Professional Development for Child Care Centres

Helping little ones feel safe

Protect Our Babies run full day Professional Development in Child Care Centres using Auslan Informed Key Word Signs (AI-KWS).

AI-KWS helps childcare staff understand what babies are communicating months before they can speak.

Our charter is to see that babies and children are better supported to feel heard, understood and safer in care

I'm a parent/guardian

I'm a childcare/staff member

Helping little ones feel understood

Professional Development for Child Care Centres

Protect Our Babies (POB) run full day Professional Development in Child Care Centres using Auslan Informed Key Word Signs (AI-KWS).

AI-KWS helps childcare staff understand what babies are communicating months before they can speak.

Our charter is to see that babies and children are better supported to feel heard, understood and safer in care

I'm a parent/guardian

I'm a childcare/staff member

Peace of Mind for Parents and Guardians

Providing safety through Key Word Signing

Our Professional Development for Child Care Centres provides childcare educators practical communication skills to support babies and young children before they are able to speak, helping create safer, calmer and more connected childcare environments.

For parents, the POB (Protect Our Babies) program means:

  • Added reassurance that your child is being supported by educators who are skilled in key word signing.
  • Carers will be able to recognise, respond to and understand your child earlier.
  • Being understood can help make your child feel safer, respected and valued improving their wellbeing* allowing for more play, rest and connection.
  • From as early as 6 weeks of age, babies and children can begin to understand signing.
  • Our Auslan Informed Key Word Signs (AI-KWS) program helps create a culture for children to express themselves intentionally.
  • Around 8 months babies have the manual dexterity and cognitive ability to communicate their needs, emotions and experiences more clearly e.g. eat, sleep, finished

*ACECQE (Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority) Quality area 2 “Children’s Health & Safety providing comfort, safety, protection and wellbeing to all children”

More than signing

A stronger layer of safety in care

Our charter is to see that babies and children are better supported to feel heard, understood and safer in care.

Protect Our Babies AI-KWS program promotes-:

  • Child safety and comfort
  • Wellbeing for staff & children
  • Early communication
  • Engaging activity
  • Improved eye contact
  • Promotes hand eye coordination
  • Right brain left brain integration
  • Building new neurological pathways
  • Increases vocabulary
  • A bridge to multiple languages
  • Fun
  • Connection
  • Consistent shared modality
  • An option for a child who is non-verbal
  • Extra layers of visibility and accountability of staff
  • Staff professional development
  • Meeting NQF standards for children’s health & safety
  • Respecting a child’s rights to be safe, seen and understood
Nominate your childcare

Training & Professional Development for Child Care Centres

Full Day Auslan Informed Key Word Signing Program

What we offer?

Full day Professional Development for Child Care Centres -:

Protect Our Babies Objectives

  • help teams build Key Word Signing skills together
  • increase personal confidence with a new skill
  • improve staff morale through shared learning around child safety
  • nurtures face to face, in-person connection
  • energises staff
  • enhances the unique culture of the Child Care Centre

Our charter is to see that babies and children are better supported to feel heard, understood and safer in care.

I'm a parent/guardian

I'm a childcare/staff member

  • We base ourselves at one centre for a full day (or two) so the learning can happen in the environment where the staff and children already feel safe and settled.
  • This full day allows for shift workers to receive the professional development across the day.
  • Throughout the day, we gently model AI-KWS with staff complimenting their work responsibilities
  • We stand with them shoulder to shoulder being supportive, side by side, working and learning in real time caring for the babies in the room
  • Staff will be signed off by the Protect Our
    Babies trainer to confirm they received the PD
    making them eligible to receive their authorised digital certificate.
  • This approach supports immediate use of the key word signs. Immediate implementation in the context of the Child Care setting helps internalise the learning with instant success
  • The program supports the staff member in a more natural and practical way
  • Our program builds stronger connections between staff members, children and carers.
  • Communication becomes clearer, calmer and more intentional.
  • Staff report having an extra skill in their ‘tool kit’ to improve care and reduce frustrations
  • It is a positive workplace experience.
  • Protect Our Babies programme is for Child Care Centres.
  • The Professional Development is for Child Care staff in direct contact with babies and children.
  • Child Care Centres who prioritise Child Safety and want to promote appropriate Professional Development to train their staff in the area of Child Health and Safety standards
  • We have a separate program for Not for Profit Kindergartens and Community Centres. Please contact us below
  • We also offer free referrals to other trusted
    providers. Please book in for a free 20min consult call.

Give educators practical signing skills they can use every day

Professional Development for Child Care staff

  • All day training
  • Staff continue to work. Training coincides with their child care responsibilities
  • It is training on the job - 1:1
  • Training is co-ordinated to cover all or most staff on different shifts

Our Professional Development for Child Care Staff is designed for centres that want to train their team in Auslan informed key word signing and communication support. It is a dynamic, hands on, full day of professional learning delivered at your centre, with a clear and consistent program that gives educators practical knowledge that can be implemented immediately.

This training is delivered across one or two full days making it easier for staff on different shifts to attend. This ensures the centre receives a focused, comprehensive, high-quality program for all staff.

When making a booking an optional 60 mins Staff Meeting /Professional Development presentation will be offered.

I'm a parent/guardian

I'm a childcare/staff member

Consistent, practical and relevant

What makes POB AI-KWS program unique?

  • The full day POB in-service is a dynamic program to suit the unique culture of the child care centre.
  • The content is based on research and evidence of Language Acquisition and Early Communication.
  • The curriculum is designed to ensure consistent delivery across multiple centres setting a standard of care
  • The POB staff are highly qualified in Early Education
  • The AI-KWS skill is transferrable in the varied environments of the centre e.g. outside play, inside play, home
  • Auslan Informed Key Word Signing requires no technology!

In early childhood settings, communication is happening all day, even before spoken language is established. When educators understand how to use Auslan Informed key word signs clearly and consistently, they are better equipped to support children’s expression, reduce frustration and strengthen connection through everyday interactions. This is how child safety is promoted and improved.

This professional development is very inclusive helping staff feel more prepared to support children with a range of communication needs within the centre. This may include children with hearing-related challenges and children navigating more than one language.

We are based at one centre for the full day so all shift staff have the opportunity to attend. This allows for a more thorough and practical learning experience, while also supporting consistency across the team.

To maintain quality control, centres provide staff names in advance and attendance is checked on the day. A Professional Certificate is then made available to attendees after the training has been delivered.

The content of the optional 60 minute Staff Meeting PD session includes:

  • Auslan culture
  • Expanded Baby Signing
  • Anatomy of Hearing
  • Understanding the impact of hearing loss
  • Grommets, glue ear, tubes
  • Cochlear implants
  • Auditory processing
  • Babies & Hearing aids
  • Inclusive and immediately implemented adjustments
  • Practical strategies for children with Auditory Processing and Communication needs

For parents and guardians

Have a childcare in mind?

Parents and guardians can complete this form

  1. Provide us with the name, location and contact person of the childcare you would like a session to be completed at.
  2. We will contact the centre and let them know that a family has requested the Protect Our Babies Program
  3. We will support any parent, guardian or carer who wants POB program run in their centre to offer an extra layer of safety for ANY child.
  4. Your nomination and voice is very powerful.

To protect your child we do not need to know your baby or your child’s name. Child safety is our top priority.

Your nomination and voice is very powerful

For centres and staff

Book your Professional Development

  • Regional towns are encouraged to make contact.
  • Some locations may attract extra charges to cover travel and accommodation.
  • All details can be discussed during a free 20 minute call.

Book your consultation

Choose a day and time that suits you for your 20 minute consultation.

Let's discuss the details

During your 20 minute consultation we will discuss your needs and any costs and schedule your training day.

Complete training

Upon the completion of training the participating staff members will receive a digital Certificate of Completion provided to the administration at the Child Care Centre. Names of the participants will be provided by the centre on the day the Protect Our Babies AI- KWS program is delivered.

Book your 20 minute consultation here

*subject to booking discussion. 

Information for centres and staff

What you need to know

What are the costs involved?
Current pricing

Please note there are LIMITED PLACES available each calendar year.

Protect Our Babies Auslan Informed Key Word Signing Training (includes optional 60min PD for staff)
$1850 1 day +GST
$2500 2 days +GST

A full day constitutes 8 hours (inclusive of trainer breaks)
Child Care franchises may enquire about packages.
Maximum staff numbers do apply

Community Kinders are invited to book a free 20 minute consult to discuss what is available.

Full terms conditions will be provided at time of booking.
Where possible, we aim to reschedule bookings rather than cancel bookings.

  • We have limited places so we will endeavour to make another booking time close to the original date.
  • If no date can be agreed a refund will be offered
  • As there is a waiting list we do not offer refunds for cancellations unless there are substantiated extenuating circumstances
  • Rescheduling requests will be subject to availability and the amount of notice provided.
  • Further details around lead times and conditions will be included in our final booking terms.

 

Discounts may be available for bookings paid in advance

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