Child protection training
All staff must have participated in Child Protection Awareness Training (induction) when commencing their roles, and an Annual Child Protection 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 Child Protection Awareness Training on these procedures.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Refer to these FAQs before sending an email to cptraining.cps@det.nsw.edu.au.
As an overview, all NSW Department of Education staff, and others who work in NSW public schools and with students (including pre-service teachers), are required to complete:
- Child Protection Awareness Training (CPAT): Induction course, only required to be completed once.
- Child Protection Update: The updates cover emerging issues and any changes to child protection responsibilities and are required to be completed annually. The year is in the title.
Child Protection Awareness Training must be completed as soon as possible when commencing your role, usually within the first week.
The annual Child Protection Update must be completed by all school staff by the end of February, and for others, it is recommended as soon as possible when commencing their roles, or as soon as the course is made available.
The department’s Child Protection Policy: Responding to and reporting students at risk of harm, outlines the obligations for staff to complete child protection training (4.2.1).
There are specific child protection training requirements for Early Childhood Education. You can find more information on the department's Early Childhood Education website.
If you need more detailed information about NSW legislation and policy, it can be obtained from the Early Childhood Education Directorate at ececd@det.nsw.edu.au.
If you do not have a Department of Education login, you can access the Child Protection Awareness Training and the Child Protection Update by requesting external access to MyPL.
To obtain a Username and Password, register via the MyPL signup page. The links to the child protection courses are in the Quick Links section of the MyPL homepage. You will receive a certificate on completion of each training course. Please download and retain your certificate(s).
For NSW Department of Education staff, MyPL can be accessed via the staff portal. Child Protection Awareness Training and the Child Protection Update courses are located in the Quick Links section of the MyPL homepage.
First try resetting your password by clicking ‘Forgot your password?’ on the MyPL login page. If this does not work, or you are still experiencing issues, please send an email to MyPL@det.nsw.edu.au or use the “Need Help” widget located on every page of MyPL with your details and request a password reset.
Try using Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge. It could be an issue with the browser – it may not be supporting the webpage correctly. However, if you are still experiencing issues, please send an email to MyPL@det.nsw.edu.au or use the “Need Help” widget located on every page of MyPL.
For successful completion, you will need to answer all questions correctly, in one attempt.
Once you reach the end of the course, close the tab and return to the course enrolment page on MyPL. Refresh the page to view your completion status and certificate (if successfully completed). You can return to the course enrolment page at any time to view your completion status and certificate - go to My Learning and then click on the relevant course tile.
Alternatively, to check if you have completed the course, click ‘My Learning Transcript’ (top menu on MyPL homepage) to view your completed courses.
Certificates for courses completed in MyPL can be obtained by clicking on your name in the top right-hand corner of the screen, and then expanding the certificates section.
If you are still experiencing issues, please send an email to MyPL@det.nsw.edu.au.
Once you reach the end of the course, close the tab and return to the course enrolment page on MyPL. Refresh the page to view your completion status and certificate (if successfully completed). You can return to the course enrolment page at any time to view your completion status and certificate - go to My Learning and then click on the relevant course tile.
Alternatively, certificates for courses completed in MyPL can be obtained by clicking on your name in the top right-hand corner of the screen, and then expanding the certificates section.
Certificates are generated using the name associated with your MyPL account – a typo may have been made when registering. Please send an email to MyPL@det.nsw.edu.au with your details and request assistance in updating your account details.
Rather than redo the CPAT course, it is recommended that you do the annual training expected of NSW Department of Education staff which provides an update on any current changes and priorities for those working with children and young people.
Principals only expect you to do the CPAT once, so keep your old certificate.
Refer to the department’s Working with Children Check Policy. For any queries regarding Working with Children Checks, please email the department’s Probity Unit at probityunit@det.nsw.edu.au.
If you have found a broken link on the department’s child protection website, please send an email with a screenshot, if possible, to cptraining.cps@det.nsw.edu.au, and we will endeavour to get it fixed as soon as possible.
There is no cost for the child protection courses provided by the NSW Department of Education.
Child Protection Update 2023
This self-paced online training course focuses on recognising and responding to suspected risk of harm to children and young people resulting from educational neglect. It also clarifies staff obligations under the reportable conduct scheme in NSW to ensure appropriate, caring and supportive relationships between adults (working in schools) and students. It aims to develop skills and understandings, including:
- Identifying and responding to educational neglect
- providing positive support to children and young people who may be at risk of educational neglect
- obligations of staff to report child protection concerns to the principal or workplace manager according to departmental procedures
- obligations of principals and workplace managers to report child protection concerns according to departmental procedures
- meeting the requirements of professional and ethical conduct.
The focus of this training is in response to an increase in reports of educational neglect to the Department of Education’s Child Wellbeing Unit. The training considers educational neglect as a potential symptom of other concerns and therefore covers a range of risk of harm categories.
The Child Protection Update 2023 is available on MyPL.
Child Protection Update 2022
This self-paced online training course focuses on recognising and responding to suspected risk of harm to children and young people resulting from problematic and/or harmful sexual behaviour. It also clarifies staff obligations under the reportable conduct scheme in NSW to ensure appropriate, caring and supportive relationships between adults (working in schools) and students. It aims to develop skills and understandings, including:
- the identification of and response to problematic and/or harmful sexual behaviours
- informing principals and workplace managers about child protection concerns and alleged child abuse offences
- providing sufficient context about child protection concerns, the child and their situation
- principals and workplace mangers reporting pathways for child protection concerns of problematic and/or harmful sexual behaviour
- meeting the requirements of professional and ethical conduct.
Please note, there has been a significant change for the Child Protection Update 2022. This course has been reduced from 60 minutes to approximately 30 minutes, to reduce the admin burden on staff. This course is not as interactive as planned, however links to other resources can be found throughout the training, if required.
The Child Protection Update 2022 is available on MyPL.
Child Protection Update 2021
This is self paced online course focuses on recognising and responding to suspected risk of harm to children and young people resulting from parent or carer concerns. It also clarifies staff obligations under the reportable conduct scheme in NSW to ensure appropriate, caring and supportive relationships between teachers and students.
Skills and understandings developed include:
- 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.
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
This one hour, self-paced online course 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.
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.
This training is no longer accessible.
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
The Child Protection Update 2016 focuses 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.