Safe. Heard.
Always.
Every child and young person we support has the right to feel safe, be safe, and be heard. Not sometimes. Not mostly. Always.
Not a policy on a shelf.
The foundation under everything.
Live it Up exists because too many young people fall through the gaps: between out-of-home care and independence, between services that don't talk to each other, between what the system offers and what a person actually needs. We built this organisation to close those gaps, and child safety is the foundation everything else stands on.
Live it Up Pty Ltd is registered with the NSW Office of the Children's Guardian as an agency providing specialised substitute residential care in the Illawarra Shoalhaven, for children and young people aged 5 to 17.
Our child safety commitments.
Children and young people come first
Ahead of our reputation, our convenience, and our comfort. If a choice ever sits between what is easy for us and what is safe for a young person, the young person wins. Every time.
We listen. Properly.
Young people have a say in the decisions that shape their lives, and we take what they tell us seriously. Feeling safe includes being heard, being believed, and knowing that speaking up changes things.
Screening, training and supervision
Staff are required to meet the screening requirements for their role. We check clearances, provide training and supervision, and respond to concerns about conduct.
We respect who each young person is
We pay particular attention to the safety and cultural identity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, children with disability, young people who identify as LGBTQIA+, and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Safety that ignores identity isn't safety.
Families and communities involved
Open, two-way communication: families know how we work, and they have a real say in it.
We act
Zero tolerance for abuse or neglect of any kind. Every concern is taken seriously, responded to quickly, and reported to the NSW Police, the Office of the Children's Guardian, and the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission as required. No exceptions, no matter who is involved.
We keep getting better
We review our practice, learn from every complaint, and hold ourselves to the ten NSW Child Safe Standards not as a ceiling, but as a floor.
This is your life, your home, your team.
If something doesn't feel right, whether it's a worker, a house, or a decision made about you, tell us. Tell any worker you trust, tell our office, tell your family or advocate. We will listen, take your concern seriously and explain what happens next. You can ask a trusted person or advocate to support you. We work to protect people who raise concerns from retaliation.
Our door is open. That's not a slogan. It's the job.
Rikki Stark
Founder & Managing Director, Live it Up
Speak up. We'll act.
You can speak directly with Rikki Stark, our Managing Director and child safety contact, at rikkistark@liveitup.net.au. You can also email Hello@liveitup.net.au or visit us at 1/6 George St, Warilla. You have the right to raise concerns. We work to prevent retaliation and discuss any changes needed to keep support safe.
You can also contact
In an emergency: always call 000.
NSW Office of the Children's Guardian
ocg.nsw.gov.au
NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission
1800 035 544 · ndiscommission.gov.au
Kids Helpline (for young people, free, 24/7)
1800 55 1800