early childhood education and care
eSafeKids supports Early Childhood Education and Care services to embed Protective Behaviours & Body Safety education into everyday practice. Through training and resources, we help you create a shared approach to child safety that empowers educators, children and families.
eSafeKids delivers workshops and webinars across metropolitan and regional Australia, as well as internationally.
Teaching children Protective Behaviours and Body Safety in age and developmentally appropriate ways doesn't take away a child's innocence, it helps to protect it.
To prevent abuse, reduce violence and promote safety and wellbeing, protective behaviours education focuses on developing life skills of empowerment, self-awareness, emotional intelligence, problem solving, help seeking, persistence and assertiveness.
Learn more about Protective Behaviours.
Prevalence of Child Sexual Abuse in Australia
Findings from the 2023 Australian Child Maltreatment Study found 28.5% of Australian children experience child sexual abuse before 18 years of age, that’s 1 in 3 girls and almost 1
in 5 boys. Teaching children Protective Behaviours & Body Safety in age and
developmentally appropriate ways doesn’t take away a child’s innocence, it helps to protect it.
Australian children experienced child sexual abuse
More than 1 in 3 girls experience child sexual abuse
Almost 1 in 5 boys experience child sexual abuse
WORKSHOP CONTENT
Overview of Child Abuse in Australia
Child Abuse Facts, Myths & Misconceptions
Grooming Behaviours
Harmful Sexual Behaviours
Contextual Safe Guarding
Managing Resistence
Responding to a report of child abuse
Protective Interruption
ECEC Case Study
Moving from Child Protection to Child Safeguarding
Asserting a Culture of Child Safety
Embedding key child abuse prevention learning areas.
Social Norms & Gender Stereotypes
Being Safe & Feeling Safe
Sexual Development
Emotional Intelligence, Feelings & Emotional Regulation
Body Clues, Cues & Warning Signs
Assessing Risk & Problem Solving
Secrets & Surprises
Public & Private - Including Public, Private & Personal Body Parts
Bodily Autonomy, Personal Space, Body Boundaries, Consent & Respect
Body Safety Basics
Body Safety Rules
Private Photos & Videos (Pornography)
Assertiveness
Permission to say no
Persistence
Networks & Safety Teams
Trusted Adults & Help Seeking
Conversation Starters
Resources to support in home education and curriculum delivery
Professional Learning & Development
Protective Behaviours & Body Safety in Early Childhood Education & Care
Traditionally, early childhood education and care has approached safety through a child protection lens. This model is largely reactive, focusing on responding to harm after it has occurred. It is often centred on reporting obligations and compliance requirements. While this approach remains essential, on its own it can limit the sector’s ability to prevent harm before it happens.
In contrast, the eSafeKids approach is broader. embedding child safeguarding in a proactive and meaningful way. It focuses on prevention, creating environments where harm is less likely to occur in the first place and detected early if it does. Safeguarding is woven into everyday practice, organisational culture and leadership, rather than sitting solely within policies and procedures. Importantly, it recognises that keeping children safe is a shared responsibility across the entire service, not just individual staff members.
Participants will leave this comprehensive, evidence-based workshop with up-to-date information, practical strategies, conversation starters and supporting resources.
Recognising that effective protective behaviours and body safety education requires a collaborative approach between services and families, eSafeKids is committed to partnering with families and communities. Read more about our parent and caregiver workshop below.
Our training meets requirements for Australian Children's Education & Care Quality Authority National Quality Standard 2.2.3.
eSafeKids is currently collaborating with Child Australia as part of the Empowering Early Childhood Education and Care in Regional WA Project, delivering Protective Behaviours and Body Safety professional learning to early childhood education and care (ECEC)
services across regional Western Australia.
Parent / Carer
Protective Behaviours & Body Safety Education
For many people, talking or even thinking about child sexual abuse, or any form of child abuse, can feel uncomfortable and challenging. You may not have experienced open conversations about these topics in your own childhood. Teaching children water safety, road safety and sun safety often comes more naturally to many parents, caregivers and grandparents. However, personal safety and body safety can feel harder to navigate.
This workshop supports parents/caregivers to better understand the prevalence, nature and impact of child abuse. Importantly, it also focuses on practical skills and strategies you can teach children to minimise and reduce the opportunity for harm to occur. You will learn how to decrease child safety risk factors and increase protective factors.
This workshop does not contain fear mongering or scare tactics. Instead, it provides research and evidence based information, translated into clear, easy to understand language. It is enriched by practical examples and simple, effective strategies you can implement straight away.
Participants will also receive child-friendly conversation starters, book recommendations and post-workshop access to supporting resources.
Educate, equip and empower children with knowledge through stories!
Reading with children provides an opportunity to teach vital life skills in a child friendly, fun, age and stage appropriate way. Reading books that are meaningful can have a lasting impact. Selecting books with teachable moments and content can assist you to discuss a wide range of topics, particularly those that are sometimes tricky and sensitive.
eSafeKids acknowledges the lifelong trauma of abuse experienced by
victims, survivors and their families. Society failed to protect, believe and respond justly to children, young people and adult victim survivors.
