When most of us were growing up, "stranger danger" was the cornerstone of child safety. Don't talk to strangers. Don't take lollies from strangers. Never get in a stranger's car.
It's still the first thing many parents think of when they worry about keeping their kids safe. But here's what decades ...
Help Kristi... my child came home and asked me what a "69" is, and I completely froze and I didnāt know what to say?
Kids hear things. In the playground, on the school bus, in group chats, in song lyrics, on YouTube and in game chats. Words like "69", "horny", "nudes" and "porn" get thrown around l...
Parenting doesn't come with a handbook. And if it did, I'm pretty sure none of us would have time to read it between the school runs, the tantrums, and the seventeen snacks a day.
But here's what I know - as both a mum and a former Detective Senior Constable who spent nearly a decade investigating ...
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Nobody told you this in your Certificate III. It wasn't covered in your diploma. It probably hasn't come up in your director training, your compliance review, or your team meetings.
But every time you interview someone for a role in your early childhood centre, you are making a child safety deci...
Let me say something that might surprise you.
Not everyone who displays red flag behaviours will abuse your child.Ā
But here's what I know from nearly a decade investigating child sexual abuse - everyone who abuses a child displays red flag behaviours first.
Read that again.
Red flags are not a ...
Recent cases involving female educators and carers have understandably shaken people and forced many of us to re-examine assumptions about who we trust with our children.
Not because abuse by a female perpetrator is new - but because when a woman, particularly a trusted adult such as a teacher, har...
Our kids will test us with the little things before theyāll trust us with the big things!
As a former child abuse detective, Iāve seen firsthand how crucial it is for kids to feel safe and supported by their parents, especially when it comes to difficult or dangerous situations. But hereās a truth...
Entering the dating world as a single parent involves balancing your emotional needs with your childrenās safety and well-being. Not a simple task.
Introducing someone new to your childās life is a big decision that requires careful thought and planning. While itās natural to want companionship, it...
The difference between inappropriate and grooming behaviours
As parents, educators, and caregivers, distinguishing between inappropriate behaviours and grooming tactics is crucial for protecting children against child sexual abuse.
Inappropriate behaviour can often be a boundary-crossing incident ...
Setting up your childās new smartphone or device for success and safety
Whether itās your childās first phone or their next device, it is super important that we donāt give our kids a smartphone or device with access to every danger on the internet, without putting up some guardrails and protectiv...
Not all child sexual abuse physically hurts the childā¦ and not all children realise they are being abused!
Before you skip reading or get āickedā out by this topic, I need you to realise WHY knowing this information is so vitally important in helping our kids stay safe and reducing overall harm.
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I remember when I was returning to work after my daughter was born and the emotional roller coaster I went through in finding an early childhood centre. I had so much mum-guilt in needing to put her into childcare that I cried for days.
At that stage, I was not even a police officer, I was just nee...
