Education and development

National Principle 7: Staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education and training.

Child safe and friendly policies, risk management plans and other preventative approaches rely upon people accepting child abuse can occur within organisations. Children, young people and their families also need to be aware of the child safe strategies within an organisation.

‘Building the capacity of organisations to be child safe is central to the broader goal of developing and sustaining child safe environments.’¹ A lack of understanding and knowledge of child abuse contributes to a culture of complacency and even denial. Amongst other measures, organisations should provide regular opportunities to educate and train staff on child safety and wellbeing policies and procedures and evidence-based practice.

Child Safe Organisations: E-learning modules - Australian Human Rights Commission

Learning and Development Calendar for Partner Agencies and Foster Carers - WA Department of Communities

WA Child Safety Services

Child Safety Training - Child Wise

Resources for Educators: personal safety - Bravehearts

Traffic Lights: Sexual behaviours in children and young people - TRUE

What is Abuse? - Kids Helpline

What’s OK at home?: Information for young people about abuse in families - Domestic Violence Resource Centre, Victoria

Endnotes

1. Community and Disability Services Ministers’ Conference (CDSMC) 2005, Creating Safe Environments for Children - Organisations, Employees and Volunteers, p. 4, <http://www.communityservices.act.gov.au/ocyfs/child_safe_organisations>