The training is compulsory and is designed to help us all understand how to better safeguard kids in Tasmania.
If you are a DECYP employee, volunteer or external service provider for the department, you must complete this training.
You will learn what to do if you believe a child or young person is being harmed and make sure you are doing all you can to prevent this from happening. You will also learn what your reporting requirements are.
Training must be done as soon as possible, and you will need to complete it before you work with any children and young people this year.
Make sure you download and save your certificate to verify you have completed your training.
Safeguarding Training FAQs
FAQs about who needs to complete the training
Who is required to complete the training?
The Child and Youth Safe Organisations Act 2023 states that all “workers” are required to complete the training. “Workers” include all DECYP employees, External Service Providers and Volunteers. People visiting the school that are not classified as “workers”, and therefore do not need to complete the training can include:
- Guest presenters
- Parents visiting teachers or accompanying their own child only
- Contractors such as tradespeople
- Tasmania Police
- Fire Education Staff
- Photographers for annual school photos
- Lifeguards at a beach)
- Swimming instructors during SWSP
All visitors to a DECYP site would require supervision. Please refer to the Registration to Work with Vulnerable People Policy for further information.
Do bus drivers need to complete the training?
Bus drivers who are contracted to the school, or where the bus is owned by the school, should undertake the training if they interact with students.
In determining whether a contracted driver should undertake the training, that should be considered as part of the excursion risk assessment. For example, if a trip is fully supervised, with no breaks and the driver is not with the students on their own – they would not need to complete the training. If it’s a longer trip, with breaks, and the driver has more opportunities to interact with the students – they would need to complete the training.
Are canteen volunteers required to complete the Safeguarding Training?
Yes, canteen volunteers are required to complete the Safeguarding Training.
Do work placement students need to complete the training?
Work placement students, such as UTAS education, social work, psychology, and speech pathology students, and school-based trainees are required to complete the Safeguarding Training video before working with our children and young people.
Do parents/guardians attending Launching into Learning (LiL) sessions in a school site with their child/children need to complete the volunteer training?
Parents and guardians attending a LiL session with their child/children are not required to complete the training.
Are parents undertaking re-entry meetings for their child required to complete the training?
No, parents that are attending a re-entry meeting are attending in their capacity as a parent and are not required to complete the training.
Do parents/guardians accompanying their child in the classroom for part of the day to support their child to transition into the school environment need to complete the training?
If parent and guardian is supporting and working only with their own child/children they are not required to complete the volunteer training.
Do parents that are attending athletics carnivals (or similar) need to complete the training?
Parents that are attending events such as athletics carnivals, assemblies, drama productions, to watch their child/ren participate do not need to complete the training video. If the parents will be volunteering in any capacity, they will be required to complete the training video prior to the event.
Do people that come into schools to present to a group (e.g Assembly) need to complete the training?
If there is an individual/group/organisation etc attending a school to provide a presentation to students, the presenters are not required to complete the training.
Do sporting organisations such as Cricket Tasmania, AFL or JackJumpers need to complete the training?
Where sporting organisations such as Cricket Tasmania, AFL or JackJumpers are visiting the school (in a PE lesson or similar), they are not required to complete the training. .
What other training certificates will DECYP accept?
The only other training that DECYP recognise is the Tasmanian Department of Health Training (DOH). If any external service providers or volunteers have completed the DOH training and can provide their completion certificate to the Principal/Manager, they are not required to complete the Safeguarding Training video, however, we do encourage them to watch the Safeguarding Training.
FAQs about the training:
When does the training certificate expire?
Your Safeguarding Training certificates (staff, external service providers, and volunteers) will expire on 31 December of the year you completed the training. For example, if the training is completed on 31 March 2024 it will expire on 31December 2024.
How frequently do external service providers, volunteers and staff need to complete the training?
Everyone will need to complete the training each year. This training must be completed at the beginning of each year. All DECYP staff must complete the training as soon as possible, and by the end of February 2024. In addition to the training, all DECYP employees should hold a valid RWVP card.
External Support Providers (ESP) and volunteers will be required to complete the training and hold a valid RWVP card before working with children and young people. If an employee, ESP, or volunteer starts later in the year, they must be given time to complete the training before working with children and young people.
What is the age requirement for someone to hold an RWVP and complete the Safeguarding Training?
Anyone that is 16 years of age or over and fits the requirements outlined on the Consumer, Building and Occupational Services website will need to hold a valid RWVP card before being allowed to be on a school site as an ESP or volunteer. In relation to the Safeguarding Training, anyone who is participating in roles that fit the description of a “worker” , must compete the training video and obtain a certificate. However, should they be required to make a report, this should be done with the assistance of their Principal/manager. A worker is any individual engaged by the department who is a member of staff, volunteer, trainee or student on work experience placement, contractor or sub-contractor over the age of 18 including kinship and foster carers.
FAQs about technical support and additional assistance:
How do external service providers and volunteers get their password reset or additional assistance with the Go1 accounts for the safeguarding training?
If someone is not able to access their Go1 account (for the Safeguarding training video), they will need to contact safeguarding@decyp.tas.gov.au and ask that their account be reset.
How do external service providers or volunteers that do not have access to a device complete the training?
If there are any external service providers or volunteers that do not have access to a device to complete the Safeguarding Training video, they can attend the DECYP site they will be working/volunteering at and use a department device to complete the training. We suggest they arrive 15-20 minutes earlier than their set start time if they wish to do the training on a department device to allow time to log in.
What do I do if require additional support to complete the training?
If you require any form of additional support to assist you with completing the training, please contact your Principal/Manager, or the Office of Safeguarding Children and Young People via safeguarding@decyp.tas.gov.au
Can people be exempt from the Safeguarding Training?
If a worker is unable to complete the training, for example they would find it might cause additional trauma, they can speak to their Principal/Manager who will contact safeguarding@decyp.tas.gov.au to request an exemption for this staff member. If an employee does not feel comfortable speaking to their Principal/Manager about the situation, they are welcome to contact Safeguarding directly.
FAQs about relief staff:
What training do DECYP relief teachers complete if they are waiting for their DECYP email address/account to be set up?
If a DECYP relief teacher is commencing work but does not have their DECYP email address/account set up, they will need to complete the Safeguarding training video prior to working with children and young people. New relief staff usually have their DECYP accounts set up by the time they receive their first pay. Once their DECYP email address/account is set up, they will then need to complete the Mandatory Reporting Training and Child Sexual Abuse Awareness Training modules on Canvas.