RTOs - child safety knowledge, skills and awareness

About the Standard

RTOs must provide information and training to staff and volunteers so that they can:

create child safe environments
respond to allegations of abuse.

This Standard explains obligations for RTOs to train and support staff and volunteers, and provide ongoing education and training to:

implement the organisation’s Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy
recognise indicators of harm (including harm caused by other children)
respond effectively to child safety issues and concerns
support colleagues who disclose harm.

RTOs must provide training and information for staff and volunteers on building safe environments for children.

How to comply

An RTO must be able to provide evidence that it keeps its staff and volunteers informed of the policies and procedures that it uses to ensure child safety. These policies and procedures must include how to:

identify indicators of child abuse and harm. This includes abuse and harm from other children.
respond to issues of child safety including:
- internal and external reporting requirements
- notifying families and carers
- managing risks to children
support a person disclosing harm to a child or themselves
create culturally safe environments in the organisation.

RTOs should also provide evidence that regular child safety training is provided to all staff and volunteers. This includes how to:

support a person disclosing harm to a child or themselves
identify indicators of child abuse and harm
respond to issues of child safety including:
- internal and external reporting requirements
- notifying families and carers
- managing risks to children
support cultural safety.

Examples of compliance

An RTO complying with this Standard may have:

recruitment, induction and professional development for staff and volunteers that supports child safety knowledge, skills and awareness
student enrolment and pre-assessment processes that supports child safety knowledge, skills and awareness
regular discussions about child safety during staff, management or board meetings
duty statements and supervision arrangements that facilitate the provision of child safety information and training
continuous improvement practices.

In complying with Child Safe Standard 8, an organisation must, at a minimum, ensure:
- staff and volunteers are trained and supported to effectively implement the organisation’s child safety and wellbeing policy
- staff and volunteers receive training and information to recognise indicators of child harm including harm caused by other children and young people
- staff and volunteers receive training and information to respond effectively to issues of child safety and wellbeing and support colleagues who disclose harm
- staff and volunteers receive training and information on how to build culturally safe environments for children and young people.
- The Commission for Children and Young People (CCYP)(opens in a new window) — provides resources and support for the Child Safe Standards including a 'Guide for creating a Child Safe Organisation' which contains some information on the knowledge, skills and awareness staff and volunteers need to keep children and young people safe.

Education

Updated 24 June 2022