Child protection training
All staff must have participated in an induction or child protection awareness training and an annual update (during the past 12 months). Registers must be maintained in schools and workplaces of all staff child protection training.
All new staff including casuals, need to:
- read Child Protection Policy: Responding to and reporting students at risk of harm
- read the Child Protection Policy Guidelines: Responding to and reporting students at risk of harm
- participate in an induction or child protection awareness training on these procedures (staff only) or the external version.
Training reinforces staff roles and responsibilities in supporting students, as well as responding to and reporting suspected risk of harm concerns.
External staff or workers can register to obtain a user name and password to access training on MyPL.
Child protection update 2021
Child protection update 2021 for school-based staff
- improved understanding of domestic and family violence and parent/carer substance misuse and its impacts and indicators
- informing principals and workplace managers about concerns
- contributing to more effective reports by collating information about concerns
- monitoring and supporting students who are impacted
- meeting requirements of professional and ethical conduct.
Training must be completed by all school staff by the end of February 2021, and for others, e.g. contractors it is recommended as soon as possible when commencing their roles in schools.
Completion of training will generate a certificate of completion, MyPL record and one hour of NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) registered professional development at proficient level for two Australian Professional Teaching Standards.
Mandatory child protection training 2020 for corporate staff
Mandatory child protection training for corporate staff 2020 is a one hour, self-paced online course that includes real-life scenarios where child protection concerns have arisen for corporate staff in their roles.
Corporate staff who work closely with schools may complete the school version of this training as a substitute, or complete both versions.
Mandatory child protection training 2020 must be completed by all corporate staff, and it is recommended by 31 July 2020 as it contains important information. This includes casual and temporary staff, contractors and trainees.
Training requires a log-in. External staff or workers can register to obtain a user name and password to access training on MyPL.
Following the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Child Safe Standards will be legislated as the overarching framework to guide child safe practice in NSW. Child protection training at all levels of the department is an important standard.
Completion of training by corporate staff will now be monitored as part of the department’s annual reporting to the Office of the Children’s Guardian on the implementation of the Child Safe Standards.
Child protection information update – April 2020
Learning from home is a new form of delivery but statutory responsibilities for reporting suspected risk of harm remain unchanged.
Child protection update 2016 - focussing on obesity as a child protection issue
The 2016 update has one module for staff who work directly with children and young people and a separate module for corporate staff.
Module 1
Module 1 can be delivered face to face and takes approximately 40 minutes. It can alternatively be completed independently by reading the material and completing a quiz, which will generate a certificate and MyPL and BOSTES accreditation.
Note that the presentation file is large and may take some time to download.
Corporate staff
The 2016 child protection update for corporate staff is available here:
Child protection update 2015
The 2015 update has three 45 minute modules for all school staff. Each module includes PowerPoint presentations, facilitator notes and handouts.
Modules can be completed independently by reading the material and viewing the PowerPoint.
Module 1
Identifying and responding to domestic and family violence
Module 2
Educational neglect and working collaboratively with other agencies
Module 3
Identifying and responding to sexual behaviours in students
Further information
For enquiries about child protection training
email cptraining.cps@det.nsw.edu.au
Mandatory Reporter Guide (MRG)
If you are concerned about the safety of a student, you are encouraged to use the Mandatory Reporter Guide.
The guide helps determine whether you should make a report to the Child Protection Helpline, or identify alternative ways to support vulnerable children in cases of abuse or neglect.
