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?
Anyone who is participating in a role that fits the description of a “worker” must complete training:
- DECYP employees must complete Mandatory Reporting training and Child Sexual Abuse Awareness training, and
- all other “workers” such as external service providers and volunteers, must complete the safeguarding training, which is a 13 minute video.
Once the relevant training is complete, a certificate will be issued.
The term “workers” includes 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
However, these visitors to DECYP sites 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, are required to undertake the training.
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.
Do canteen volunteers need to complete the safeguarding training?
Yes, canteen volunteers are required to complete the safeguarding training.
Do external work placement students need to complete the safeguarding training??
Work placement students, such as UTAS students studying education, social work, psychology, and speech pathology are required to complete the safeguarding training before working with our children and young people, provided they are 18 or over.
Do parents/guardians attending Launching into Learning (LiL) sessions in a school site with their child/children need to complete the safeguarding training?
No, parents and guardians attending a LiL session with their child/children are not required to complete the training.
Do parents undertaking re-entry meetings for their child need to complete the safeguarding training?
Parents attending a re-entry meeting are attending in their capacity as a parent and, unless they will have more than incidental contact with other students, 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 safeguarding training?
If the parent and guardian is supporting and working only with their own child/children they are not required to complete the safeguarding training. However if they are also working with other children, they will need to complete the training.
Do parents that attend athletics carnivals (or similar) need to complete the safeguarding training?
Parents that are attending events such as athletics carnivals, assemblies, drama productions, to watch their child/ren participate, and will not have more than incidental contact with other students, do not need to complete the training. If the parents will be volunteering in any capacity, they will be required to complete the training prior to the event.
Do people that come into schools to present to a group (e.g Assembly) need to complete the safeguarding 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. However, these visitors to DECYP sites require supervision. Please refer to the Registration to Work with Vulnerable People Policy for further information.
Do sporting organisations need to complete the safeguarding training?
Where sporting organisations are visiting the school (in a PE lesson or similar), they are required to complete the training. Please refer to the Registration to Work with Vulnerable People Policy for further information.
What other training certificates will DECYP accept?
The only other trainings that DECYP recognise are the Tasmanian Department of Health Training (DOH), and Australian Childhood Foundation (ACF) training. If any external service providers or volunteers have completed the DOH or ACF trainings 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.
All employees MUST complete the DECYP Mandatory Reporting training and Child Sexual Abuse Awareness 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 31 December 2024.
How frequently do external service providers, volunteers and staff need to complete the safeguarding 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. 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 aged 18 or over who is participating in roles that fit the description of a “worker”, must complete the safeguarding training and obtain a certificate.
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 you require assistance with your Go1 account, please visit the Go1 Troubleshooting Guide for more information.
How do external service providers or volunteers that do not have access to a device complete the safeguarding 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 at least 20 minutes earlier than their set start time to allow time to log in and complete the training.
What do I do if I require additional support to complete the required training?
If you require any form of additional support to assist you with completing the required training, please contact your Principal/Manager, and if they are unable to assist, they will contact the Office of Safeguarding Children and Young People.
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.