Code of conduct for families

Early Learning Victoria centres are accessible, inclusive and integrated, providing a safe and welcoming environment for all children and their families. Partnerships with families are developed through an equitable and anti-bias approach, ensuring an inclusive environment in which collaborative relationships are upheld.

Early Learning Victoria recognises that holding all adults in its centres to a high standard of behaviour helps to ensure that all children, their families and staff can benefit from a high-quality and safe environment.

1. Scope

This policy applies to children, families, staff, management and visitors of Early Learning Victoria centres. This includes volunteers, students on placement and contractors or labour hire employees of Early Learning Victoria.

2. Policy statement

This code of conduct for families guides expected standards of behaviour for families, carers and other visitors to Early Learning Victoria centres. It specifies how these individuals should engage respectfully with one another, as well as with children, staff and other members of the community.

The Victorian Public Sector (VPS) values of Responsiveness, Integrity, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership and Human Rights describe the behaviours expected of Early Learning Victoria employees and inform the Staff code of conduct policy. These values should also be considered as model behaviours for all users of Early Learning Victoria centres including families.

2.1 Requirements

Early Learning Victoria centres have a duty of care to the children attending the centre to ensure that every reasonable precaution is taken to protect children from harm and any hazard likely to cause injury. The Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010(opens in a new window) (National Law) and the Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011(opens in a new window) (the Regulations) requires children to have access to an environment that:

encourages them to express themselves and their opinions
allows them to undertake experiences that develop self-reliance and self-esteem
maintains the dignity and rights of each child
gives each child positive guidance and encouragement toward acceptable behaviour
has regard to the family and cultural values, age, and physical and intellectual development and abilities of each child.

As an employer, Early Learning Victoria is also responsible for providing a safe, discrimination free, and respectful workplace for its staff. If staff become aware of any behaviour that compromises the health, safety or wellbeing of children or staff, the individual responsible may be denied entry or asked to leave the centre.

3. Actions and procedures

All families and visitors are expected to uphold Early Learning Victoria’s commitment to a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment. Everyone at the centre should treat staff, families, and children with respect, promote a positive and supportive atmosphere, and respect the privacy of others.

Families should actively engage in their child's learning, communicate openly with educators, report any concerns about child safety and follow the centre's policies regarding drop-off and pick-up procedures.

Unacceptable behaviours and consequences

When parents or carers behave unacceptably towards staff or others, it can negatively impact their health, safety and wellbeing. Unacceptable behaviours include:

violence or threats of violence, including aggressive gestures or invading personal space
rude, aggressive, or threatening behaviour, whether in person, via email, social media, or phone
sending demanding, rude, or threatening messages
discriminatory or derogatory remarks, including on social media
using social media to make inappropriate or threatening remarks about the Early Learning Victoria centre, staff, or children.

If parents or carers engage in unacceptable behaviour, the nominated supervisor will contact the person to discuss the situation and seek a resolution. Consequences may include request that parties attend a mediation or counselling session, written warnings, exclusion from the Early Learning Victoria centre grounds, reports to Victoria Police, or legal action.

3.1 Responsibilities of families and visitors

All families and visitors are responsible for:
- respecting the rights of all children and staff
- committing to the safety and wellbeing of all children at the service
- treating everyone equally and with respect and dignity
- valuing diversity and not harassing or discriminating against others
- always acting as positive role models
- not consuming or being affected by alcohol, tobacco or other drugs when attending Early Learning Victoria centres (see the Preventing exposure to tobacco, e-cigarettes, alcohol and other drugs policy)
- supporting connections among children, who are learning to develop relationships with one another
- using courteous and acceptable language and not using profane, insulting, harassing or otherwise offensive language. Aggressive, bullying or intimidating behaviour will not be accepted
- ensuring an environment that encourages both children and adults to raise concerns, frustrations or feedback in an appropriate manner
- always maintaining the confidentiality and privacy of children and their families and not posting photos or videos online that include other children. No photos or videos should be taken at the centre unless advised otherwise (see the Electronic devices and photography policy)
- referring to and complying with the Handling complaints and feedback policy if they have would like to make a complaint or provide feedback about the centre or a staff member.
All centre staff are responsible for:
- providing a safe environment for children and all users of the centre
- adhering to the Staff code of conduct policy
- supporting families to comply with this policy
- demonstrating professional and respectful communication with members of the service’s community, acting as a positive role model and contributing to a professional workplace culture
- demonstrating professional boundaries in dealings with children and families at the service.
Notwithstanding family relationships, staff must not undertake paid or unpaid babysitting for families, provide personal contact details, attend families’ events and celebrations, or connect or interact via social media platforms, apart from in Early Learning Victoria-approved posts and in Early Learning Victoria service-related contact with families via Kidsoft (see the Staff handbook for more information on how to respectfully decline online or in-person contact with families).
The nominated supervisor is responsible for:
- providing a safe environment for children and all users of the centre
- ensuring that families are aware of their obligations under this policy
- developing a culture that promotes positive interactions and constructive feedback
- ensuring that discrimination, harassment, bullying or bias in the service is identified, not tolerated, and managed in line with the relevant policies
- supporting team members and ensuring that the Regulatory Authority is notified within 24 hours of a serious incident or notifiable complaint at the service, as detailed in the Incident, injury, trauma and illness policy and the Handling complaints and feedback policy
- escalating a family’s concern or complaint to the area manager or Early Learning Victoria central staff, as relevant, following the Handling complaints and feedback policy
- ensuring that children and families can access abuse-prevention programs and information.
The approved provider is responsible for:
- providing and communicating clear guidance through policy and practices for the nominated supervisor and staff to carry out their duties and responsibilities
- embedding operational practices of accountability to meet all regulatory and safety requirements in the centre
- building a positive workplace culture in which all members of the community are treated with dignity and respect
- providing a safe and inclusive environment free from discrimination, harassment, bullying and victimisation
- supporting centre staff to manage and respond to inappropriate behaviour that compromises the safety of children or staff
- developing an accountability culture in which staff hold one another to account regarding professional behaviour and conduct
- ensuring that child safety is embedded into the organisation’s leadership and culture
- notifying WorkSafe of any reportable incidents in the workplace and contacting the OHS service officers for further information
- providing access to an employee assistance program to proactively support the wellbeing of staff.

4. Resources

Legislation and standards

Relevant legislation and standards include:

Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006
Child Safe Standards
Children, Youth and Families Act 2005
Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005
Disability Discrimination Act 1992
Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010
Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011
Equal Opportunity Act 2010
Fair Work Act 2008
Fair Work Regulations 2009
National Quality Standard, quality area 2: Children’s Health and Safety
Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004
Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017
Racial and Religious Tolerance Act 2001
Sex Discrimination Act 1984.

Anti-bias approach policy
Child safety and wellbeing policy
Electronic devices and photography policy
Handling complaints and feedback policy
Positive relationships, interactions and behaviour support policy
Preventing exposure to tobacco, e-cigarettes, alcohol and other drugs policy
Privacy policy
Staff code of conduct policy

Definitions

Bullying: Repeated verbal, physical, social or psychological behaviour that is harmful and involves the misuse of power by an individual or group towards one or more persons. Bullying occurs when one or more people deliberately and repeatedly upset or hurt another person, damage their property, reputation or social acceptance. Examples of bullying could include:

behaving aggressively
teasing or practical jokes
pressuring someone to behave inappropriately
excluding someone from work-related events
making vexatious allegations against another party
spreading rude and/or inaccurate rumours about an individual.

Discrimination: When a person, or a group of people, is treated badly or unfairly because of their background or certain personal characteristics that are protected by law.

Harassment: When someone is demeaning, derogatory, or intimidating towards another person. Harassment includes:

racial taunts
taunts about sexual orientation or gender identity
sexual harassment: unwelcome physical, verbal or written behaviour of a sexual nature
repeated insulting remarks.

Education

Updated 24 June 2025