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What is the Protective Behaviours Program?
The Protective Behaviours Program is a proactive, life skill-based initiative designed to teach children, young people and adults how to identify and respond to unsafe situations. These programmes aim to prevent abuse, promote personal safety, and empower individuals to recognise their right to feel safe. (WA Child Safety Services, n.d.).
Two core themes underpin the program:
- “We all have the right to be safe and feel safe at all times.”
- “We can talk with someone about anything, no matter what it is.”
(WA Child Safety Services, n.d.)
Protective Behaviours Regulations in Western Australia
In Western Australia, the Department of Education’s Student Health and Wellbeing framework for protective behaviours in kindergartens and schools emphasise helping children understand that they have the right to feel safe at all times, how to recognise and respond to unsafe situations, and who to approach for help.
Given that SOEL offers a kindergarten programme, our teachers in the 4-year-old kindy rooms incorporate key elements of the Protective Behaviours Program and the Department of Education’s Procedures for Teachers into their learning environments, which ensures that protective behaviours education aligns with the Western Australian Curriculum and child safety policies. The Department of Education also provides detailed Protective Behaviours Educator Notes through the GDHR (Growing and Developing Healthy Relationships) program, supporting teachers in delivering age-appropriate protective behaviours education.
To further support our families, SOEL has partnered with WA Child Safety Services to provide a workshop specifically for parents and caregivers. WA Child Safety Services also offers similar protective behaviours programs and protective behaviours resources to Western Australian Education Department schools and Catholic Education institutions. This partnership ensures continuity for families—reinforcing that protective behaviours are not limited to early learning but also form part of a lifelong approach to safety and wellbeing.
What is the Protective Behaviours Program at SOEL?
Since 2023, SOEL has conducted Protective Behaviours workshops, specifically designed for families, called “Empowering Our Children.” We strive to support families by helping them understand the latest research and best practices for protecting children and keeping them safe. These workshops are an extension of our current in-class practices to empower children to feel secure and confident in their world. By collaborating closely with families, SOEL aims to strengthen the connection between home and care, using common strategies to support children’s protective behaviours.
How SOEL’s Protective Behaviours Program Empowers your Child to Feel Safe
Through our Protective Behaviours Program, SOEL fosters open communication between children and families. By teaching children that it’s okay to talk about feeling unsafe and that they always have trusted adults they can turn to, the program offers key benefits of strengthening the bond of trust and emotional security between children and their caregivers, aligning with the Guidelines for Protecting Children 2020 published by the Government of Western Australia.
Topics covered in the Protective Behaviours Program
The four key aspects of SOEL’s Protective Behaviours workshops for families and their children are:
- Learning about and understanding safe and unsafe situations.
- Equipping children with tools to recognise safe and unsafe feelings in themselves and their environments, including awareness of emotions, confidence, and support networks.
- Acknowledging, naming and validating feelings using the acronym LOVE (Label feelings, Okay to share, Validate and Emotional regulation).
- Building a network of safe and supportive adults.
How SOEL Delivers its Protective Behaviours Program for Families
As part of our commitment to empowering children and families in our care, SOEL is pleased to offer our Protective Behaviours Program to all of our families. The program takes place at our West Leederville centre in Perth. The two-hour workshops occur biannually for SOEL families in April and September, with follow-up resources provided afterwards.
Find out when SOEL is planning to host the next Protective Behaviours Program for Families:
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Family Feedback and Reviews
Protective Behaviours Program FAQ
SOEL’s Protective Behaviours Program provides an overview of the components of the entire Protective Behaviours Program. It offers practical strategies for families to empower their children to recognise unsafe situations and know how to respond when they feel unsafe.
Children, parents, educators, and communities all benefit from the Protective Behaviours Program, which helps children feel safe and supported at all times while recognising unsafe situations. It also supports parents in reinforcing safety skills at home, and guides educators in fostering safe, confident learning environments.
Our Protective Behaviours Workshop consists of a two-hour session, with follow-up resources provided afterwards.
Our Protective Behaviours Workshops are conducted biannually for SOEL families in April and September. Parents are encouraged to utilise additional protective behaviours resources available through WA Child Safety Services.
SOEL offers our Protective Behaviours Program free of charge, exclusively for parents and guardians of children enrolled at SOEL. The program takes place at our Perth centre in West Leederville.
Families can register through our online event form. Spaces are limited, so early booking is recommended.
Further recommended reading
- For more information and protective behaviours resources, visit WA Child Safety Services – Protective Behaviours Program.
- The Department of Education’s Protective Behaviours Parent Resource (PDF) is a free family-oriented guide that complements our Protective Behaviours Program.
- Visit the Talk Soon. Talk Often. website by the Western Australia Department of Health for a comprehensive guide for parents and guardians of children aged 0-18. It focuses on relationships, sexuality, body safety, and protective behaviours throughout childhood.
References
WA Child Safety Services. (n.d.). Protective Behaviours Program. Retrieved October 30, 2025.
Department of Education Western Australia. (n.d.). Student health and wellbeing. Retrieved October 30, 2025.
Department of Education Western Australia & Protective Behaviours WA Inc. (2020). Protective behaviours parent resource: Schools and parents working together to help keep children safe [PDF]. Retrieved October 30, 2025.
Government of Western Australia. (2020). Guidelines for Protecting Children 2020 [PDF]. Retrieved October 30, 2025.
Department of Education Western Australia. (n.d.). Protective behaviours education – educator notes. Retrieved October 30, 2025.
Western Australia Department of Health. (n.d.). Talk soon. Talk often. Retrieved October 30, 2025.
Department of Education Western Australia. (n.d.). Child protection in Department of Education sites – Procedures for teachers. Retrieved October 30, 2025.