We are QIP Safeguarding Accredited
Sep 30, 2026 | Sarah Martin-Alcaide
What QIP safeguarding accreditation means for families and participants
When you bring a child, young person or vulnerable person to one of our disability programs you should be able to trust that we take their safety seriously. Y Whittlesea is now proudly QIP Safeguarding Accredited. This post explains what QIP safeguarding accreditation means and what it means for you.
QIP (Quality Innovation Performance) is an independent accreditation organisation. Its assessors reviewed how we keep people safe, not just what our policies say.
What is safeguarding?
Safeguarding means making sure everyone who engages with us is safe from harm. That includes people receiving programs, people visiting and people working with us.
It is about having the right systems, processes and everyday behaviours to reduce the risk of abuse, neglect or exploitation, and to respond quickly if something goes wrong.
At the Y, safeguarding is non-negotiable. It shows up in everyday moments: how we treat one another, how we listen, and how we make it easy for people to feel safe, be themselves and speak up if something doesn't feel right. When a concern is raised, it is taken seriously and responded to promptly, thoroughly and with care.
What does QIP safeguarding accreditation mean?
Being QIP Safeguarding Accredited means our safeguarding practices have been independently assessed against the nationally recognised QIP Standards for Safeguarding Children and Adults at Risk.
It is more than a statement of intent. Accreditation involves an independent verification process, so you don't have to rely only on our word that safeguarding is built into the way we work.
What did the assessors look at?
A team of independent QIP assessors carried out a thorough review of our safeguarding systems and practices across our service areas at Y Whittlesea in early learning, disability, recreation and youth programs. They:
Spoke with a cross section of our staff and the people we support
Examined our governance structures
Looked at how those structures are applied in practice
Accreditation recognises that we have:
Safeguarding accountability at every level of our organisation
Staff who know how to recognise, report and respond to safeguarding concerns
Systems designed to protect people and support them when it matters most
A commitment to strengthening our safeguarding practice through continual reflection and improvement
How does accreditation stay current?
Accreditation is ongoing. QIP carries out a full assessment every three years, and a mid-cycle review takes place at 18 months. Our safeguarding systems are formally assessed twice in every three-year cycle, which helps keep them effective and improving.
Why we chose QIP
Families, participants, communities and our own staff need to know that safeguarding is a key focus for us. Independent assessment checks that the systems we use every day work as intended.
QIP assessors are experienced professionals with a strong understanding of safeguarding in real service environments. They look beyond policies and procedures to see how safeguarding is put into practice each day.
The QIP framework was also important. Its safeguarding accreditation program is aligned with global best practice, so our approach is measured against standards that are both nationally recognised and internationally respected.
What this means for you
For families, carers, participants and members, accreditation means you can expect a few things when you spend time with the Y.
You can expect staff who know how to recognise, report and respond to concerns. You can expect to be listened to. And you can expect that if you or someone you care about raises a concern, it will be taken seriously.
To recognise our accreditation, look for the QIP Safeguarding Standards Accredited symbol at our centres and on our website. It shows our safeguarding practices have been independently assessed and that we are committed to improving.
Questions about safeguarding at the Y?
If you would like to know more about how we keep children, young people and adults safe, we're glad to talk.
Check out or Safeguarding FAQ's here.
Contact our Safeguarding Lead at safe@ywhittlesea.org.au