerns, support children’s behaviour and maintain calm, nurturing environments.
When educators feel supported, children benefit. A confident and connected team is better equipped to create the consistent, responsive and emotionally safe environment children need to learn and grow.
A Whole-Organisation Approach to Safety
At Young Academics, safety is not limited to one training session, one policy or one person. It is a whole-organisation commitment.
This means safety is considered in our environments, educator practices, family communication, supervision, routines, learning programs and relationships with children. It also means continuing to reflect, improve and strengthen our approach as the needs of children, families and the early learning sector evolve.
Our partnership with Mummy Safety Security Project supports this whole-organisation approach by bringing together child safety training, educator wellbeing and practical tools that can be applied in daily practice.
Every interaction matters. Every routine matters. Every child’s voice matters.
Strengthening Trust with Families
Families trust Young Academics with their children every day, and we recognise the significance of that trust.
By investing in child safety education and professional development, we are reinforcing our commitment to families and strengthening the environments where children learn, play and belong.
Families can feel confident knowing that Young Academics is continuing to build on strong safety foundations through partnerships, training and a proactive approach to child wellbeing.
As Mr Fionda shared, this work is about “doing the right thing for children” while supporting educators and building trust with families.
Creating Safer Futures for Children
The early years play a powerful role in shaping how children see themselves, understand relationships and interact with the world around them.
By helping children develop confidence, understand boundaries, build trusted relationships and use their voice, we are supporting skills that will stay with them well beyond their time in early learning.
Young Academics is proud to partner with Mummy Safety Security Project as we continue to create safe, nurturing and empowering environments for children, families and educators.
Because when children feel safe, connected and heard, they are free to do what they do best: learn, grow, explore and thrive.
