Child protection training
Training reinforces staff roles and responsibilities in supporting students, as well as responding to and reporting suspected risk of harm concerns.
All new staff including casuals, need to:
- read Child Protection Policy: Responding to and reporting students at risk of harm
- read the Child Protection Policy Guidelines: Responding to and reporting students at risk of harm
All staff must complete:
- Child Protection Awareness Training (induction) when commencing their role, and
- annual mandatory child protection training (Child Protection Update) every year.
Registers must be maintained in schools and workplaces of all staff child protection training.
External staff or workers can register to obtain a user name and password to access training on MyPL.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Refer to these FAQs before sending an email to cptraining.cps@det.nsw.edu.au.
As an overview, all NSW Department of Education staff, and others who work in NSW public schools and with students (including pre-service teachers), are required to complete:
- Child Protection Awareness Training (CPAT): Induction course, only required to be completed once.
- Child Protection Update: The updates cover emerging issues and any changes to child protection responsibilities and are required to be completed annually. The year is in the title.
Child Protection Awareness Training must be completed as soon as possible when commencing your role, usually within the first week.
The annual Child Protection Update must be completed by all school staff by the end of February, and for others, it is recommended as soon as possible when commencing their roles, or as soon as the course is made available.
The department’s Child Protection Policy: Responding to and reporting students at risk of harm, outlines the obligations for staff to complete child protection training (4.2.1).
Annual child protection training is mandatory for department staff, and available for non-department staff where required.
Annual child protection training is mandatory for all NSW Department of Education staff and reflects the department’s commitment to child protection. Non-department staff working in education settings and workplaces are highly encouraged to complete this training, if they haven’t completed any other child protection training. Non-department staff who can access the department's child protection training include:
Child related contractors (including allied health workers): Child related contractors working with students may have their own child protection training. If so, they do not have to complete the department's child protection training. If not, they should complete the department's training. Principals are required to ensure all contractors are aware of the department’s child protection policies and their obligations as a mandatory reporter.
Special Religious Education (SRE) and Special Education in Ethics (SEE) providers: SRE and SEE providers are required to have in place a system of authorised initial training, regular ongoing training and support, which includes child protection requirements. This means they do not have to complete the department's child protection training. Principals are required to ensure all SRE and SEE teachers are aware of the department’s child protection policies and their obligations as a mandatory reporter. At their discretion, principals may request the completion of the department's child protection training for SRE and SEE teachers.
Volunteers: Volunteers are not required to complete the department's child protection training, however, principals must ensure that volunteers are aware of the department’s child protection policies and their obligations as a mandatory reporter.
Non-department staff can access child protection training by registering with MyPL to obtain a username and password. The links to the child protection courses are in the Quick Links section of the MyPL homepage.
There are specific child protection training requirements for Early Childhood Education. You can find more information on the department's Early Childhood Education website.
If you need more detailed information about NSW legislation and policy, it can be obtained from the Early Childhood Education Directorate at ececd@det.nsw.edu.au.
If you do not have a Department of Education login, you can access the Child Protection Awareness Training and the Child Protection Update by requesting external access to MyPL.
To obtain a Username and Password, register via the MyPL signup page. The links to the child protection courses are in the Quick Links section of the MyPL homepage. You will receive a certificate on completion of each training course. Please download and retain your certificate(s).
For NSW Department of Education staff, MyPL can be accessed via the staff portal. Child Protection Awareness Training and the Child Protection Update courses are located in the Quick Links section of the MyPL homepage.
First try resetting your password by clicking ‘Forgot your password?’ on the MyPL login page. If this does not work, or you are still experiencing issues, please send an email to MyPL@det.nsw.edu.au or use the “Need Help” widget located on every page of MyPL with your details and request a password reset.
Try using Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge. It could be an issue with the browser – it may not be supporting the webpage correctly. However, if you are still experiencing issues, please send an email to MyPL@det.nsw.edu.au or use the “Need Help” widget located on every page of MyPL.
For successful completion, you will need to answer all questions correctly, in one attempt.
Once you reach the end of the course, close the tab and return to the course enrolment page on MyPL. Refresh the page to view your completion status and certificate (if successfully completed). You can return to the course enrolment page at any time to view your completion status and certificate - go to My Learning and then click on the relevant course tile.
Alternatively, to check if you have completed the course, click ‘My Learning Transcript’ (top menu on MyPL homepage) to view your completed courses.
Certificates for courses completed in MyPL can be obtained by clicking on your name in the top right-hand corner of the screen, and then expanding the certificates section.
If you are still experiencing issues, please send an email to MyPL@det.nsw.edu.au.
Once you reach the end of the course, close the tab and return to the course enrolment page on MyPL. Refresh the page to view your completion status and certificate (if successfully completed). You can return to the course enrolment page at any time to view your completion status and certificate - go to My Learning and then click on the relevant course tile.
Alternatively, certificates for courses completed in MyPL can be obtained by clicking on your name in the top right-hand corner of the screen, and then expanding the certificates section.
Certificates are generated using the name associated with your MyPL account – a typo may have been made when registering. Please send an email to MyPL@det.nsw.edu.au with your details and request assistance in updating your account details.
Rather than redo the CPAT course, it is recommended that you do the annual training expected of NSW Department of Education staff which provides an update on any current changes and priorities for those working with children and young people.
Principals only expect you to do the CPAT once, so keep your old certificate.
Refer to the department’s Working with Children Check Policy. For any queries regarding Working with Children Checks, please email the department’s Probity Unit at probityunit@det.nsw.edu.au.
If you have found a broken link on the department’s child protection website, please send an email with a screenshot, if possible, to cptraining.cps@det.nsw.edu.au, and we will endeavour to get it fixed as soon as possible.
There is no cost for the child protection courses provided by the NSW Department of Education.
Child Protection Update 2024
Annual child protection training is a requirement for all staff under our Child Protection: Responding to and reporting students at risk of harm policy and reflects the department's commitment to child protection.
The focus of the 2024 training is to provide a general refresher on recognising and responding to suspected risk of harm across a range of risk of harm categories. This is in response to an increase in overall reports to the Department of Education's Child Wellbeing Unit. It also clarifies staff obligations under the reportable conduct scheme in New South Wales to ensure appropriate, caring and supportive relationships between adults (working in schools) and students. It aims to increase knowledge of all staff about:
- Identifying and responding to students at risk of harm,
- providing positive support to children and young people who may be at risk of harm,
- obligations of staff to report child protection concerns to the principal or workplace manager according to departmental procedures,
- obligations of principals and workplace managers to report child protection concerns according to departmental procedures, and
- meeting the requirements of professional and ethical conduct.
The Child Protection Update 2024 is available on MyPL.
Historical annual mandatory child protection training
This self-paced online training course focuses on recognising and responding to suspected risk of harm to children and young people resulting from educational neglect. It also clarifies staff obligations under the reportable conduct scheme in NSW to ensure appropriate, caring and supportive relationships between adults (working in schools) and students.
The focus of this training is in response to an increase in reports of educational neglect to the Department of Education’s Child Wellbeing Unit. The training considers educational neglect as a potential symptom of other concerns and therefore covers a range of risk of harm categories.
This training is currently unavailable.
This course focuses on recognising and responding to suspected risk of harm to children and young people resulting from problematic and/or harmful sexual behaviour. It also clarifies staff obligations under the reportable conduct scheme in NSW to ensure appropriate, caring and supportive relationships between adults (working in schools) and students.
This training is currently unavailable.
This course focuses on recognising and responding to suspected risk of harm to children and young people resulting from parent or carer concerns, specifically domestic and family violence, and parent/carer substance misuse. It also clarifies staff obligations under the reportable conduct scheme in NSW to ensure appropriate, caring and supportive relationships between teachers and students.
This training is currently unavailable.
Further information
For enquiries about child protection training, email cptraining.cps@det.nsw.edu.au
Mandatory Reporter Guide (MRG)
If you are concerned about the safety of a student, you are encouraged to use the Mandatory Reporter Guide.
The guide helps determine whether you should make a report to the Child Protection Helpline, or identify alternative ways to support vulnerable children in cases of abuse or neglect.