Child safe policy.

01Our commitment

Educatta is committed to the safety and wellbeing of every child and young person who attends our centres or learns with us online. We take a zero-tolerance approach to child abuse, child harm, and neglect. Every concern is taken seriously and acted on.

We:

• place the safety, wellbeing, and rights of children at the centre of every decision;
• provide a welcoming, inclusive, and culturally safe environment for every child;
• listen to children and young people and take their voices seriously;
• respond promptly, fairly, and transparently to every concern, allegation, or disclosure;
• continuously improve our practice through training, review, and feedback.

02Scope & legal framework

This Policy applies to every person engaged by Educatta in any capacity, directors, employees, tutors, contractors, volunteers, and visitors, in every interaction with a child or young person at any Educatta centre, online lesson, event, or other activity.

Educatta complies with the following Western Australian and Commonwealth laws (in each case as amended):

• Working with Children (Criminal Record Checking) Act 2004 (WA) and the WWCC system administered by the Department of Communities;
• Children and Community Services Act 2004 (WA), including mandatory reporting obligations for prescribed reporters;
• Criminal Code Act Compilation Act 1913 (WA), including the offence in section 124B (failure to report sexual offences against a child);
• Equal Opportunity Act 1984 (WA);
• Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles;
• Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WA) and Regulations.

03Our child-safe principles

Our practice is guided by the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations:

1. Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in organisational leadership, governance, and culture.
2. Children and young people are informed about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them, and are taken seriously.
3. Families and communities are informed and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing.
4. Equity is upheld and diverse needs are respected.
5. People working with children are suitable and supported to reflect child-safe values in practice.
6. Processes to respond to complaints and concerns are child-focused.
7. Staff and volunteers are equipped through ongoing education and training.
8. Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising opportunities for harm.
9. Implementation of this Policy is regularly reviewed and improved.
10. Policies and procedures document how Educatta is safe for children and young people.

04Recruitment & screening

Every tutor and employee with contact with children must hold a current, valid, and unexpired Working with Children Check (WWCC) before commencing duties. A WWCC card or interim notice that is suspended, cancelled, or replaced by a negative notice immediately disqualifies the holder from any contact with children at Educatta.

We verify identity, qualifications, references, and (where lawful and proportionate) National Police History before engaging any new tutor or employee with child contact. Our recruitment communications and interviews include child-safety questions and clearly state our commitment.

05Training & supervision

Every new tutor and employee completes our child-safe induction before delivering any service. The induction covers:

• the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations;
• the Code of Conduct and this Child Safe Policy;
• warning signs and indicators of abuse and harm;
• how to respond to a disclosure;
• reporting obligations under this Policy and Western Australian law;
• online-safety practice for online classes;
• the WWCC requirement and the immediate-cease obligation if it lapses.

We run a refresher session at least every twelve months, and classroom observation, peer review, and Learning Advisor monitoring provide ongoing supervision and feedback to every tutor.

06Behaviour standards

Detailed behavioural expectations are in our Code of Conduct. In particular, every team member must:

• treat every child with respect, dignity, and inclusion;
• avoid being alone with a single child in a closed room, keep doors open and use rooms with line-of-sight;
• never use physical contact, language, or discipline that humiliates, isolates, or frightens a child;
• never have any sexual contact, sexual relationship, or any conduct of a sexual nature with a child;
• never share personal contact details with a child outside Educatta's approved channels;
• never connect with a current student on personal social media;
• never photograph, record, or share images of a child without prior written Educatta and parental consent;
• not deliver any Educatta service in any private residence, Educatta does not offer in-home tutoring.

07Reporting procedures

If a child is in immediate danger, call 000 first. Then notify the Educatta CEO or COO as soon as it is safe to do so.

Internal reporting

Any team member who has a reasonable belief that a child has been, is being, or is at risk of being harmed must report immediately to the CEO or COO and confirm the report in writing within twenty-four (24) hours by emailing learn@educatta.com.

A report must include the name of the child (if known), the nature of the concern, what was seen or heard, the date, time, and place, the names of others present, and what action has already been taken.

External reporting

• Western Australia Police, 131 444 (or 000 in an emergency).
• Department of Communities (Child Protection) Mandatory Reporting Service, 1800 708 704 (24 hours).
• Crime Stoppers, 1800 333 000.
• Kids Helpline (for the child), 1800 55 1800.

Failure to report sexual offences against a child

Under section 124B of the Criminal Code Act Compilation Act 1913 (WA), every adult has a legal duty to report to police any belief, on reasonable grounds, that a child sexual offence has been committed against a child by another adult. Failure to do so without reasonable excuse is a criminal offence. Educatta requires every team member to comply with this duty.

08Responding to a disclosure

• Listen without interrupting and take the child seriously.
• Reassure the child that they were right to tell you and that they are not in trouble.
• Do not promise confidentiality, tell the child you will need to tell someone who can help.
• Do not investigate or ask leading questions.
• Record the disclosure in the child's own words as soon as possible after the conversation.
• Report immediately under the procedures above.

09Risk management

We identify, assess, and manage risks to child safety as part of normal operational planning, including risks specific to in-person centres, online classes, and any new program.

Centre risk controls include: visible classroom doors and windows; sign-in and sign-out of every tutor and student; first-aid kits and trained first-aid officers; evacuation procedures posted in every room; restricted access to tutor-only areas; and supervision protocols for students arriving early or staying late.

Online risk controls include: classes delivered through Educatta's approved platform only; cameras and microphones on for tutors at all times; no one-to-one private chat between tutor and student outside the approved platform; tutor recording prohibited without authorisation; and the right of Educatta staff to drop in to any class for monitoring.

We review risk controls at least annually and after any incident. We carry public liability insurance covering centres, online classes, and staff in the course of their employment, and workers' compensation insurance under the Workers Compensation and Injury Management Act 2023 (WA).

10Complaints & whistleblower protection

Complaints can be made to any tutor, the Learning Advisor, the COO, the CEO, or by emailing learn@educatta.com or calling (08) 6157 1525. We acknowledge every complaint within two business days, investigate fairly and confidentially, and communicate the outcome to the complainant where appropriate.

Educatta supports and protects every person who reports suspected child abuse, harm, neglect, or breach of this Policy in good faith. A person making a protected disclosure will not be subject to detriment, retaliation, or adverse action. Their identity is kept confidential to the extent permitted by law.

Unresolved complaints can be taken to the Department of Communities, the Equal Opportunity Commission of Western Australia, or the police.

11Cultural safety & inclusion

Educatta recognises the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children to express, enjoy, and develop their culture safely.

We provide an inclusive environment for children of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, children with disability, neurodiverse children, children who have experienced trauma, and same-sex attracted, intersex, and gender-diverse children.

Discrimination, harassment, racial vilification, or exclusion of any child on the basis of a protected attribute is prohibited.

12Review & document control

This Policy is reviewed at least every two (2) years and after any significant incident or change in law. We seek feedback from children, families, tutors, and staff in reviewing the Policy. We track training completion, complaint volumes and outcomes, WWCC currency, and incident metrics.

Owner: Chief Operating Officer · Approved by: Chief Executive Officer · Version 001 · Effective 1 July 2026 · Next review: 1 July 2028.