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1.  Purpose & Commitment

At Red Cherry Kindy & Childcare Photography, we believe every child deserves to feel safe, respected, and happy while being photographed. Our work is guided by clear professional standards that align with Australia’s National Quality Framework (NQF) and the ten National Principles for Child Safe Organisations.

This policy applies to Trina and all team members working under the Red Cherry Kindy & Childcare Photography business name. It outlines our obligations, practices, and procedures when working at preschools, childcare centres, and kindergartens across Queensland and is reviewed annually.

2.  Legislative & Regulatory Framework

Red Cherry Kindy & Childcare Photography acknowledges and operates in accordance with the following legislation, standards, and frameworks:

• Education and Care Services National Law (as adopted in each state/territory) 
• Education and Care Services National Regulations 
• National Quality Standard (NQS) 
• National Principles for Child Safe Organisations (10 Principles)  — endorsed by all Australian state and territory governments 
• Working with Children (Risk Management and Screening) Act 2000 (Qld)  — requires all team members to hold a current Blue Card before working with children.
• Privacy Act 1988  and Australian Privacy Principles  — governs how children’s images and personal information are collected, stored, and used.

3.  Staff Qualifications & Suitability

3.1  Working with Children Checks

All photographers and staff engaged by Red Cherry Kindy & Childcare Photography hold a current and valid Queensland Blue Card (Working with Children Check) prior to any engagement at a childcare or kindergarten service.

• Blue Card details are emailed to the centre administration before we commence work on site.
• Cards are renewed in accordance with Queensland legislation and never allowed to lapse.
• We carry our Blue Cards with us to every site visit and present them on request.

Our current team members can be viewed on our About Us page at redcherryimages.com.au/about-me.

3.2  Training & Induction

Every team member is trained by Trina before working independently at any service. Training covers:

• child safe behaviours and conduct expectations on site
• age-appropriate photography interactions with young children
• recognition of distress and how to respond appropriately
• this policy, including image handling, consent, and privacy obligations
• the child safety policies of individual services we regularly work with

We commit to completing nationally recognised child safety training as required under the NQF reforms effective from 27 February 2026, and to keeping our knowledge of child safe practices current.

4.  On-Site Photography Practices

4.1  Supervision & Location

The safety of children is our first consideration when planning and conducting any photography session. We operate within the following boundaries at all times:

• Always in sight of a staff member or educator.    Trina and all team members remain in areas that are visible to at least one centre educator throughout the entire visit.
• Approved locations only. We photograph in outdoor playground areas or other designated spaces as approved by the centre director prior to the session.
• Educator-assisted collection.  We ask that a centre educator collects children from their allocated room and brings them to the photography area. We do not collect children from rooms unsupervised.
• No access to private areas. We never enter, or photograph in, bathrooms, change areas, or any other private or restricted space.

4.2  Camera Equipment

• Professional cameras only.  We use high-quality, professional-grade cameras for all child photography. Equipment is used for business purposes only.
• Dedicated SD cards. All image storage cards are for business use only and are never used for personal photography.
• No personal mobile devices.  As of 1 September 2025, no team member has access to a personal mobile phone whilst in playground or photography areas. We cannot take calls or receive registrations during shoot time, which is why prior registration is essential.

4.3  Child Wellbeing During Sessions

Our photography approach is always child-led and respectful. We recognise that every child is different and we do not pressure any child to participate.

• Joyful and relaxed sessions.  We aim to make every child’s experience positive, fun, and something they can’t wait to tell their family about.
• Distress is always respected.  If a child shows signs of distress or is overwhelmed, we immediately discontinue their session. We never push through a child’s discomfort to obtain a photograph.
• Age-appropriate equipment and activities. Before using any props, play structures, or elevated platforms, we consult with educators about each child’s developmental ability (e.g. whether they can stand or climb safely).
• Safety matting.  Safety mats are placed around any elevated seating or standing areas used during group or class photos.
• Minor face preparation.  We gently wipe children’s faces with fragrance-free wipes to ensure clean photos. All other clothing adjustments are attended to by centre educators.

5.  Consent & Registration

Consent is the foundation of our work. We do not photograph any child without prior parental registration and consent.

• Registration = consent.    By completing a registration for photos, parents and guardians are giving Red Cherry Kindy & Childcare Photography permission to photograph their child in accordance with this policy.
• No registration = no photos.    Children who are not registered will not be photographed, individually or as part of a group or class photo.
• Opt-out options.    Parents may opt out at any time prior to photo day. A refund of any deposit is available if cancellation is made before the session. If a parent wishes to opt out of class photos only, individual photos can still be taken and provided in a private gallery — please contact us to discuss.
• Social media consent.    During registration, parents are explicitly asked whether they consent to their child’s image being used on Red Cherry’s website or social media. We respect all decisions and never use the images of children who have not been consented for this purpose. We never publish names alongside images.

6.  Group & Class Photo Policy

6.1  Childcare Centres — Composite Class Photos

• Registered children only.    Only children with a current registration are included in composite (yearbook-style) class photos.
• Individual headshots used.    The composite photo is compiled from individual headshot images taken during the session — it does not involve a separate group sitting.
• Exclusions on request.    If a registered parent does not want their child included in the composite photo, they must note this in the registration comment section.
• Print only.    Composite class photos for childcare centres are offered as print only and are not available to preview in online galleries.

6.2  Kindergartens — Traditional Group Photos

• Traditional posed group photo.    Children are seated or standing together in an age-appropriate arrangement. Safety mats are placed around any elevated surfaces.
• All children must have permission.    Any child in the group photo must have consent. If a child is not registered, the centre or kindy must obtain a signed permission form from that child’s family prior to the session.
• First names only.    We strongly recommend to centres that only first names are printed on the class photo to protect children’s privacy. Some centres elect to use no names at all, which we fully support.
• No online preview.    Class and group photos are not available in online galleries for privacy reasons. They are delivered as prints only.
• Not for online sharing.    Class photos are for personal, private family use only and must not be shared publicly on social media or any online platform.
• No class photo option available.    Services that prefer not to offer a class photo can request packages that exclude this product.

7.  Image Storage & Security

Protecting children’s images with the same care we bring to protecting children themselves is a core commitment of our business.

• Password-protected storage.    All digital image files are stored on encrypted, password-protected computers and hard drives held at Trina’s secure office location.
• Australian-hosted online galleries.    Our website is hosted by an Australian provider. Private online galleries are stored on Amazon S3 Australian servers.
• Private individual access.    Each family receives a unique passcode giving access only to their own child’s photos and any relevant class photos. Families cannot view other children’s images.
• Friendship photos.    Where friendship photos are requested, written permission is required from the parents of all children featured before images are shared in any gallery.
• Retention period.    Images are retained for a maximum of two years from the date of the session to allow for late purchases and to assist families who experience data loss. After two years, all images are permanently deleted. If a centre requests a shorter retention period of one year, we will comply with that request. Families are reminded to download their images before the deletion date.
• No commercial use without consent.    Images are never sold, licensed, or used commercially. They are used for social media or website purposes only where specific consent has been granted by the parent.

8.  Complaints & Concerns

Red Cherry Kindy & Childcare Photography takes all concerns seriously and is committed to responding promptly and transparently.

8.1  Raising a Concern

• During a session.    If an educator, parent, or child raises a concern during a session, we stop what we are doing and address it immediately.
• After a session.    Concerns can be raised by phone or email at any time. Contact details are available at redcherryimages.com.au.
• Centre-based concerns.    If a concern relates to the conduct of any team member on site, we encourage the centre director to contact Trina directly and confidentially.

8.2  Our Response

• All concerns are acknowledged within two business days.
• We investigate the concern, consult with relevant parties, and respond with our findings.
• Where a concern relates to a child safety matter, we follow the reporting obligations under Queensland child protection legislation and support the service in making any required notifications.
• Outcomes and any actions taken are communicated to the person who raised the concern, where appropriate.

9.  Alignment with the 10 National Child Safe Principles

The table below summarises how Red Cherry Kindy & Childcare Photography operates in alignment with each of the 10 National Principles for Child Safety

10.  Policy Review

This policy is reviewed annually or following any significant incident, change in legislation, or feedback from the services we work with.

• Current version:    12th June 2026
• Next scheduled review:   12th June 2027
• Policy owner:    Trina — Red Cherry Kindy & Childcare Photography

If you have any questions about this policy or would like to discuss our child safety practices in more detail, please contact us:

Email: trina@redcherryimages.com.au

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