Work Health Safety at TG's Child Care for a happy, secure learning environment | Brilliant Business | Brilliant-Online
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Writer's pictureYann Tyng Kooi
May 5, 20239 min read

Work Health Safety at TG's Child Care for a happy, secure learning environment

Updated: Apr 10

✦ TG's Child Care brings peace of mind to families and children, so they can experience Playing is Learning for Life happy and secure.


Families love and trust TG's Child Care, and they know in their gut when they visit TG's that this place feels just right. For generations, children have passed through the playspaces of TG's, have graduated and new children have come in. Playing is Learning for Life happens naturally every single day and children who have left TG's continue to Play it Forward.



When we are so used to a place, we start to take it for granted that everything we have received in this place somehow happens on their own. TG's children are happy and secure in this loving, kind and fun environment, and families do have peace of mind when they bring their children to TG's and allow them to fully grow in TG's. But what are the mechanics behind ensuring the children, families, and staff are all kept healthy and secure, and who is organising everything to make it all run like clockwork?


Work Health Safety (WHS) is a legal requirement

TG's Child Care has an ESG (Environment, Social Governance) strategy. WHS is incorporated into TG's Governance to protect the health, safety and welfare of all workers and and others in relation to Australia's workplaces and work activities.


The role of a Workplace Health and Safety Officer is to actively contribute to protecting the safety, health and welfare of employees, children, families and visitors within TG's service. This person has the responsibility of looking after the "whole person" in the sense that WHS encompasses all aspects including social, mental and physical wellbeing.


The role includes:

  • Providing ongoing support, education, care and safety to children enrolled in the service.

  • Researching relevant WHS information and relay to all Educators

  • Reporting to Centre Manager with relevant information

  • Completing WHS Audits monthly

  • Ensuring all SDS are current and up to date

  • Ensuring all equipment and furniture are in a safe and working manner and following services practices to access maintenance/repair when required

  • Ensuring all First Aid kits are checked every 6 months by a registered First Aid Trainer, continuing regular checks throughout the year and replenishing when required

  • Ensuring all IITIs are completed accordingly and following register database process

  • Stock rotation, overseeing stock entering service and ordering processes

  • Preparing a report to be delivered at each team meeting of the WHS office

  • Modelling excellence, coaching, guiding and assisting in the implementation of the TG’s Way

  • Having a working knowledge of industry standards such as the NQS and EYLF

  • Working in accordance with the Code of Ethics of Early Childhood Australia.

WHS states that businesses must put health and safety practices in place as soon as their business is started. It is under Australian law that the business must:

  • ensure the health and safety of workers

  • not put the health and safety of other people at risk

This includes:

  • providing a safe work environment

  • provide and maintain safe machinery and structures

  • provide safe ways of working

  • ensure safe use, handling and storage of machinery, structures and substances

  • provide and maintain adequate facilities

  • provide any information, training, instruction or supervision needed for safety

  • monitor the health of workers and conditions at the workplace

(Source: business.gov.au)


It's not just about following the law and regulations. There are important benefits businesses can gain from ensuring the safety, health and wellbeing of people on their premises. It is a strong factor in staff retention and improving productivity. It reduces injury and illness in the workplace and also the costs of compensation in such situations.

What it takes to be a WHS Officer at TG's

There are several Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to ascertain of someone is suited to this position.


1. Personal & Professional Development – Understanding our Gifts

Demonstrated experience and understanding of the need for continuation of both personal & professional development


Adaptability and flexibility are vital characteristics. A WHS Officer is constantly developing themselves with training sessions to meet the ever-changing needs of the industry. Whether it's First Aid, food safety and how to handle food and equipment hygienically, a WHS Officer knows exactly what to do. Listening is highly valued at TG's Child Care. When a WHS Officer attends internal and external stakeholder meetings, they are there to listen to what everyone needs, and appropriate measures can be executed.


2. Customer Service – Building Relationships

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills including demonstrated experience in liaising with a wide range of internal and external parties.


A WHS Officer is a strong advocate for children and families, and staff at TG's are treated with the same respect. Maintaining confidentiality is key to helping people feel safe, so families, clients, staff know they can trust TG's. With TG's strong ESG background, diversity and inclusivity are a natural part of how TG's operates. The WHS Officer is there to ensure equality and treat everyone with respect while being responsive to their needs.


3. Administration & Documentation - Encouraging Collective thinking

Through the use of the company processes ensure that all administration and documentation requirements are initiated and completed in a professional and timely manner.


This goes beyond mere 'paperwork'. It's about ensuring that the way documentation is treated meets legal requirements, and files are stored correctly to ensure confidentiality. TG's is always growing and looking for ways to step up and ahead. The WHS Officer is there to ensure TG's has a continual improvement strategy in receiving input from everyone in relation to systems and processes. This ensures TG's operations and activities are kept effective, and feedback is encouraged to help TG's develop and implement policies and procedures.


4. Technical Skills & Application – Understanding our Gifts

Demonstrated knowledge and application of the skills required for this position. This includes knowledge and understanding of appropriate equipment, legislation, policies and procedures.


The WHS Officer has an eagle eye out for every child at TG's to ensure they are always supervised indoors and outdoors. TG's curriculum promotes the children's safety and wellbeing and the WHS Officer is there to assist Educators to ensure safe and suitable teaching strategies. Every child is unique, so they know if some children have additional needs or requirements pertaining to diet, allergies, development. TG's entire playspace is seen as the 'third teacher', so these spaces are respected and well-maintained to create an environment for children that fosters curiosity, exploration and problem-solving.


5. Teamwork & Communication – Building Relationships

Demonstrated ability to participate as an active member of a team, consistent with the philosophy and policies of the Company.


Paddling the canoe together is a highly conscious process that happens at TG's. The WHS Officer is the first to model working harmoniously and positively within the team to achieve team goals. TG's Educators are supported to fully reflect the TG's Way and everyone is driven to paddle further and beyond together.


6. Continuous Improvement – Encouraging Collective Thinking

Commitment to ensuring quality services are delivered to both internal & external parties through continuous improvement activities.


This role requires one to know the relevant external legislation, internal policies and procedures of this position and TG's. The WHS Officer is on the ball when it comes to Quality Improvement Plans, or ensuring TG's continual development in the National Quality Framework, National Regulations and National Law as well as the Early Years Learning Framework.


Safety, Health and Wellbeing at TG's

  • Children's health and safety

  • Staffing arrangements

  • Relationships with children

  • Collaborative partnerships with families and communities

  • Governance and Leadership

All TG's Educators are required to have Working with Children Checks and have clear codes of conduct and policies.


Beyond this, TG's has been hard at work behind the scenes ensuring children, families, staff and visitors are all kept safe and secure. When you really think about it and look at all that is being done and continues to be implement and maintained, it is a lot of work. There is a huge responsibility behind all the effort, and perhaps this is a good time to say kudos to everyone involved in the WHS of TG's, and to say a big THANK YOU for being the invisible elves at work every day to keep everyone safe!








1. Clear communications

The COVID-19 pandemic was a major test to the WHS of many businesses. TG's stepped up immediately and were clear it was imperative not just to keep everyone physically safe but also to tend to the mental health of everyone. TG's Educators certainly demonstrated what it means to go above and beyond. They created educational videos to inform families and children about the COVID situation. Educators put together a Creative Care Package for families which included fun activities such as science experiments, cooking activities, storytelling so children can continue with Playing is Learning for Life wherever they were. It brought a sense of regularity, familiarity and comfort to children and to families who can see that TG's is there for them, no matter what.





Communication lines were kept open, clear and consistent. They were and continue to keep up-to-date with the latest changes, developments and recommendations of policies and regulations from the government. This may include other issues not related to health and safety, but which are also important and have an impact on families e.g. Child Care Subsidy (CCS) scheme.


2. Healthy eating

TG's meals are recognised by Munch and Move and Good for Kids. This ensures healthy meals every day. As sustainability is woven into their business model, TG's menus are seasonal, respecting sustainability and the environment's natural cycles.



TG's armidale educator and toddler planting a seed | TG's Child Care

And there's always a fun factor somewhere when it comes to doing things at TG's! TG's children grow and look after the very vegetables they eat! They are trusty little gardeners who learn about the plants and they care for them from the time they are tiny seeds through to harvest time. This promotes eco-intelligence, responsibility, appreciation and boosts the children's confidence. It empowers them and gives a sense of pride in their hard work in sustainable practices. See it as a little 'Farm to Fork' at TG's and the children love it! It makes them see their vegetables in a whole new light!



3. Always ready

Natural disasters are a part of life in our communities. TG's has learnt from past experiences, so they have flood readiness action plans in place to prevent any potential damage in the future.


4. Age-appropriate knowledge

TG's often invites local trades in their communities to educate the children on dental health or fire safety. They learn age-appropriate skills to take care of their health and safety. Healthy Harold, the friendly giraffe also came to TG's to teach the children about feelings and making safe choices. Mindfulness is a part of the TG's curriculum and the children pick up wellbeing tools they can use anytime.





5. Wellbeing for Educators

TG's organises regular staff training on wellbeing and mindfulness. Centre managers

are always on hand to guide and listen to Educators. TG's has a Mental Health Workplaces Toolkit with guidance material and practical resources that guide them to eliminate and reduce risks to psychological health and create a safe workplace that is mentally healthy. This builds the knowledge, skills and capabilities of the TG's team to be resilient and thrive at work.




6. Risk Assessments and Safety Checks

TG's Educators are familiar with using Risk Assessments and daily safety checklists. Risk assessments are completed to manage potential risks including, but not limited to:

  • New equipment

  • Learning experiences

  • Quarterly emergency evacuation drills

  • Excursions

  • Visitors

They are also aware of the importance of hazard identification and the steps required to manage them should they arise. Educators are familiar with WHS equipment, environment safety checks and audits.


The next time you step into TG's, you may well see the whole place in a very different light. Everything is in its proper place to ensure children, families, Educators and visitors are kept safe, secure and healthy. When we feel safe and loved, we all grow very well! That's why TG's Child Care has been trusted by families across communities through the generations.


Contact


TG's Child Care locations and contact details (below)


Urangan QLD

61 Miller St, Urangan, QLD 4655


Armidale NSW

11 Samuelson Crescent, Armidale NSW 2350


Uralla NSW

23B John St, Uralla NSW 2358


Wauchope - Hastings St NSW

33B Hastings St, Wauchope NSW 2446


Wauchope - High St NSW

223A High St, Wauchope NSW 2446


Wauchope - Riverbreeze NSW

3 Riverbreeze Drive, Wauchope NSW 2446


 

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