Our Commitment to Safety

The Australasian Democratic Education Community (ADEC) is a network of educators, schools, and learning communities committed to democratic, participatory, and relational approaches to education. At the heart of this work is a deep respect for children and young people — their rights, dignity, voice, and place within the learning community.

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ADEC recognises that highly relational learning environments require deliberate, embedded, and consistently applied structures to ensure safety, prevent harm, and maintain clear professional and ethical boundaries.

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Within democratic education, relationships are central. Learning environments are built on trust, mutual respect, shared responsibility, and the active participation of students, educators, and families. These principles require not only openness and dialogue, but also clear, consistent, and non-negotiable commitments to safety, care, and ethical responsibility embedded across leadership, culture, and practice.

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ADEC affirms that:

• The safety and wellbeing of children and young people is paramount in all educational settings.

• Caring and equitable relationships must be actively upheld and protected, including through clear, respectful, and non-violent communication practices.

• Democratic and relational practices must operate within clear boundaries, appropriate safeguards, and transparent, accountable systems. This includes child safety policies, documented complaints processes, defined roles and responsibilities, and access to independent reporting pathways.

• All members and organisations are responsible for understanding and upholding relevant child protection legislation, professional standards, and duty of care obligations.

• Concerns relating to child safety must be taken seriously and responded to through appropriate and established processes, including timely communication, prompt action, and referral to relevant external authorities where required.

 

Democratic education is the intentional creation of learning communities where freedom, voice, and participation exist alongside care, protection, and collective accountability.

 

As a community, ADEC is committed to ongoing reflection, dialogue, and learning. This includes supporting member schools to strengthen child safety practices, engaging in critical reflection and review where concerns are raised, and continually strengthening practices that ensure children and young people are safe, heard, respected, and supported to thrive.