Current Projects

TAC Child Restraint focused Speakers Bureau pilot (2009)

Kidsafe received a small grant from the TAC to deliver free information sessions explaining Victoria's new child restraint road rules. The aim of the project was to ensure parents received information in advance of the regulations' introduction date on November 9, 2009. This allowed parent’s time to plan for changes to ensure they were compliant, but most importantly, to keep their children safe.
The sessions commenced in July 2009.  The objective of the child restraint information sessions was to provide families with children under age 7 with the correct information, a forum to ask questions, and expert help in interpreting the regulations in light of their own family's circumstances.

Evaluation of the program is almost complete, with very positive feedback received from attendees of the sessions. 

Internship Program

In July 2009 Kidsafe commenced its Internship Program. This program offers students from the opportunity to gain valuable work experience in their chosen field.  Interns to date have been involved in a variety of disciplines, from health promotion, to marketing, to graphic design. 

Child Care Guidelines Review

Kidsafe National is in the process of completing a review of Child Care Guidelines in each State and Territory for child care facilities.  Regulations have been compiled and reviewed by each Kidsafe office, in order to submit best practice recommendations to State regulators regarding the management of safety issues in child care facilities.

Speakers Bureau: Child safety community talks service

Kidsafe Victoria commenced "the Kidsafe Speakers Bureau" in January 2007 to provide neutral evidence-based information about child safety for parents and to facilitate parental uptake of prevention strategies in their homes.

The Kidsafe VIC Speakers Bureau talks are delivered by experienced child safety professionals and specially-trained Mum's.  The talks cover common child injury topics, such as

• Fire, burns and scalds
• Drowning and near-drowning
• Falls
• Cuts and finger jams
• Poisonings
• Choking and suffocation
• Pet safety, and
• Road safety

and what strategies parents can take to make their homes a safer place for their children.

To book a Kidsafe VIC Speakers Bureau talk on child safety for your next mothers' group please complete the request form on the website and return to us at your earliest convenience. Kidsafe VIC will endeavour to meet your request as closely as possible.

Safety Articles

In line with Kidsafe's core values of education and awareness, Kidsafe now has safety articles available in major parenting publications.

Mothers Matter Magazine
Mothers Matter is a bi-monthly magazine covering many topics related to parenting; each issue will now include a safety article from Kidsafe Victoria.  Topics covered to date include safe play, poisons and pet safety.  Mothers Matter is available free from childcare centres, schools and maternity wards.

Essential Baby

Kidsafe offices nationally have joined together to present a monthly editorial on safety topics for Essential Baby.  These cover essential topics such as poisons information and the new child restraint road rules.  Essential Baby is a leading online resource for parents, covering many differing aspects of parenting.  Parents can sign up for the newsletter at www.essentialbaby.com.au.

Kidsafe Factsheets

In early 2009, a review of the Kidsafe Ages and Stages factsheets was completed and the factsheets were reprinted with the support of the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development.  The factsheets promote key child safety and injury prevention messages in 4 ages and stages from birth to 5 years, and are available in various languages in hardcopy and online formats on the Kidsafe VIC website.

There are also factsheets available on the Kidsafe website, covering a range of injury topics.  These online factsheets are currently being reviewed, to ensure that the most up-to-date injury statistics, safety tips and general information are included.  Injury topics have also been reviewed, leading to the inclusion of injury areas that have emerged since Kidsafe's factsheets were last updated.  This review is almost complete, and some factsheets are already available to download on the Resources page. 

Most of these fact sheets are downloadable via the web only; if you are interested in sponsoring a Kidsafe fact sheet please contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  

Child Safety Advice Line

Kidsafe Vic receive hundreds of calls each week, predominantly from parents and maternal and child health nurses requesting information, resources and advice.

Concerns received from parents via the Child Safety Advice Line led to several of Kidsafe's major campaigns: shopping trolley safety, jumping castle safety, pedestrian crossing safety in a major council area, pool fencing safety in schools and commercial entities. Kidsafe Vic ensures all calls are thoroughly investigated before a suitable course of action is determined. 

Completed

Family Day Care Guideline Review (2007-08)

Kidsafe VIC undertook the development of 'Safety Guidelines for Family Day Care in Victoria' as a tender project for Family Day Care Victoria Inc, funded by DHS. The project involved the re-development of old existing safety guidelines to ensure they were based on latest research evidence, latest safety standards and current regulations. The key objective of the project was for Kidsafe VIC to provide FDC VIC with a resource that would facilitate consistent implementation and compliance to child safety procedures and minimum safety standards by all Family Day Care schemes operating in Victoria.