What happens if my child is injured at childcare (and how will I be told)?

Kate Sachdev Content Specialist

14 May 2026

When your child starts childcare, don’t be surprised if you get a few unexpected phone calls. I remember getting calls like:
“Mia was dancing… and hit her head on the floor.”
“Mia ran into another child and bumped heads with them”
And one memorable one: “Mia bumped her head on a xylophone”

At one point, I did briefly wonder if Mia was just a little… uncoordinated. But then I remembered something important: childcare services are required to inform you and document injuries - and head injuries are taken very seriously (even minor ones).

Under Australia’s National Quality Framework, services must:

supervise children at all times
respond to injuries and incidents
provide first aid when needed
notify parents and document what happened

Most injuries are minor - bumps, scrapes and the occasional tumble - but services are still required to follow set polices and procedures.

What do educators do if a child gets hurt?

When an injury happens, educators will:

check what happened
comfort and reassure your child
provide appropriate first aid
monitor for any changes

There must always be a staff member in attendance who is trained in:

first aid
asthma management
anaphylaxis management

Educators are also trained to recognise when something needs to be escalated.

When will childcare contact me?

Short answer: you’ll be contacted if the injury is more than minor - and often even when it is.

Services will contact you as soon as practicable if:

the injury is significant
first aid beyond basic care is required
your child’s condition changes
medical attention may be needed

You may also receive a call for:

head injuries (even minor ones)
ongoing discomfort
anything that may reasonably concern you

Minor incident reports are often shared at pick-up or through an app.

What happens in an emergency?

Short answer: emergency services are called immediately, and you’ll be contacted straight away.

If a serious injury occurs:

educators call 000
provide first aid
contact parents or emergency contacts

Services must follow clear emergency procedures to ensure children’s safety. These situations are rare but services are trained and prepared to act quickly.

Will the incident be recorded?

Yes - all incidents must be documented. Services are required to keep records of:

injuries
incidents
accidents

This usually includes:

what happened
when it happened
what action was taken
any follow-up required

To ensure transparency, accountability and appropriate follow up care for children, parents are typically asked to:

review the report
sign or acknowledge it

Why do services report even small head bumps?

This often surprises parents but there’s a good reason for it. As I experienced with my daughter, Mia, head injuries are treated with extra caution. Even minor bumps are:

monitored carefully
documented
shared with parents

This isn’t about overreacting - it’s about making sure nothing is missed, keeping parents informed and helping you know what to watch for once your child is home.

How do childcare services prevent injuries?

Through supervision, safe environments, and clear policies. Services must:

provide adequate supervision
maintain safe indoor and outdoor environments
follow risk management practices

This includes:

age-appropriate equipment
regular safety checks
staff-to-child ratios

The bigger picture for parents

It’s completely natural to worry about your child getting hurt - especially when you’re not there.

The reality is, bumps, cuts and bruises are a normal part of early childhood. When children are playing, exploring and learning what their bodies can do, the occasional tumble is expected.

Even in well-designed environments, with careful supervision, accidents can still happen.

The reassuring part is that childcare services operate under strict national standards to ensure: