Inquiry Project

Becoming Safer Road Users: A guide to using inquiry approaches to enhance road safety in early childhood education

This resource supports early childhood educators to move beyond one-off professional learning and embed road safety education into everyday practice. Using an inquiry approach, educators are guided to explore real road safety challenges within their local communities and work collaboratively with children and families to develop meaningful, context-based solutions.

Aligned with the National Quality Standard, the guide promotes reflective, research-informed practice that is integrated into service operations and shaped by strong community engagement. It provides practical strategies for undertaking practitioner-led inquiry projects, enabling educators to strengthen their understanding, enhance curriculum and operations, and deliver safer outcomes for children and families.

By positioning inquiry as a continuous process of learning and improvement, this resource highlights the role of early childhood education as a catalyst for positive change within communities.

Road Safety Inquiry Guide

What is the Inquiry Project?

The Starting Out Safely  Road Safety Education Inquiry Project is a deeper exploration of road safety education that develops innovative solutions to local safety challenges.

It is an opportunity to think critically and take actions that create a safer future for children and their families.
Successful applicants will collaborate with our expert consultants through online and face to face engagements over the course of the year.

Building on this year’s work, we will be seeking new participants for the 2027 program—services are encouraged to keep an eye out in late 2026 for Expressions of Interest.

Why Apply?

  • Drive Innovation: Explore fresh ideas to support exceeding practices in early childhood education.
  • Make an Impact: Empower educators, enhance children’s safety, and strengthen community connections.
  • Inspire Change: Develop a curriculum that sparks children’s and families’ passion for social action.
  • Lead and Learn: Collaborate with leading educational experts and trailblazers in the field.

Our 2025 Inquiry Project was another successful collaboration of some of the sector’s most outstanding early childhood professionals and their services. 

These elite group of professionals were taking a deep dive into road safety education and exploring solutions for your children and community by:

  • Looking for new ideas to support exceeding practice.
  • Engaging educators in a project that could make a real difference to children’s safety and contribution to their community.
  • Exploring ways to design a curriculum that engages children and families in social action
  • Ongoing road safety issues that negatively impacts on children’s wellbeing.

 2025 Participants:

  • Helen Jessen Early Learning Centre
  • Kool Kidz Mill Park
  • Monash Vale Early Learning Centre
  • North Carlton Children’s Centre
  • Princess Hill Kindergarten
  • Hurlingham Preschool
  • Shine Bright Tongala Kindergarten
  • Shalimar Park Preschool

Previous participant services:

  • Ada Mary A’Beckett Children’s Centre
  • Early Years at Phoenix Park
  • Let’s Go Family Day Care
  • Sunshine South Kindergarten
  • Perry Street Childcare
  • Norlane Child and Family Centre
  • Castlemaine Child Care Centre
  • Hippity Hop Early Learning
  • Leopold Child and Family Centre
  • Korin Korin Child and Family Centre
  • ECO kids Early Learning Centre
  • Baw Baw Shire Family Day Care
  • Maribyrnong River Children’s Centre
  • Nathalia and District Preschool
  • Monash Family Children’s Cooperative
  • Carrum Family and Children’s Centre
  • Only About Children Cheltenham
  • Robyn Jane Children’s Centre
  • TRY South Yarra Preschool
  • Bubup Womindjeka Family and Children’s Centre
  • Family and Children’s Centre
  • Mary Beck Preschool
  • South Melbourne Childcare Cooperative
  • Aspendale Gardens Community Services
  • Merri Childcare Cooperative
  • Athol Road Primary School Kindergarten
  • Bridge Road Kindergarten Strathtulloh
  • Montgomery Park Children’s Centre
  • Acacia Kindergarten Creche
  • Sunnyside Kindergarten
  • Tyers Kindergarten
  • Each Child Community Child & Family Centre
  • Oxley Kids
  • Little Assets Melbourne City
  • Goodstart Early Learning Centre Ringwood
  • Apollo Bay Kindergarten (One Tree)
  • Bright Early Learning Centre Glen Waverley
  • Brookfield Children’s Centre
  • City of Geelong Family Day Care
  • Gowrie Docklands
  • Mickelham North Kindergarten
  • Aurora Early Learning Centre QV
  • Yarra Park Children’s Centre
  • The Range Williamstown

Proudly supported by

© 2024 Early Learning Association Australia

Contact

ELAA delivers Victoria’s early childhood road safety education program, Starting Out Safely, on behalf of the
Transport Accident Commision (TAC).
Contact the RSE team by email: rse@elaa.org.au 

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