Shared Culture of Care under a bigger roof: One House, Two Families
A Story: Why Red Flag Matters
A Grade 2 student has been holding it together all day in class. By the end of the day in OSHC, they are tired, fragile, and quietly crying in the corner because mum is late again. An educator notices. It would be easy to brush it off as tiredness, but something feels different. The educator faces a choice: stay silent or speak up.
Here, they choose to share what they noticed. A quick note is passed on.
“Not sure if it is anything, but Sam seemed unusually withdrawn yesterday evening. I thought it was worth flagging.”
For the principal, that information is valuable. It is not a crisis, but it is a clue. A perspective they would not have seen during school hours. A chance to reach out to the family earlier. A chance to keep a child safe.
This is the heart of the Red Flag program. It gives educators, families, and children a simple, trusted way to raise small concerns before they grow larger. With its help, schools can see more of the picture. It ensures that no quiet signal is missed.
Quiet Signals of Care
Educators in OSHC often see a different side of children. The tired version at the end of the day. The child who holds it together in class but unravels at 5.30 PM. They may notice signals such as:
A normally lively child becoming withdrawn during afternoon tea
A young one who keeps drawing stormy skies
Siblings who usually play together suddenly refusing to make eye contact
In those moments, the question is always whether to raise a concern or to stay silent. In a culture built on trust, educators feel safe to say, “I noticed something yesterday. I am not sure if it is important, but I thought you should know.” In a siloed culture, the observation may never be shared, and a chance to support a child is lost.
Under One Roof
Schools and OSHC are like two families sharing the same house. One nurtures a sun loving fern that needs steady daily care. The other tends a hardy succulent that thrives on occasional attention. Both plants have different needs, but the wellbeing of the home depends on both families working together.
This is the relationship between schools and OSHC. Different needs, but a shared purpose.
A Practical Example: Red Flag
At TheirCare, we wanted to make it easy for people to raise those quiet signals of care. That is why we introduced Red Flag, a simple and confidential way for children, families, or staff to speak up if something does not feel right.
We set up a dedicated email (redflag@theircare.com.au) and phone number (1300 622 163) so that no concern is too small to be shared. It might be a comment a staff member made, a shift in a child’s behaviour, or just an uneasy feeling. The promise is simple: we will listen and we will act.
The philosophy of Red Flag is early and humble attention. It is about surfacing concerns in a way that is collaborative, not blameful.
One House, Two Families
Keeping children safe requires more than one group shouldering the load. Under this bigger roof:
Providers ensure compliance, training, and oversight
Children are encouraged to have a voice and speak up
Educators, school staff, and families are empowered to raise concerns
Government and regulators provide checks, visibility, and transparency
Together, we see more and act sooner.
Closing Reflection
As the school day ends, teachers finish up and OSHC educators care for the last few children. Both families under the same roof, watering their different plants, minding the same house.
Child safety is not a box to tick. It is a garden to tend. Some seasons are hard, with storms of incidents or long dry stretches of paperwork. Yet the house continues to bloom when we notice, when we listen, and when we act together.
No one gives medals for the absence of tragedy. No ceremonies mark the thousand quiet decisions that keep children safe. Yet those small choices matter most.
So here is to the partnership we share. May we continue to notice, to raise concerns early, and to protect the home we hold in common. Together, we will keep the house safe and nurture every young plant within it.