Watch the department’s videos on
risk management and
policies and procedures, which are part of the systems of control that keep children safe, including during transportation.
The Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) provides comprehensive, nationally-consistent resources to support safe and lawful transportation of children. They reflect the latest legislative requirements and can be used to support best practice whenever transportation is provided or arranged.
Guide to the National Quality Framework
The
Guide to the National Quality Framework is an essential resource to understand the requirements and best practices for the safe transportation of children. Under
operational requirements for quality area 2: children’s health and safety, the guide outlines:
- how transportation provided or arranged by an education and care service forms part of the service
- centre-based services approved providers’ requirements to notify the regulatory authority when regular transportation is being provided or arranged by the service and when it ceases
- new requirements that came into effect from 1 March 2023 for centre-based services providing or arranging regular transportation
- policies and procedures required relating to transportation of children
- risk assessments for transportation, including the matters that must be considered in a risk assessment
- authorisations for transportation
- other important factors relating to the
safe transportation of children including passenger safety; first aid requirements; educator to child ratio requirements; adequate supervision and protection from harm/hazards; vehicle checks and insurance requirements.
ACECQA’s information sheets
Minimising the risk of children being left behind in vehicles information sheet (PDF, 2MB) also provides an overview of the legislated requirements for services providing or arranging transportation of children. Importantly, this information sheet:
- outlines the different practices all services should undertake to minimise the risk of children being left behind in vehicles
- provides reflective questions to support you when reviewing your procedures to ensure children’s safety during transportation.
Safe transportation of children information sheet (PDF, 128KB) is a useful short summary of the requirements for policies and procedures, risk assessment, written authorisation, staffing requirements and record keeping.
Risk assessment
ACECQA’s
safe transportation of children safety checklist and regular transportation record form (DOCX, 56KB) is a useful tool services can adapt to meet the specific needs of their service for daily transportation risk identification and management.
This
risk assessment and management template (DOCX, 283KB) for transporting children (other than as part of an excursion) may be used to assist approved providers, nominated supervisors and family day care educators in undertaking risk assessments before transporting children. It can be incorporated into your own risk assessment material.
Safe transportation of children policy and procedure guidelines
It is expected that, in order to effectively manage the risk associated with transporting children, all approved providers draft their own transportation policy and procedure, taking into account the specific context of their own service, the transport they conduct and the essential transport safety steps listed above.
ACECQA’s
safe transportation of children policy and procedure guidelines (PDF, 842KB) are available to support you to develop and review your policies and procedures to ensure they are adequate.
Help and support
Ensure you understand the requirements of the
National Regulations, in particular:
If you have further questions about transportation requirements, please
contact your regional office.