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 (login required) 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 username and password to access training on MyPL at education.nsw.gov.au/mypl/community-members.
Mandatory child protection training 2020
This is a self-paced online course that can be accessed on MyPL and completed within one hour. The training focuses on recognising and responding to suspected sexual abuse of children and young people, reflecting findings of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
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:
- recognising indicators when a student might be at risk of harm
- disclosure and responding to a disclosure
- creating supportive school environments that enhance help seeking
- informing principals or workplace managers about concerns
- making better reports by collating information about concerns
- new legal requirements to reduce criminalisation of children 14 years and over (refer to the scenarios for secondary staff)
- meeting requirements of professional and ethical conduct.
Training must be completed by all school staff during 2020 and it is recommended by term 1 as it contains important update information.
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. It requires a MyPL log-in.
Mandatory child protection training 2019
This is a self-paced online course that can be accessed on MyPL and completed within one hour. The training provides information on responding to child protection concerns and following these up - including making a report to FACS Helpline, contacting the Department's Child Wellbeing Unit or monitoring and supporting students. It includes the requirement for reporting child abuse to police, unless there is a reasonable excuse. It also clarifies staff obligations under the reportable conduct scheme in NSW.
Participants can select pathways for school executive or for other school staff, and choose case studies developed for primary or secondary school settings. All case study questions must be answered successfully to complete the training.
Training must be completed by all school staff during 2019, and it is recommended by Term 1 as it contains important update information.
Completion of training will generate a certificate of completion, MyPL record and NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) accreditation at proficient level for three Australian Professional Teaching Standards.
Mandatory child protection training 2018
The online Mandatory Child Protection Training 2018 course can be accessed by DoE staff on MyPL under Quicklinks or by selecting 'Browse Learning' and searching the catalogue by course code RG019008 or by the title Mandatory Child Protection Training 2018.
It is a self-paced online module focussing on key child protection obligations and responsibilities, and is about 1 hour in length. It requires a staff log-on and will generate a certificate of completion, and NESA accreditation.
Mandatory child protection training 2017
Mandatory child protection training 2017 has been replaced by Mandatory child protection training 2018.
Child protection update 2016
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.
- Presentation (PPTX 65.1MB)
- Facilitator notes (PDF 562.3KB)
- Case study for reading (PDF 75.5KB)
- Quiz (optional - login required).
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.
Each module is designed to be delivered face to face. Modules can alternatively 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.
