Category Archives: Parent and Professional Resources

On a hot Australian afternoon, the backyard pool often becomes the heart of family life. Laughter echoes, splashes sparkle in the sunlight, and children gain confidence as they learn to float or dive. Yet, behind these joyful moments lies a sobering reality: drowning remains one of the leading causes of accidental death for children under five…

Australia is blessed with long summers, endless beaches, and blue skies — but it also comes with some of the highest UV radiation levels in the world. This makes sun protection a year-round priority, not just a summertime concern. In fact, skin damage from the sun can occur in as little as 10 minutes on a high-UV day,…

For new parents, few things feel as magical — or as daunting — as bringing a baby home. Tiny fingers, soft yawns, midnight feeds… and the sudden weight of responsibility for this little life. One of the most pressing concerns many parents face is sleep safety. Sleep is essential for a baby’s growth, development, and well-being….

Whether you’re a parent lifting your toddler into a car seat or an educator moving furniture in a classroom, manual tasks are part of everyday life. But here’s the catch: manual lifting is one of the most common causes of injury in both workplaces and homes. Back strain, shoulder injuries, and repetitive stress can sneak up…

Every interaction between a child and an adult shapes the child’s sense of trust, identity, and belonging. This is why ethics — the values and principles guiding our decisions — are so important in early childhood settings. The Early Childhood Australia (ECA) Code of Ethics is not just a professional document for educators; it’s also a powerful resource…

Children are natural explorers. They test boundaries, ask questions, and push limits — this is how they learn. But as parents, we also know there are times when behaviours cross lines, or when children encounter unsafe situations, including behaviours that may feel confusing or sexualised. The Protective Behaviours program, used widely in Western Australia, equips children…

“Child safe” isn’t a poster on a wall—it’s a culture. It’s the everyday ways adults listen to children, act on concerns, plan ahead for risks, and treat every child’s dignity as non-negotiable. Australia’s National Principles for Child Safe Organisations give families and services a shared roadmap for doing exactly that. The Principles grew out of the Royal…

Children are photographed, filmed, and connected earlier than any generation before. That’s wonderful for celebrating learning and keeping families in the loop—but it also raises real risks around privacy, consent, storage, and misuse. Australia’s early childhood regulators and governments have introduced a National Model Code for Taking Images or Videos of Children while providing ECEC, alongside guidelines…

Food is fuel, yes—but for babies and young children it’s also wiring for the brain, scaffolding for immunity, and the daily practice of listening to hunger/fullness cues. Australia’s leading resources—NHMRC Infant Feeding Guidelines, the Australian Dietary Guidelines (via Dietitians Australia), and the Get Up & Grow collection—give parents a clear, evidence-based path from birth through the early years.  Below,…