Free resources to build child safe organisations

The Office of the Children's Guardian has launched a free online learning tool to help staff and volunteers in all child-related organisations build their capacity to become child-safe.

This online learning tool forms part of the Child Safe Strategy for NSW and will complement the draft Child Safe Principles which have now been released for public consultation.

This eLearning initiative is a free resource for all child-related organisations, which delivers training for all child related organisations regardless of where they are located.

The Child Safe Organisations eLearning is made up of eight key modules addressing issues such as how to identify and respond to potential risks in the organisation, understanding grooming practices, developing policies and guidelines for workers, how to recruit and retain staff and how to create a culture where children are valued and listened to.

The NSW Children's Guardian, Ms Kerryn Boland said organisations rely on the commitment of skilled and caring adults to keep children safe and these new resources will support these people by providing practical guidance on the best ways to keep children safe.

"Launch of the Child Safe Organisations eLearning program means that all organisations that work with children in NSW – from Bondi to Broken Hill, and beyond – can access world-class training with nothing more than a laptop, tablet or smartphone and an internet connection. It's a significant step forward and will allow us to continue building on our work to keep children safe."

The program is endorsed by leading criminologist and researcher Professor Stephen Smallbone, from the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Griffith University in Queensland, who specialises in situational prevention in reducing sexual abuse of children.

Professor Smallbone, well-known for his expert input at the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, said the Royal Commission has reminded us that children can be abused not just in their own homes or social circles, but also in the organisations they spend time in.

"The NSW Office of the Children's Guardian has produced this set of digital resources as part of its commitment to assist organisations on child safe practices. In particular to provide guidance to organisations to recognise and manage the risks to the children in their care.

Crucially, these resources have been developed with prevention in mind; placing a much-needed emphasis on what organisations can do not just to respond to abuse, but importantly how abuse may be prevented in the first instance.

"Every organisation that works with children should be using these resources to build safe environments for our children" he said.

Read more here www.kidsguardian.nsw.gov.au/child-safe-elearning