State requirements:
Western Australia
Child Protection Training
In Western Australia, child protection training necessitates familiarity with legislation such as the Children and Community Services Act 2004. It entails recognising indicators of abuse, adhering to mandatory reporting obligations, and implementing intervention strategies. Professionals in some sectors are required to undergo mandatory training to ensure effective safeguarding of children.
WA Mandatory Reporter Requirements
- Mandatory Reporters and Nominated Supervisors are required by law to complete a child protection course. Persons in charge are required by law to complete an approved course such as CHCPRT025, CHCPRT026 . All staff are also required to complete refresher child protection training. In house training is not sufficient.
- 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 WA?
Mandatory reporters include:
- Doctors
- Nurses and midwives
- Police officers
- Teachers
- Boarding supervisors
All staff registered with TRBWA (Teacher Registration Board of Western Australia), including:
- Principals
- Deputies
- Heads of learning areas
- Classroom teachers
- Community kindergaten teachers
- Visiting teachers
- Specialist teachers
- Staff with a limited authority to teach
- TAFE staff with a limited authority to teach on a school site or in a TAFEWA college under the School Education Act 1999
Even if you are registered with TRBWA you are not a mandatory reporter unless you are working as a teacher.
WA Legislation
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
WA 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
