Child safety training and support

Early childhood services must comply with all the following elements of this Standard:

This should include:

• the service’s Child Safety and Wellbeing policy (Child Safe Environment policy) and procedures
• the service’s Safe Use of Digital Technologies and Online Environments policy (PDF, 240KB) and procedures
• the service’s Code of Conduct
• the service’s policy and procedures for responding to child safety concerns, including how to manage risks to children
• how to support a person making a disclosure about harm to a child
• reporting obligations at the service and to other authorities
• training on identifying signs of harm and risk factors:
  • caused by other children or adults, and
  • including grooming and family violence.
• the different ways children express concerns or disclose harm
• how to help children to express their views and raise concerns
• how to build culturally safe environments
• privacy, information sharing and recordkeeping obligations.

• Deliver regular child safety training for all staff, for example:
  • have professional discussions or presentations at staff meetings
  • provide information through staff and family newsletters.
• Make sure all staff and volunteers:
  • are appropriately trained for their role before they start working or volunteering
  • receive regular refresher training throughout the year to ensure their skills and knowledge is kept updated
  • refresh their mandatory reporting training once a year
  • attend training and understand their responsibilities under the following schemes:
    • Child information sharing (CISS)
    • Family violence information sharing scheme (FVISS) and
    • Multi-Agency Risk Assessment and Management Framework (MARAM).
    • Note that the CISS does not cover family day care or children’s services.
• Keep a record of all staff and volunteers who complete child safety training.
• Keep records of annual child safety programs, including:
  • presentations and materials
  • agendas
  • minutes of staff meetings and lists of who attended them.
• Give staff and relevant volunteers:
  • information, and
  • contact details of local support services for children and families.

• Include child safety training in service planning, and review points to ensure it is still effective. You can include this in your Quality Improvement Plan (QIP) or annual planning document.
• Provide time-release for staff to undertake child safety training.
• Make sure staff and volunteers know where to find online guidance about on child safety. This includes:
  • their legal obligations to protect children
  • how to recognise signs and risk factors of child harm
  • how to respond to concerns about a child’s wellbeing
  • how to report child abuse
  • processes to follow if there is a safety concern
  • privacy, child information sharing and family violence reforms
  • online learning about child protection (including Mandatory reporting training).

• Use supervision of staff and volunteers as an opportunity to identify if additional training is needed.
• Offer further training as appropriate on topics such as:
  • child safety (including family violence)
  • mandatory reporting
  • responding to inappropriate sexualised behaviour
  • human rights and the rights of children
  • diversity and inclusion
  • harassment and bullying
  • cultural safety
  • privacy and information sharing.
• Optional and compulsory education and training activities could include:
  • staffroom briefings and ‘toolbox talks’
  • professional conversations and discussions, scenarios and worked examples
  • presentations, seminars or webinars
  • training days
  • e-learning modules
  • support to join or create Professional Learning Communities.

• Consider your staff and volunteer’s needs when designing training, including:
  • the need for cultural safety for staff and volunteers who are:
    • Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders, or
    • from diverse cultural backgrounds.
  • inclusivity of gender diversity and sexuality
  • accessibility for people with disabilities including mobility, visual or hearing impairment.

The two NQF Safety Guides include information and practical guidance:

• NQF Child Safe Culture Guide
• NQF Online Safety Guide.

There are also additional resources, including the:

• NQF Child Safe Culture – Self-assessment and risk assessment tool
• NQF Online Safe Culture – Self-assessment and risk assessment tool
• Child Safety incident response template – Responding to complaints, concerns, allegations and disclosures
• Reporting and Responding Schemes tool.

Download all these resources at Child Safety, together with links to additional ACECQA resources about child safety.

The Commission for Children and Young People (CCYP) have information for all types of organisations that must comply with the Child Safe Standards. This includes:

• CCYP | Resources and support for the Child Safe Standards
• CCYP | Translated resources about the Child Safe Standards

Note: information isn't tailored for early childhood services.

• Child protection and mandatory reporting online training.
• Child information sharing online training.