Emergency and Risk Management Policy

Policy Statement

JAG is committed to providing health and safety practices that keep children and team members from harm. Our skilled Team Members utilise our processes and practices to plan and respond to emergencies and incidents and to manage risk.

Background

Under the Education and Care Services National Regulations, JAG is required to have policies and procedures in place to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of the children in care.

Principles and Practices

1.1. Paramountcy Principle

Team Members have a duty of care to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children attending the Service.

The safety, rights and best interests of children is the paramount consideration for our service. Therefore, we conduct rehearsals and reviews of our emergency and evacuation procedures, including regular risk assessment and audits of risks and response to emergencies.

We safeguard children through our procedures and practices, with particular attention to their health and safety when responding to emergencies and risks. Policies and practices reflect the relevant legislation, including the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations.

JAG provides policies and procedures to equip JAG people with the knowledge, skills, and awareness to keep children safe. Service practices are continuously reviewed and improved to ensure current legislation is in effect throughout the business.

1.2. Protection of Children from Harm and Hazard

We actively promote safe practices and safe play at our Service. Each Service will maintain and implement emergency planning individualised to their site. Risk management plans include emergency procedures for preparing and responding to emergencies, evacuation and contacting emergency services.

JAG is dedicated to ensuring that all JAG People respond to emergencies with consideration for the needs of the children.

1.3. Device use in the service

JAG people have a duty of care to all children attending the program and will ensure that all children are protected from inappropriate use of multimedia and electronic devices. Any person working directly with children will have their access to personal devices restricted per the provision of this policy. 'Working directly with children' means any person involved in the provision of an approved Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) service who is, at a given time, physically present with a child or children and employed, engaged or appointed to provide education and care to the child or children at that time. A person is not working directly with children at a given time if the person is taking a break from providing education or care to children in accordance with the person's employment, engagement or appointment.

1.3. Emergency Procedures

(Note: this section is numbered 1.3 in the original document, duplicating the section above)

Our Emergency Management Plan will be clearly displayed at all designated exits to ensure accessibility and visibility. Regular drills, including evacuations and lockdowns, will be conducted in compliance with National and State regulations to prepare staff and children for emergencies. Routine safety checks, guided by comprehensive checklists, will ensure a safe environment, while ongoing staff training will reinforce effective emergency responses and continuous improvement.

1.4. Service Closure

Where the health and safety of individuals or the Service's environment are at risk, the Service may be deemed unsafe. The evacuation procedures and/or temporary closure of the Service will be implemented as needed (e.g., in the case of power failure on an excessive heat day or a natural disaster).

In the event of the Service's temporary closure, Team Members will contact children's parents and guardians and request they collect their children until the Service can be deemed a safe and healthy environment again. The relevant State Regulatory Authority will be advised of the closure.

1.5. Fire Safety

The service will be equipped with appropriate fire extinguishers and emergency equipment. This will include the proper installation and maintenance. This is a requirement of the hire/lease agreement at each venue. We will conduct regular safety checks and notify the school where there are actions required to resolve any fire safety issues that arise.

Services are encouraged to seek visits from the fire service to assist the children's awareness and understanding of fire safety.

1.6. Leading Safe Practices

JAG people are led by Service Leaders who regularly assess and build capability in risk identification, mitigation, and emergency response. This includes internal and external training to build knowledge and responsiveness.

Our Service Leader will direct response to emergencies on site and follow our Emergency and Risk Management Procedures. This will include reviewing and learning from the incident and how our systems and JAG people responded at the time.

1.7. Record Keeping

Records pertaining to emergency management including risk assessments, service plans and emergency lockdown and evacuation drills will be maintained in line with legislative requirements. Refer to 02P008 Emergency and Risk Management Procedure for specific requirements.

Emergency Management and Risk Minimisation Plans

[This section contains a circular diagram illustrating the 9-step risk assessment and management cycle:]

1. DEFINE — Annual Objectives

2. IDENTIFY — Current and emerging exposures

3. QUANTIFY — Understand and quantify the risk

4. OUR SYSTEMS — Use our policies and procedures to guide us

5. IDENTIFY — Identify how we will manage the risk

6. APPLY — Apply our strategy to reduce or remove risk

7. OBSERVE — Keep an eye on the treatment

8. REVIEW — Watch and measure the success of the risk treatments in place

9. MODIFY — Tweak our approach if needed

(The cycle is framed around the stakeholders involved: Children, Staff, Other stakeholders, Organisation)

An Emergency Management and Risk Minimisation Plan will be developed in line with the school's current processes and contain detailed risk assessment, and control measures, for potential emergencies that the Service may be exposed to. Both supervision and service-specific risk assessments will be incorporated into the plan.

Children with additional support needs will be supported by specific safety procedures (e.g. non-ambulant children), covered in the service Emergency Management and Risk Minimisation Plan and, if applicable, a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan.

The Service's Emergency Management Plan will align with state and territory requirements:

The following states are subject to different responsibilities under work health and safety legislation concerning emergency management planning:

2. Key Terms

3. References

Education and Care Services National Law and Regulations

• Australian Government, Attorney General's Department, Australian Emergency Management

• Children Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010

• Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010

• Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011

• National Quality Standards for Early Childhood Education and Care and School Care

• St John Ambulance

Other Relevant Legislation

• Section 2A – Paramountcy Principle – Safety, rights and best interests of children

• Section 167 – Offence relating to protection of children from harm and hazards

• Sections 175A to 175J – Devices in education and care services

• Regulation 97 – Emergency and evacuation procedures

• Regulation 98 – Telephone or other communication equipment

• Regulation 151 – Record of educators working directly with children

• Regulation 158 – Children's attendance record to be kept by approved provider

• Regulation 168 – Education and care Service must have policies and procedures

• Regulation 170 – Policies and procedures to be followed

• Regulation 171 – Policies and procedures to be kept available

• Regulation 172 – Notification of change to policies or procedures

• Regulation 183 – Storage of records and other documents

Related Policies

• Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy

• Service Delivery Governance and Management Policy

• Safe Use of Devices, the Internet and Technology Policy

Related Procedures

• 02P006 Health and Hygiene Procedures

• 02P008 Emergency Management Procedures

• 07P012 Risk Assessment Procedures

• Emergency Management Plan and Procedures

Other

• Quality Area 2 & 5: Standards 2.3, 5.1

• Guide to National Laws and Regulations

• OCG Guide to Child Safe Standards - https://ocg.nsw.gov.au/child-safe-scheme

• CCYP Child safe Standards - https://ccyp.vic.gov.au/child-safe-standards/

• National Principles for Child Safe Organisations - https://childsafe.humanrights.gov.au/national-principles

Version: 3.4
Change History: JAG Policy Change Register
Date Approved: 03/06/2025
Date Implemented: 21/06/2025
Document Owner: Quality Service Development
Document Approvers: CEO / Approved Provider
Next Review: 12 months