Our Children’s Council is shaping safer OSHC experiences

Chevron left iconNews

Recently, nineteen primary-aged children joined an online meeting from OSHC services across New South Wales and ACT, supported by educators, to talk about the places they use every day at OSHC.

This was our new Children’s Council in action, a key part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring children’s voices do not just inform conversations, but shape practice.

This session formed part of our Child Voice initiative, a safeguarding and governance model designed to give children structured ways to share what helps them feel safe and supported.

Before the conversation began, the children named their own meeting guidelines, agreeing how they wanted to listen, share and support one another. The discussion that followed was led through their own words and everyday experiences.

Children spoke about what helps spaces feel calm and safe, where areas can feel crowded or loud, and what would make environments work better for everyone. They shared ideas about outdoor areas and quiet corners, clearer signs using simple words or pictures, smaller group activities, and the importance of consistent educators and clear safety rules.

So how did this new initiative come about and what is it?

It started with listening

This initiative builds on a commitment that began during National Child Protection Week in 2025, when we asked children across our services a simple but powerful question: "What makes you feel safe at OSHC?"

Thousands of children shared thoughtful and deeply personal responses. They spoke about trusted adults, friendships, boundaries, kindness and the importance of being heard. Their insights reinforced that safety is not only physical, but also relational and emotional.

With these insights, we committed to embedding what children told us into how we work, how we safeguard, and how we make decisions.

Turning child voice into action

Led by our Safeguarding Lead, Richard Sayliss, and his team, children’s voices have directly shaped and refreshed a child‑friendly safeguarding policy. Created using children’s own language, ideas and priorities, these resources help children understand what safety means at OSHC, who they can talk to if something feels wrong, and how adults are responsible for keeping them safe.

This marked a shift. Rather than adults defining safety and translating it for children, children helped inform the language, messages and emphasis themselves.

To ensure children’s voices continued to be heard beyond nationally recognised moments, Richard's team took the next step by establishing a structured Children’s Council model.

Launching the Children’s Council model

At the centre of this work is our new Children’s Council initiative.

Children are experts in their own lives. They know what makes them feel safe, included and supported, and they also know when something does not feel right.

The Children’s Council provides children with a structured, age‑appropriate and supported way to share ideas, give feedback and help shape OSHC environments. Participation is voluntary, with children able to contribute through talking, drawing, voting or creative activities.

“Children interested in joining were invited to complete an application form, where they shared why they wanted to be involved and how they could represent their peers. This process gave all children a chance to have a voice and helped ensure the council reflects a range of views, ideas, and experiences.” - Monique Macri, Regional Director, NSW/ACT

Educators facilitate the sessions, creating spaces where children feel safe, respected and comfortable to share honestly. The Children’s Council operates within a strong governance framework, supported by clear procedures, consent agreements and supervision protocols. Considerable preparation sits behind each session, ensuring children are supported while adults retain full responsibility for safety and outcomes.

What children are talking about right now

Most recently, children from multiple OSHC services across New South Wales and the ACT came together for a Children’s Council session focused on the theme of "spaces, signs and safety around us."

Led by Monique Macri, Regional Director for NSW/ACT, children shared what they enjoy most about their OSHC environments, including outdoor spaces, quiet corners and flexible play areas. They also spoke openly about places that can feel crowded or noisy, and how that affects how safe and calm they feel.

Children suggested practical ideas, including:

  • Clearer, more visible signage using simple words or pictures

  • Smaller group activities and rotating play spaces

  • Consistent educators and clear safety rules

  • Systems that recognise positive choices and kindness

“We are very proud of the way the children listened, shared respectfully, and used their voices to help shape our program.” – Monique Macri, Regional Director, NSW/ACT

These insights are already informing service‑level planning and continuous improvement. This is children’s voice in action, practical, thoughtful and grounded in lived experience.

Children are shaping our future

The Children’s Council is currently being piloted in New South Wales, ACT and Victoria as a staged approach, ensuring participation is safe, respectful and age‑appropriate.

Taken together, this work reflects a clear progression:

  • Listening to children during nationally recognised child safety moments

  • Translating children’s insights into real safeguarding practice

  • Strengthening child‑friendly policy and resources

  • Formalising how children’s voices continue to be heard through the Children’s Council

Listening to children is becoming part of how we work every day. By learning from children’s perspectives and acting on what they share, we continue to strengthen safeguarding, improve quality and support environments where children feel confident to speak up.

We are excited to share more updates as this work progresses and evolves and are deeply grateful for the commitment and work of our safeguarding team, service teams and educators for championing this work - and of course the children, families and schools, who participate and support this initiative.