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Child Protection for Teachers

Feel empowered to protect your students by identifying and reporting signs of child abuse and neglect.

Child Protection for Teachers
  • Duration2 weeks
  • Weekly study1 hour
  • LearnFree
  • Extra BenefitsFrom $54Find out more
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Learn to identify the warning signs and indicators of child abuse and neglect.

Teachers in many countries are required by law to report certain types of child abuse and neglect to relevant child protection authorities. Some nations are on the cusp of introducing mandatory reporting obligations, or have policy-based duties for reporting. All teachers can benefit from increased awareness and understanding of their roles in child protection.

This course will enable you to recognise the signs of child abuse and neglect, and learn how maltreatment impacts on children’s learning and development. It will also help you to understand your role as a reporter.

What topics will you cover?

  • The warning signs and indicators of different types of child abuse and neglect
  • The roles of teachers and other professionals in recognising and reporting suspected cases of child abuse and neglect
  • Key elements of child protection legislation and policy
  • Characteristics of effective school-based prevention programs

When would you like to start?

Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you'll be able to...

  • Identify the warning signs and indicators of child abuse and neglect subtypes.
  • Describe the key elements of child protection legislation and policy relevant to your school context.
  • Assess where child abuse and neglect prevention fits within school curriculum, and become familiar with the most effective pedagogies for implementing prevention initiatives.
  • Reflect on your role as a mandatory reporter and staff member in a child-safe organisation.

Who is the course for?

This course is designed for teaching staff and education leaders who want to improve their professional practice. It may also be of interest to student support staff, including teacher aides, school counsellors, chaplains, etc.

For Australian school educators, this course aligns with the following Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (APST):

  • Create and maintain supportive and safe learning environments
    • 4.4 Maintain student safety
  • Engage in professional learning
    • 6.2 Improve practice
  • Engage professionally with colleagues
    • 7.1 Meet professional ethics and responsibilities
    • 7.2 Comply with legislative requirements
    • 7.4 Engage with broader networks

For Australian educators in before-school settings, this course aligns with the following National Quality Standard:

  • Quality Area 2 - Children’s health and safety
    • Element 2.2.3 Child protection: Management, educators and staff are aware of their roles and responsibilities to identify and respond to every child at risk of abuse or neglect.

Warning: Child abuse is a sensitive issue and you may feel a range of emotions when you engage with this material. Please take care of yourself and each other as you work through this course.

Who will you learn with?

Kerryann Walsh

Kerryann Walsh

Professor in the Faculty of Education at QUT, leader of the QUT Childhoods in Changing Contexts (CCC) research group, and Senior Researcher in the QUT Childhood Adversity Research Group.

Who developed the course?

Queensland University of Technology

QUT is a leading Australian university ranked in the top 1% of universities worldwide by the 2019 Times Higher Education World University Rankings. Located in Brisbane, it attracts over 50,000 students.

  • Established1989
  • LocationBrisbane, Australia
  • World rankingTop 180Source: Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2019

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