State requirements:
Northern Territory
Child Protection Training
In the Northern Territory, Child Protection Training mandates understanding legislation like the Care and Protection of Children Act 2007. It encompasses recognising signs of abuse, fulfilling mandatory reporting obligations, and implementing intervention strategies. Unique to the Northern Territory is that every adult (over the age of 18) is a mandatory reporter and must report harm to the Police. Various professionals are required to undergo mandatory training to ensure effective safeguarding of children.
NT Mandatory Reporter Requirements
- Every adult in the NT (over the age of 18) must report harm to the police.
- Persons in day-to-day charge and nominated supervisors required by law to complete a child protection course. It is best practice to complete CHCPRT025 OR CHCPRT026 for those persons in charge. At a minimum, all staff are required to complete refresher child protection training.
- All staff who work with children in an education and care service must be aware of child protection laws and reporting relevant to their state.
- It is best practice to complete refresher training for all staff every 12 months.
Who is a Mandatory Reporter in NT?
- Every adult in the NT (over the age of 18) must report harm to the police.
- Every person who engages in child-related employment must be aware of their obligations in relation to reporting harm or suspected harm.
NT Legislation
Section 30 – Care and Protection of Children NT 2007
(1) Each of the following persons must ensure everyone providing services for a child under the person’s control or direction is aware of the obligations under section 26(1):
- (a) an operator of child-related services;
- (b) an approved provider of an education and care service operated under the Education and Care Services National Law (NT);
- (c)the person in charge of a hospital or any other facility for health services;
- (d) the person in charge of a school or any other educational institution.
(2) Each person who engages another person in child-related employment must ensure the other person is aware of the obligations under section 26(1).
(2A) Each person who engages another person to perform work as a health practitioner or work of a kind prescribed under section 26(2)
- (a) must ensure the other person is aware of the obligations under section 26(1) and (2).
Section 26(1) – Care and Protection of Children NT 2007
A person is guilty of an offence if the person:
(a) believes, on reasonable grounds, any of the following:
- (i) a child has suffered or is likely to suffer harm or exploitation;
- (ii) a child aged less than 14 years has been or is likely to be a victim of a sexual offence;
- (iii)a child has been or is likely to be a victim of an offence against section 128 of the Criminal Code; and
(b) does not, as soon as possible after forming that belief, report (orally or in writing) to the CEO or a police officer:
- (i) that belief; and
- (ii) any knowledge of the person forming the grounds for that belief; and
- (iii)any factual circumstances on which that knowledge is based.
Section 162A – Education and Care Services National Law Act:
- 162A The approved provider of an education and care service must ensure that each nominated supervisor and each person in day-to-day charge of the service has successfully completed the child protection training (if any) required by or under the law of this jurisdiction, a Government protocol applying to the approved provider in this jurisdiction or otherwise required by this jurisdiction. Persons in day-to-day charge and nominated supervisors to have child protection training
Section 167 in the Education and Care Services National Law Act :
- The approved provider/nominated supervisor/family day care educator of an education and care service must ensure that every reasonable precaution is taken to protect children being educated and cared for by the service from
harm and from any hazard likely to cause injury.
Regulation 84 of the Education and Care Services National Regulations:
- The approved provider of an education and care service must ensure that nominated supervisors and staff members at the service who work with children are advised of—
(a) the existence and application of the current child protection law; and
(b) any obligations that they may have under that law.
EPEC Education provides the following approved courses to help you meet these requirements:
- CHCPRT025 – Identify and report children and young people at risk
- CHCPRT026 – Support the rights and safety of children and young people
This training will also help you meet the National Quality Standard:
EPEC Education offers a Short Online Refresher course which you can see by clicking on the below:
- Short Online Refresher Course
NT Training Recommendations
EPEC Education recommends that Mandatory reporters complete one or all of the below units, to meet their obligations:
- CHCPRT025 – Identify and report children and young people at risk
- CHCPRT026 – Support the rights and safety of children and young people
Once this training is completed, we recommend yearly refresher training through our Online Short Courses, to stay current and up to date with reporting obligations.
We recommend that all people working with children, even if they are not mandated to report, complete at least one short course focusing on child protection each year.
We currently offer:
- Child Protection Short Online Refresher
- Fundamentals of Supervision
