Child safe environments training

We have developed 'Safe Environments: Through Their Eyes' training for organisations with staff and volunteers that provide services to children and young people.

The training helps organisations to:

• support their staff and volunteers to recognise, report and respond to children or young people who may be at risk of harm, and
• build their capacity to provide safe environments within the organisation.

Child safe environment training is not required by law. Each organisation decides what training their staff and volunteers need and how often their training is refreshed. It is best practice to refresh training every 3 years.

We recommend staff and volunteers working with children and young people attend training to learn to recognise indicators of harm and to understand their mandatory reporting obligations. This is in line with the National Principles for Child Safe organisations.

People working in schools, early childhood services or Out of School Hours Care (OSHC) may be required to take the Department of Education Responding to Risks of Harm, Abuse and Neglect - Education and Care (RRHAN-EC) training. This may be in place of the 'Safe Environments: Through Their Eyes' training, or in addition to it.

If you are not sure which training is for you, speak to your organisation.

About Safe Environments: Through Their Eyes training

Topics include:

• child protection in context, values and attitudes
• legislative obligations when working with children and young people (including screening obligations)
• risk and harm — abuse-related trauma
• sexual abuse and online grooming
• responding to disclosures
• child safe environments in organisations
• reporting a reasonable belief of risk and harm.

The training supports participants to understand types of risk of harm to children and young people, including:

• neglect
• psychological/emotional harm
• domestic violence
• sexual abuse, and
• physical harm.

If you are concerned about attending this program, please speak to the facilitator before attending the course to discuss your options.

Where can I book in for training?

The department has endorsed several providers to deliver the training. Some organisations offer live online training. There is a cost to attend.

List of approved public providers that deliver training

Training quality

Facilitators of the training have been trained by the department's Child Safe Environments Program.

It is important that the integrity and quality of the training is protected. If you have any concerns regarding the quality of a facilitator, please email the Child Safe Environments Program.