Children playing on a wooden floor with toy dinosaurs, wooden blocks, and animal figurines.

Safeguarding Children & Young People

Child safety sits at the centre of everything the Y does. We have zero tolerance for the harm or neglect of any child or young person, and we take our legal, ethical and community responsibilities seriously.

We never treat safeguarding as finished business. Our practices are reviewed and strengthened continually, with greater transparency and stronger policies protecting every child and young person across our programs, centres and sites.

That commitment extends to every corner of the organisation, from early learning and recreation to youth programs and disability supports, and it shapes how we design every Y space.

We back this work with Y Safeguarding, an independent national entity established to drive progress in child safety across the country. Its Feel Safe, Be Safe Framework guides everything we do, so children and young people feel safe and are safe, at the Y, at home and in their community.

Poster showing a staff member and a young child with the text, 'Safeguarding children and young people,' displayed on a wall at a childcare facility.

Feel Safe, Be Safe at the Y

Y Safeguarding aims to drive our collective approach to safeguarding children and young people and have developed our own Feel Safe, Be Safe Framework which ensures that all children and young people are safe and feel safe at the Y, in their families and in their communities. Our Feel Safe, Be Safe Framework develops: - A safe culture nationally which empowers Children and Young People by promoting Children and Young Person focused leadership and governance; - Safe environments at the Y and in communities which empower Children and Young People to thrive - Safe operations to ensure Y People have the right policies, processes and practices to keep Children and Young People safe.

Tell Someone

If you see something:
You might notice something that worries you, such as an adult crossing a boundary with a child or young person, someone who seems hurt, frightened or withdrawn, or a situation that doesn’t feel safe. You don’t need proof or to be certain. If it concerns you, tell us.
If you hear something:
A child or young person might tell you something directly, or you might overhear a comment or conversation that raises a concern. Listen calmly, thank them for telling you, and don’t promise to keep it secret. Then pass it on as soon as you can.
If you feel something:
Sometimes it’s a sense that something isn’t right, even when you can’t point to one thing. That feeling is worth acting on. You know the children and young people around you, and you don’t need to be sure before you speak up.

We want you to feel safe, and be safe

If you think you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 000.

The Y is a global youth movement where we take pride in providing a wide range of programs and services to support children and young people. We strive to always have a positive impact and support young people to reach their potential.

If you have a concern about the safety or wellbeing of you or another participant in our programs or services, you can fill out our Report a Safeguarding Concern Form below. We take the safety and wellbeing of children and young people seriously. When you tell us about a concern, a member of our team will review it and decide on the right next steps.

While the Y cannot conduct criminal investigations, provide child protection services or deliver crisis services, there is always support available.

Safeguarding at the Y

The safety and wellbeing of children and young people is our highest priority, and safeguarding is non-negotiable in everything we do.

Report a Safeguarding Concern Read our Safeguarding Policies

Badge displaying QIP Safeguarding Standards Accreditation and Quality Innovation Performance Accredited text with shield and people icon.

We are QIP Safeguarding Accredited

Y Whittlesea, is QIP Safeguarding Accredited. Independent assessors reviewed our safeguarding policies and practices against the nationally recognised QIP Standards for Safeguarding Children and Adults at Risk. They spoke with a cross section of our staff and the people we support, and looked at how our governance works in practice. Safeguarding is non-negotiable at the Y. It shows up in how we listen, how we treat one another, and how seriously we take every concern.

Other support programs available to you

If you’re feeling down, or are in trouble you can call any of the following organisations to ask for help. Click on the boxes to find out more. If you are in immediate danger, call police, fire and ambulance on Triple 000.