Policies

Our policies cover all mandatory and best practice areas related to the National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education and Care (NQF).

Our policies also now reflect the Child Safe Standards across various policies. These standards guide organisations in promoting the safety of children, preventing abuse and properly responding to any allegations of child abuse.

These policies have been developed based upon information and resources recommended by the peak body Early Learning Association of Australia to assist early services develop and update policies and procedures to meet legislative, regulatory and funding requirements.

At Appletree Hill Preschool, we value family input into decision making and strive to draw upon this input to continuously improve the quality of the centre. We are therefore pleased to invite you to view the preschool’s policies, particularly those that are currently in draft, and provide any feedback or comments via email [email protected] or to the Centre Director on 03 9560 2940.

Further information on the National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education and Care (NQF) is also available on the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) website via www.acecqa.gov.au

Please click here for the Policy General Definitions.

Policies Under Review

Families will be notified when new or updated policies are published for review. They will be available for feedback for a minimum of 14 days before becoming current.

Quality Area	View	Policy	Type	Links to Child Safe Standards	Last Reviewed	Next Review	Status
1	View	Curriculum Development	Best Practice		Sep-22	Sep-24	Current
1	View	Inclusion and Equity	Best Practice	✔	Nov-24	Nov-25	Current
2	View	Administration of First Aid	Mandatory		Aug-24	Aug-25	Current
2	view	Administration of Medication	Best Practice		Apr-24	Apr-25	Current
2	View	Anaphylaxis and Allergic Reactions	Mandatory		May-24	Apr-25	Current
2	View	Asthma	Mandatory		Apr-24	Mar-25	Current
2	view	Child Safe Environment and Wellbeing	Mandatory	✔	Nov-24	Nov-25	Current
2	View	Dealing with Infectious Diseases	Mandatory		Nov-24	Nov-25	Current
2	View	Dealing with Medical Conditions	Mandatory		Apr-24	Apr-25	Current
2	View	Diabetes	Mandatory		Apr-24	Apr-25	Current
2	View	Emergency and Evacuation	Mandatory		Nov-24	Nov-25	Current
2	View	Epilepsy and Seizures	Best Practice		Apr-24	Apr-25	Current
2	View	eSafety for Children	Best Practice	✔	Nov-24	Nov-25	Current
2	View	Excursions and Service Events	Mandatory		Nov-24	Nov-25	Current
2	View	Family Violence Support	Mandatory		Apr-24	Mar-25	Current
2	View	Food Safety	Best Practice		Apr-24	Mar-26	Current
2	View	Hygiene	Best Practice		Nov-24	Nov-25	Current
2	View	Mental Health and Wellbeing	Best Practice	✔	Aug-24	Aug-25	Current
2	View	Sleep and Rest	Mandatory		Apr-24	Mar-25	Current
2	View	Sun Protection	Mandatory		May-24	Apr-25	Current
2	View	Supervision of Children	Best Practice		Nov-24	Nov-25	Current
2	View	Tobacco, E- Cigarettes, Alcohol and other Drugs	Best Practice		Apr-24	Mar-25	Current
2	View	Water Safety	Mandatory		Apr-24	Mar-25	Current
3	View	Environmental Sustainability	Best Practice		Nov-24	Nov-25	Current
3	View	Occupational Health and Safety	Mandatory		Apr-24	Apr-25	Current
4	View	Code of Conduct	Mandatory	✔	Nov-24	Nov-25	Current
4	View	Determining Responsible Person	Mandatory		Jul-24	Jul-25	Current
4	View	Participation of Volunteers and Students	Mandatory		Nov-24	Nov-25	Current
4	view	Staffing	Mandatory		Nov-24	Nov-25	Current
5	View	Interactions with Children	Mandatory	✔	Nov-24	Nov-25	Current
6	View	Enrolment and Orientation	Mandatory		Jul-24	Jul-25	Current
7	View	Compliments and Complaints	Mandatory	✔	Nov-24	Nov-25	Current
7	View	Free Kindergarten Fees	Mandatory		Mar-23	Mar-24	Current
7	View	Governance and Management of the Service	Mandatory		Nov-24	Nov-25	Current
7	View	Information Communication Technology	Best Practice	✔	Jul-24	Apr-26	Current
7	View	Occupational Violence and Aggression	Mandatory		Apr-24	Mar-25	Current
7	View	Privacy and Confidentiality	Mandatory	✔	Nov-24	Nov-25	Current
7	View	Whistleblower	Mandatory		Apr-24	Apr-25	Current
2	View	Safe Arrival of Children	Mandatory		Apr-24	Nov-24	Current
7	View	Staff Recruitment	Best Practice		Apr-24	Apr-26	Current
7	View	Staff Grievances and Dispute Resolution	Best Practice		Nov-24	Apr-26	Current
7	View	Prevention of Harassment and Bullying	Mandatory		Nov-24	Mar-26	Current
2	View	In-nature Program	Best Practice		Jul-24	Jul-25	Current
2	View	Acceptance and Refusal of Authorisations	Mandatory		Sep-24	Sep-25	Current
2	View	Delivery and Collection of Children	Mandatory		Oct-24	Oct-25	Current
1	View	Educational Program	Mandatory		Nov-24	Nov-25	Current
2	View	Incident, Injury, Trauma and Illness	Mandatory		Nov-24	Nov-25	Current
2	View	Nutrition, Oral Health and Active Play	Mandatory		Nov-24	Nov-25	Current
2	View	Road Safety Education and Safe Transport	Best Practice		Nov-24	Nov-25	Current
5	View	Behaviour Support	Mandatory		Nov-24	Nov-25	Current

Child Safe Standards

All organisations in Victoria that provide services or facilities for children or young people are
required to comply with Child Safe Standards. These Standards guide organisations in
promoting the safety of children, preventing abuse and properly responding to any allegations
of child abuse.

There are 11 Child Safe Standards:

Standard 1: Culturally safe environments – Establish a culturally safe environment in
which the diverse and unique identities and experiences of Aboriginal children and
young people are respected and valued.

Standard 2: Leadership, governance and culture – Ensure that child safety and wellbeing
are embedded in school leadership, governance and culture.

Standard 3: Child and student empowerment – Children and young people are
empowered about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken
seriously.

Standard 4: Family engagement – Families and communities are informed and involved
in promoting child safety and wellbeing.

Standard 5: Diversity and equity – Equity is upheld and diverse needs are respected in
policy and practice.

Standard 6: Suitable staff and volunteers – People working with children and young
people are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in
practice.

Standard 7: Child-focused complaints processes – Ensure that processes for complaints
and concerns are child focused.

Standard 8: Child safety knowledge, skills and awareness – Staff and volunteers are
equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children and young people
safe through ongoing education and training.

Standard 9: Physical and online environments – Physical and online environments
promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for children and young
people to be harmed.

Standard 10: Review of child safety practices – Implementation of the Child Safe
Standards is regularly reviewed and improved.

Standard 11: Implementation of child safety practices – Policies and procedures that
document how schools are safe for children, young people and students.

If you would like to know more about the child safe standards and read them in full:

Child Safe Standards, Commission for Young People and Children
https://ccyp.vic.gov.au/child-safe-standards/the -11-child-safe-standards/