The SPARK Program (Supporting Protective Factors, Awareness and Resilience in Kids) is a play-based, evidence-informed program for children attending 3 and 4-year-old kindergarten that strengthens the protective factors underpinning lifelong safety, wellbeing and resilience. Through engaging experiences, children develop emotional literacy, self-regulation, positive relationships, body safety and confidence to seek help when needed.

What makes SPARK different is its whole-service approach? Alongside children's learning, educators build the confidence, knowledge and practical strategies to embed protective behaviours, emotional wellbeing and help-seeking into everyday practice. Families receive resources and a shared language to reinforce safety, boundaries and resilience at home, creating consistent messages across children's learning environments.

By building the capability of children, educators and families together, SPARK creates sustainable practice that extends well beyond the program, supporting school readiness, child safety, wellbeing and positive developmental outcomes aligned with the EYLF, VEYLDF and Child Safe Standards.

SPARK strengthens children's protective factors and supports the AEDC Social Competence domain through four play-based sessions.

• Children: Build emotional literacy, resilience, self-regulation, safe relationships, body safety and help-seeking skills.
• Educators: Gain practical strategies, coaching and resources to embed protective behaviours into everyday practice.
• Families: Receive tools and shared language to reinforce safety, resilience and wellbeing at home.

SPARK is a structured four-week, play-based program delivered within preschool and early learning settings for children attending 3 and 4-year-old preschool. The program includes four weekly 30–45-minute face-to-face sessions for children, a 60-minute professional learning session for educators, and 2 online webinars for parents/carers. Families also receive access to Kids First's digital resources, including clinician-developed videos supporting conversations about online safety, consent, grooming and protective behaviours.

Children participate in sessions alongside their educators, enabling educators to build confidence and capability by observing evidence-based strategies that strengthen children's emotional wellbeing, resilience, protective behaviours and social development. The dedicated educator session provides practical tools and resources to embed these approaches into everyday practice, creating sustainable service-wide change.

Parents/carers are supported through online sessions and practical resources that build confidence to reinforce emotional literacy, safety, boundaries and help-seeking at home, creating consistent messages across children's learning environments.

SPARK aligns with the EYLF, VEYLDF, National Quality Standard and Child Safe Standards, providing a whole-community approach that strengthens outcomes for children, educators and families.

Program Investment: $5,220 (ex GST) for a complete SPARK package supporting up to 15 children, 2 educators and 30 parents/carers. Includes 4 child sessions, educator professional learning, 2 parent webinars, digital family resources, and practical implementation tools. Pricing includes preparation, delivery, travel within 50 kms of CBD, resources and follow-up support. Additional costs may occur outside the CBD for travel and accommodation.