Every child in our care
is our responsibility.
Adventure Minds is committed to the safety, dignity, and wellbeing of every young person who participates in our programs. This page explains exactly what that looks like in practice.
Child safety isn't a checkbox.
It's built into how we operate.
"The activity is the vehicle. The development is the destination. But none of that matters if a young person doesn't feel genuinely safe. Safety comes first — every time, without exception."
Mariana Louro-Whitford — CEO & Owner, Adventure MindsAdventure Minds runs outdoor adventure and personal development programs for homeschool families across Queensland. We work with young people aged 10–18 in real environments — bush, beach, parks, waterways — led by trained facilitators who are here because they care deeply about young people.
This page describes our child safety approach, what we require of our team, and what to do if you ever have a concern. We welcome questions.
What we have in place
Adventure Minds operates in accordance with the Queensland Child Safe Organisations Act 2024 and implements all 10 Child Safe Standards. Here is what that looks like in practice:
Who leads your child's session
Our facilitators are the most important part of what we do. We hire for character first, then qualifications — and we require both.
- 01Blue Card — Queensland Working with Children Check. Required before any facilitator leads a session. We hold all records on file and monitor expiry dates. No card, no session.
- 02Safeguarding Children and Young People in Sport certification. Covers child protection principles, appropriate conduct, and mandatory reporting obligations. Completed before first session.
- 03Reference checks and structured onboarding. Every new facilitator goes through our onboarding program covering philosophy, conduct standards, emergency procedures, and child safety obligations before their first session.
- 04Ongoing oversight. Facilitator performance is monitored through session observations, incident reports, and family feedback. Issues are addressed immediately.
How our facilitators must behave
These aren't guidelines. They are non-negotiable standards that every person working with young people at Adventure Minds is required to uphold.
Safe in every setting
Child safety applies everywhere we operate — outdoors, in transit, and online.
Physical Safety
Every session site is assessed before use. Supervision ratios are set to AAAS standards for the specific activity and risk level. First aid equipment is present at every session. Emergency plans are in place for all programs.
Online Safety
Facilitators only communicate with families through official Adventure Minds channels. Participant data is stored securely and accessed only by authorised staff. Photos are only used with explicit consent given during enrolment.
Inclusive Practice
Medical and support needs are captured during enrolment and reviewed before every session. Facilitators are briefed individually. Every child has the right to feel safe, included, and genuinely valued.
If something doesn't feel right — say so
No concern is too small. If something doesn't feel right, we want to hear it. We will take it seriously regardless of who it involves.
Contact us directly. Email mariana@adventureminds.com.au or call 0467 704 822. All concerns go directly to Mariana Louro-Whitford (CEO & Head of Entity).
We acknowledge within 24 hours. Every concern receives a response. No exceptions, no brushing off.
We make the child safe first. If a concern involves a risk to a child's safety, that is addressed immediately. If a facilitator is involved, they are stood down pending investigation.
We investigate properly and keep you updated. All concerns are formally documented and investigated. We provide follow-up to families on outcomes.
We learn and improve. Every concern informs how we train our facilitators and update our systems. We use what we learn.
Mandatory Reporting
Adventure Minds staff and facilitators are mandatory reporters under Queensland law. If you need to make a report to an external authority:
Adventure Minds operates in accordance with the Child Safe Organisations Act 2024 (Queensland) and implements all 10 Child Safe Standards. For more information visit qfcc.qld.gov.au/childsafe.
Questions about child safety?
We welcome questions from parents and guardians at any time. You can also request a copy of our full Child Safety Policy documentation.