Bravehearts Day: Safeguarding Children

Safeguarding Children Through Education, Empowerment and Heartfelt Commitment

At Journey Early Learning, safeguarding isn’t just a policy, it’s a promise. A promise that every child who walks through our doors is not only cherished and nurtured but is also protected. In honour of Bravehearts Day, we want to shine a light on the powerful partnership we share with Bravehearts and how this aligns so beautifully with our unwavering commitment to child safety.

What is Bravehearts Day?

Bravehearts Day, formerly known as White Balloon Day, is Australia’s largest and longest-running child protection campaign. Held annually, this special day raises awareness about child abuse and promotes the importance of child safety through education, empowerment, and community involvement.

It is a day of action, reflection and hope, a time for families, educators, and communities to unite around the shared goal of creating a safer world for our children. 

Who Are Bravehearts?

Bravehearts is one of Australia’s leading child protection organisations, dedicated to preventing child abuse through education, advocacy, research, and support. Their programs are nationally recognised and grounded in trauma-informed practice and current research.

Their mission? To make Australia the safest place in the world to raise a child. We at Journey proudly walk alongside them in this vision.

Bravehearts Incursions in Our Centres

At Journey Early Learning, we host Bravehearts incursions across many of our centres throughout the year. These engaging and age-appropriate sessions are delivered by trained Bravehearts educators and are designed to empower children with the skills they need to stay safe.

One of the key components of the incursion is Bravehearts’ well-known Ditto’s Keep Safe Adventure Show. Ditto, a loveable lion cub, guides children through simple yet powerful safety messages using song, dance, and storytelling. We encourage children to:

• Recognise what makes them feel safe and unsafe
• Learn to trust their feelings and instincts
• Identify safe adults they can talk to
• Understand personal boundaries and the importance of their body belonging to them

These lessons are delivered in a gentle, non-threatening way that respects the developmental stages of young children while laying a vital foundation for lifelong safety awareness.

The Benefits for Children

1. Empowerment Through Knowledge

Children are naturally curious and eager to learn. Bravehearts sessions provide them with knowledge they can understand and use, without causing fear or anxiety. Instead, it empowers them to know they have a voice, and that voice matters.

“Ditto told me that my body belongs to me,” shared Ava, age 4.
lass=”yoast-text-mark” />>”I know who my safe people are now,” said Leo, age 5, proudly pointing to a drawing in his Bravehearts booklet he made after the session.

2. Building Confidence and Trust

By identifying safe adults and learning about personal boundaries, children feel more confident in recognising and responding to uncomfortable situations. They learn it’s okay to say “no,” to walk away, and to speak up.

3. Consistency With Everyday Learning

At Journey, social and emotional development is an essential part of our daily curriculum. Bravehearts programs reinforce these foundations, using consistent language and scenarios that complement our existing teaching methods.

4. Reinforcing Protective Behaviours at Home</strong>

After Bravehearts visits, many families tell us how their children come home singing Ditto’s songs and talking about their feelings in new ways. These moments create meaningful opportunities for families to continue the conversation about safety and trust at home.

“We had the most amazing conversation in the car on the way home. My son asked, ‘Who are your safe people, Mum?’ That’s when I knew this program truly connects with children.”

A Perfect Alignment with Our Safeguarding Commitment

Journey’s approach to safeguarding is guided by Australia’s Child Safe Standards , national child safe principles and our own deeply held values. We follow implement a robust “See, Act, Tell” framework, empowering our educators to remain vigilant, proactive, and confident in addressing any safeguarding concerns. As described in our statement of commitment to safeguarding children

Safeguarding Children with Strong Governance and Training

We uphold a zero-tolerance approach to abuse. Strong governance and training keep our children safe every day. Clear processes guide us at every level of care. From day one, our educators learn how to protect children. They recognise risks and protect every child’s rights. And create spaces where every voice is truly heard. Every child feels safe, valued, and deeply cared for.

Annual Safeguarding Commitment for Every Journey Educator

Importantly, in addition to completing the required child protection training, all Journey educators complete Bravehearts training annually. This commitment not only strengthens our professional development but also serves as a cornerstone of our safeguarding strategy. By engaging in this training each year, every educator equips themselves with the most up-to-date knowledge and approaches to child protection.

This annual training distinguishes Journey Early Learning and provides families with peace of mind, because our professionals care for their children with both passion and thorough preparation to keep them safe.

Bravehearts and Journey: A Partnership Rooted in Integrity and Love for Children

Bravehearts’ work weave seamlessly into this commitment. Their evidence-based programs focus on early education, and a respectful approach to child empowerment amplify everything we already stand for. The partnership reflects our shared values, demonstrates professional integrity, and above all, shows our deep love, commitment, and respect for children.

Together, We Make a Difference

Every child deserves to feel safe, supported, and empowered. With Bravehearts by our side, and your trust and partnership, we can continue building environments where children don’t just learn and grow, they thrive. 

On Bravehearts Day and every day, we listen to children, honour their dignity and rights, and uphold the highest standards of care and protection for EVERY CHILD EVERY DAY.