The Safe Start: Protective Behaviours for Children (Safe Start) program seeks to maximise the safety and enhance the wellbeing of children (aged 3 - 12 years) and encourage them to reach their full potential. While the program’s concepts and strategies apply to a broad range of situations, there is a focus on reducing the risk of harmful behaviours including physical, emotional and sexual abuse, neglect, bullying, suicide, self harm and substance abuse.
The program was developed in 2008 in recognition of deficiencies of the international Protective Behaviours program. Safe Start retains the strengths of Protective Behaviours while including a number of additional key safety concepts and delivery methods to reflect current best practice in child protection. Note:
Safe T: Protective Behaviours for Young People is an adaptation of the Safe Start: Protective Behaviours for Children program, targeting young people aged 13 - 19 years.
The program has been independently reviewed and has been found to be effective in providing prevention education to reduce the risk of victimisation for children and adolescents, including the various harmful behaviours.
The Safe Start program is based on the following core philosophies:
- Children and young people have a right to be safe and to feel safe.
- Concerned adults have a responsibility to protect children and young people from harm and to equip them with safety knowledge and skills.
- A healthy self esteem is fundamental to self protection and a person’s ability to reach their full potential.
- To maximise their safety, children and young people need to be equipped with an awareness of risks and empowered with strategies and skills to effectively respond to safety threats.
- Child protection is a community responsibility.
Four safety concepts underpin the Safe Start program:
1. I am special, so are you.
Objective: To build a healthy self worth and encourage respect and empathy for others.
2. Safety is my right
Objective: To identify and effectively respond to potentially unsafe situations and environments, including bullying.
3. My body belongs to me
Objective: To identify, prevent and stop all forms of abuse.
4. I can get help
Objective: To access help from trusted adults and relevant organisations.
The Safe Start program aims to assist children to:
- build a healthy self esteem and resilience
- encourage respect and empathy for others
- identify and effectively respond to potentially unsafe situations
- identify, prevent and stop inappropriate behaviour
- remove victim blame, if abuse takes place
- access help from trusted adults and relevant organisations
- report abuse and continue reporting until the abuse stops
- reduce the risk of engaging in abusive behaviour
To achieve these aims, it is acknowledged that the adults responsible for children’s safety and education require information and skill development to:
- identify risks faced by children
- recognise, and appropriately respond to indicators and disclosures of abuse/inappropriate behaviour
- gain an awareness of dangerous “safety” messages and practices and avoid these
- relay and reinforce key safety concepts and strategies to children and encourage the development of skills to maximise their safety
- create a supportive environment to promote children’s safety and wellbeing and to build positive relationships with children and young people
- role model the program’s key concepts and strategies.
| Purpose: |
To equip, empower and inspire participants with an awareness of risks, key safety messages and support strategies to maximise the ‘people safety’ of children (aged 3 - 12 years).
Note: ‘People safety’ refers to any threat to a child perpetrated by known or unknown adults or other children and young people including various forms of abuse, bullying and abduction. |
| Duration: |
2 hours
|
| Target audience: |
Parents, carers, teachers, social workers, counsellors,
support workers, child protection workers, community workers,
childcare providers, youth workers and service club leaders
(e.g. Guides and Scouts).
|
| Participant numbers: |
Up to 200 participants
|
| Learning methods: |
Lecture-style presentation with visual aids. Participants
have the opportunity to ask questions.
|
| Testimonials: |
‘Absolutely worth every second. Is a good wake-up call to remain aware and keep our kids educated’
‘Excellent examples and highly appropriate. Can take info away and really use it’
‘I will be recommending to anyone who’ll listen to attend the next workshop. I’m really keen to starting putting your suggestions into practice!’
‘I’ll be pushing this at my P & C.’
‘Cogent, committed, passionate – thanks for caring’
‘Very useful information. All teachers should have the opportunity to participate in this workshop’
‘Information was research-based and strategies discussed were practical’
‘Presentation very suitable for parents’
‘Great refresher of issues/ideas. Really impressed with course facilitator’s knowledge. Has made me think of strategies I need to start using at home with my child.’
|
| Further information: |
Further information regarding this workshop can be accessed
by visiting the Member Login section
or by contacting us.
|
| Purpose: |
To equip, empower and inspire participants with a sound understanding of risks, key safety messages and support strategies to maximise the ‘people safety’ of children (aged 3 - 12 years).
This interactive workshop includes a range of activities and resources to assist participants to conduct their own in-agency awareness sessions for protective adults and safety sessions for children (aged 3 - 12 years).
Note: ‘People safety’ refers to any threat to a child or young person perpetrated by known or unknown adults or other children and young people including various forms of abuse, bullying and abduction. |
| Duration: |
1 day (approx. 8 hour including meal breaks)
|
| Target audience: |
Parents, carers, teachers, social workers, counsellors,
support workers, child protection workers, community workers,
childcare providers, youth workers and service club leaders
(e.g. Guides and Scouts).
|
| Participant numbers: |
Up to 20 participants (negotiable)
|
| Learning methods: |
Class and group activities including brainstorming, discussion
and a demonstration of activities that can be used by participants
with their own clients.
|
| Further information: |
Further information regarding this workshop can be
accessed by visiting the Member
Login section or by contacting
us.
|
Safe Start Coordinator Workshop
Purpose: |
To equip, empower and inspire participants with knowledge and skills to assist with the implementation and ongoing coordination of the Safe Start: Protective Behaviours for Children program in a school or children’s organisation.
|
Duration: |
4 hours
|
Target audience: |
Staff nominated to become the Safe Start School Coordinator or Organisation Coordinator, e.g. principals, deputy principals, teachers, school counsellors, guidance officers or children’s organisation representatives.
Note: The one day Safe Start Presenter Workshop is a prerequisite to attending the Coordinator Workshop.
|
Participant numbers: |
Up to 20 participants (negotiable)
|
Learning methods: |
A combination of lecture-style teaching with visual aids and interactive methods including role plays, brainstorming and discussion.
|
Further information: |
Further information regarding this workshop can be
accessed by visiting the Member
Login section or by contacting
us.
|
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