Considering a career with Guardian? Here’s what you need to know: child safety is at the heart of everything we do, every day. If you’re thinking about joining one of our incredible centre teams, it’s important to understand that our commitment to creating safe environments for children begins well before your first day — and it starts with a thorough and thoughtful recruitment process.
We follow the National Child Safe Standards, along with all relevant state regulations, to make sure every step we take reflects the highest standards in child protection and safety. It’s not just a policy; it’s a core part of who we are.
Zero-Tolerance Policy for Child Safety Risks
Guardian’s dedication to safety starts with a clear and uncompromising stance; we have zero tolerance for behaviour that could pose a risk to a child’s wellbeing. This forms the backbone of our policies and our culture. Every team member is held to the highest standard of accountability in ensuring a secure environment for children.
This isn’t just a policy, it’s a shared commitment. Through regular communication with our team members, we continually reinforce the importance of child safety across our wide Guardian network.
Recruiting To Reflect Our Standards
Our recruitment process is designed to reflect our unwavering commitment to child safety. For childcare workers considering joining Guardian, you’ll quickly notice that safeguarding measures are woven into the entire process. These steps ensure our educators, centre leaders, and support teams are fully aligned with Guardian’s values. Here’s what to expect when you apply to work with us:
- Working with Children Check (WWCC)
A valid Working with Children Check is a fundamental requirement for every role at Guardian. It is a government-approved screening tool designed to protect children from potential harm.
- Mandatory for Employment: No team member can be rostered to work in a centre unless they hold a current WWCC.
- System-Controlled Compliance: Our robust rostering system automatically blocks educators without a valid WWCC. This ensures there’s no room for oversight or error.
- National Advocacy: Guardian has long supported the need for a single, national system for these checks. Progress on this front is encouraging, and we are proud to be part of the advocacy for unified compliance across Australia.
For leadership roles that carry financial responsibilities, we go beyond the standard requirements by also conducting police checks that cover a broader range of offences, such as fraud and other financial misconduct.
However, the Working with Children Check is our most critical screening tool as it includes ongoing monitoring – meaning clearances can be suspended or revoked. Our internal systems are also set up to automatically alert us if a team member’s WWCC becomes invalid, ensuring they are immediately made ineligible for shifts until the issue is resolved.
- Rigorous Vetting through Reference Checks
Guardian conducts thorough reference checks for all prospective team members. We speak to an applicant’s previous line managers and these reference checks are conducted by a central team to ensure integrity. We go beyond the standard questions, looking deeply into a candidate’s history to ensure their qualifications, experience, and values align strongly with child safety and our organisational principles.
- Continued Focus on Safety during Induction and Onboarding
When new team members join our centres, they complete thorough training that covers key safety topics, including Safe Sleep and Rest, Incident Reporting, and Child Protection & Mandatory Reporting.
Casual team members go through the same stringent process of recruitment, vetting and onboarding as permanent team members.
Why do these measures matter?
Wondering why we go to such lengths when recruiting new centre team members? It’s simple – safety comes first for us, every time.
When you join us at Guardian – in any role – you’ll understand that our commitment to safety doesn’t just benefit the children we care for. It also creates a secure, supportive environment for our teams to grow and thrive.
By fostering trust and accountability at every level, we build strong, positive relationships between teams, children, and families. These measures allow our team members to focus fully on what matters most, providing inspiring, developmentally enriching care to children.
If this sounds good, we could be the place for you
If you’re passionate about educating and nurturing children in an environment that places their well-being above all else, Guardian could be the right place for you. When you join us, you’ll not only be part of a nationally recognised organisation dedicated to child safety, but you’ll also contribute to a workplace culture that values trust, respect, and teamwork.
Every process we’ve put in place, from strict compliance measures to comprehensive reference checks, serves a single purpose, to enable you to thrive in a role where your focus is on supporting young children to learn and grow.
Are you ready to contribute to an organisation that prioritises child safety and elevates the standards of care and education? At Guardian, you’ll find like-minded people committed to making a meaningful difference each day.
Apply Today
Your next career step could be with Guardian Childcare & Education. Join us to create safe, welcoming spaces where children can flourish and where you, as an educator, can lead with confidence knowing you’re supported by a team that shares your values.
Together, we’ll set the benchmark for what a child-safe organisation looks like.
If you’re ready to embark on a journey with Guardian as an Educator, Teacher, or part of our Centre Leadership Team, opportunities await you. We offer amazing professional development opportunities and great benefits. Explore current opportunities within the Guardian network or reach out to our Talent team. We’re eager to hear from you!
