Each Mother Duck service is independently owned and operated by a qualified early childhood professional. Our franchisees are not remote managers — they are on-site leaders who are deeply familiar with the children, educators, and families in their care.

They:

• Lead daily and monthly safety inspections.
• Review and sign off on all risk assessments.
• Personally ensure that blue card compliance is up to date for every educator, contractor, and visitor.
• Are accountable for implementing and revising supervision and safety procedures.

This owner-operator model means that the person responsible for your child’s safety is not a faceless head office — it’s someone who knows your child by name and sees them every day.

Blue Card Checks: Every Person, Every Time

All educators, students, support staff, contractors, and visitors at Mother Duck must hold a valid Working with Children Check (Blue Card) — no exceptions. Our Franchisees ensure that:

• Cards are verified before anyone starts work.
• All individuals are linked on the official Blue Card Organisation Portal.
• A central Employee Register is updated and audited regularly.
• Cards are renewed on time, or individuals are stood down immediately.

These background checks aren’t just a one-time task — they are monitored, recorded, and reviewed monthly, with clear procedures in place for reporting any changes in a person’s eligibility.

Risk Management: Planned, Practical, and Proactive

From playground layouts to emergency procedures, risk management at Mother Duck is built into everyday operations. We follow a structured process grounded in the ACECQA framework, and overseen by our on-site Franchisees, who ensure:

• Daily and monthly safety checklists are completed and actioned.
• Risk assessments are developed for excursions, sleep/rest routines, and emergency procedures — and reviewed annually or when circumstances change.
• All educators are aware of risk controls and participate in regular updates and evaluations.

We apply the Hierarchy of Control approach to managing hazards — from removing unsafe equipment to updating environments to prevent accidents before they happen.

Continuous Improvement with Local Leadership

Because our Franchisees are in their centres daily, they can:

• Immediately respond to new safety concerns or maintenance issues.
• Ensure every hazard report is followed up promptly.
• Adapt procedures to the unique layout and dynamics of their service.
• Embed safety into team meetings, educator onboarding, and reflective practice.

This continuous, local leadership ensures that risk management is more than a form — it’s a culture.

Privacy, Documentation & Accountability

In line with our Working with Children Check policy, all documentation related to background checks and risk assessments is:

• Maintained securely and confidentially.
• Audited monthly for accuracy.
• Shared with regulators as required.
• Accessible for educators to review as part of their safety responsibilities.

We take documentation seriously because it’s one of the ways we stay transparent and accountable to the families we serve.

Our Commitment to You

Risk management and background screening might happen behind the scenes, but their impact is visible in every safe, calm, and welcoming environment we create.

At Mother Duck, Franchisees take personal ownership of this responsibility — because we believe that safety is not a checkbox, but a foundation for your child’s wellbeing and learning.

If you’d like to learn more about our safety practices, please speak with your Centre Leadership Team. We’re always happy to walk you through the policies that protect what matters most — your child.