As another school term finishes, the school holiday starts – and there are various things we need to be aware of to stay safe during the school holidays.

Food and safety preparation

It is important to maintain food safety when eating with friends and family. Ensure you wash your hands and clean surfaces and kitchen utensils regularly. Make sure you throw away food that has been left out for more than two hours. For more tips on food safety, visit the NSW Government's key tips.

Extreme weather safety and being emergency aware

In Australia, we suffer extreme weather that ranges from hot bushfires to floods. Therefore, it is crucial to be conscious of how to stay safe during extreme weather conditions.

To understand what to expect and what to do during a bushfire, read the Government of South Australia’s checklist and for information on staying safe around floodwater, explore the Queensland Government’s guide.

To stay emergency aware, understand how to prepare an emergency kit and look at the updated signals for weather emergencies as part of the Australian Warning System.

Bike safety

When your children are outside riding their bikes during the school holidays, ensure they:

Always wear a helmet
Don’t wear a hat underneath their helmet
Remain alert to their surroundings
Use cycle paths or lanes if they're available
Place reflective stickers on their helmet so drivers can see them better

Whether they are going for a ride around home or travelling elsewhere, check the bike safety rules in your location as they can be different by visiting your local Department of Health website.

Staying safe online

It is important to ensure your children stay safe online. The Office of the eSafety Commissioner outlines 10 top tips to support online safety, which include managing cyberbullying and how to keep personal information private.

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