
NSW ContextChild protection services include a wide range of interventions and services that focus on the safety, welfare and wellbeing of children, young people, their families and communities. These services include early intervention and prevention, family support, statutory child protection intervention, and therapeutic, residential and out-of-home care support. Child protection services are not limited to direct service provision and can include a range of support and/or specialisation services eg. legal services. In NSW, Department of Community Services (DoCS) is the main government department that puts into practice the laws on keeping children safe. The Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 mandates DoCS with the responsibility for the care and protection of children and young people in NSW where there are concerns about their safety, welfare and wellbeing. The NSW Interagency Guidelines for Child Protection Intervention 2006 sets out in practical terms how government and non government agencies work together to protect children and young people. For details about procedures and responsibilities of child protection services and mandatory reporters see: http://www.community.nsw.gov.au/DOCS/STANDARD/PC_100999.htm
CHCCHILD1C Facilitator Training In 2005, child protection industry representatives developed a program to train facilitators in delivering entry-level child protection training and a set of learning resources to support this training. Two training providers deliver the two day training course to train facilitators in using the industry Identifying and Responding to Children and Young People at Risk of Harm learning resources (see Resources):
The NSW Commission for Children and Young People administers the Commission for Children and Young People Act 1998. The Commission reports directly to the NSW Parliament, and the Committee on Children and Young People oversees their work. The Commission is responsible for administering the Working with Children Check for employees working directly with children and young people. The Working With Children Check consists of three elements:
Child Protection Learning and Development Forum The Child Protection Learning and Development Forum is an interagency group which focuses on learning and development in child protection for staff in human services agencies. The forum provides an opportunity to raise and address sector-wide child protection learning and development issues and reach agreements about interagency training. The forum's work plan prioritises issues according to common interests, shared needs and the mutual benefit of the sector. It also acts as an industry advisory group on issues of child protection learning and development to a range of stakeholders. Both government and non-government agencies are represented and meetings take place bi-monthly. Agency representatives refer issues to the forum for discussion. For further information follow this link http://www.community.nsw.gov.au/DOCS/STANDARD/PC_100947.html
|
CHC41408 Certificate IV in Child, Youth and Family Intervention
(Residential and out of home care)CHC41508 Certificate IV in Child, Youth and Family Intervention (Child protection)
CHC41608 Certificate IV in Child, Youth and Family Intervention (Family support)
CHC51208 Diploma of Child, Youth and Family Intervention
NOTE: Training for mandatory reporting in NSW is aligned to CHCCHILD401A Identify and respond to children and young people at risk which is a compulsory unit in the above qualifications.
See Children’s Services section for details of DOCS requirements for authorised supervisors in a child care service.
Recognition
Recognition of prior learning (RPL) is a significant pathway for candidates to attain a national training package qualification. There has been strong support from Commonwealth and NSW governments for RTOs to find innovative and accessible RPL strategies and approaches.
NSW Department of Education and Training is actively assisting this quest for improved RPL pathways and has worked in partnership across many industry sectors to pilot best practice models of recognition and develop supporting resources. Some of the innovation recognition pathways trialled included group, project and workplace based models.
Resources and further details are available at https://www.skillsonline.net.au/coagrpl_catalogue.html
The Vocational Training Board establishes traineeships in NSW. Through a consultative process between peak industry groups, employers and unions, facilitated by the ITAB, qualifications are identified that meet industry requirements and have appropriate award arrangements. This information is submitted to the Board for the declaration of a vocational training order in accordance with NSW legislation.
As qualifications have a vocational training order established, they are posted on the NSW DET Commissioner’s Bulletin. Further advice is available from NSW DET http://apprenticeship.det.nsw.edu.au/index1.htm
The Child, Youth and Family Intervention qualifications in CHC08 Community Services Training Package have not been established as traineeships in NSW.
The Child, Youth and Family Intervention qualifications in the CHC08 Community Services Training Package have not been identified as suitable for VET in Schools pathways.
For more information about VET in Schools in NSW visit: https://www.det.nsw.edu.au/vetinschools/
The NSW Board of Studies is responsible for the inclusion of training package qualifications in the HSC studies. Further information is available at www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au .
Commission for Children and Young People
The Commission is an independent organisation that works with others to make NSW a better place for children and young people. The Commission reports directly to the NSW Parliament, and the Committee on Children and Young People oversees their work. The Commission administers the Commission for Children and Young People Act 1998.
NSW Department of Community Services
The NSW Department of Community Services (DoCS) is the leading NSW Government agency responsible for community services. They work to promote the safety and wellbeing of children and young people and to build stronger families and communities.
Aboriginal Child, Family and Community Care State Secretariat
The Aboriginal Child, Family & Community Care State Secretariat (NSW) is a Not-for-Profit incorporated community organisation. The organisation is primarily funded by the NSW Department of Community Services (DoCS), and recognised as the peak NSW Aboriginal organisation to provide child protection and out-of-home care policy, issues for Aboriginal families involved in child protection and Out-of-Home Care (OOHC) services, and advice regarding funding decisions for child protection and Associate services.
Association of Children’s Welfare Agencies (ACWA)
ACWA is the peak body in New South Wales with the objectives of representing non government child welfare agencies and improving the quality of services to vulnerable children and young people. ACWA has a particular concern to advocate for the rights and needs of those children and young people who need to live away from their families.
CREATE Foundation
CREATE Foundation connects and empowers children and young people in care and improves the care system through activities, programs, training and policy advice.
Foster Care Association (NSW)
The Foster Care Association (NSW) Inc. supports foster carers in New South Wales and promotes the value of foster caring.
National Disability Services (NSW)
National Disability Services (NSW) represents and provides services to a broad spectrum of non-government, non-profit groups assisting people, including children and young people, with all manner of disabilities.
Network of Community Activities
Network was founded in 1974 and acts as a link up for community activities and for Out of School Hours Care Services run by autonomous community groups and local councils. Network is committed to helping promote quality community based services for school aged children, including children with disabilities.
NSW Family Services Inc
NSW Family Services Inc represents over 184 family support services across NSW. Family services are local community organisations that use trained, caring staff to strengthen families and their links with their community.
Youth Action & Policy Association NSW (YAPA)
The Youth Action & Policy Association NSW (YAPA) is the peak community group working in the interests of young people and youth services in NSW.
NSW Health (Education Centre Against Violence)
Education Centre Against Violence (ECAV) is administered by Sydney West Area Health Service, NSW Health. ECAV is committed to enhancing the quality and accessibility of services to people whose lives have been affected by violence.
They provide state-wide specialised training, consultancy and resource development for NSW Health and interagency workers who provide services to children and adults who have experienced sexual assault, domestic/family violence and/or physical and emotional abuse and neglect. ECAV promotes understanding of cultural and community diversity through its courses, resources and advisory groups.
NSW Police
Whilst all police have a role in protection of children, clear areas of responsibility have been established for the investigation of child abuse matters. The Child Protection and Sex Crimes Squad was established to ensure the provision of a specialist child protection service across NSW. These services are offered in partnership with the Department of Community Services (DoCS) and the Department of Health.
NSW Department of Juvenile Justice
The NSW Department of Juvenile Justice supervises and cares for young offenders in the community and in detention centres. It provides youth justice conferences for young offenders referred by police or the courts.
NSW Ombudsman
The NSW Ombudsman is an independent and impartial watchdog. Their job is to make sure that the agencies they watch over fulfil their functions properly and improve their delivery of services to the public. They help agencies to be aware of their responsibilities to the public, to act reasonably and to comply with the law and best practice in administration.
The NSW Ombudsman has published guidelines on workplace child protection issues and provides advice to young people who may feel unfairly treated by government or community services providers.
Attorney General's Department
The New South Wales Attorney General's Department is responsible for the administration of the NSW court system and legal services including human rights, crime prevention and the registration of births, deaths and marriages.
Please contact NSW Community Services and Health ITAB regarding training and assessment resource needs for the qualifications or skills sets in this industry sector.
NSW Community Services and Health ITAB and NSW DET resources include:
|
Identifying and Responding to Children and Young People at Risk of Harm: Training and assessment resource aligned to NSW child protection regulations and national unit of competency, CHCCHILD1C Identify and respond to children and young people at risk of harm. Resource includes a video/DVD (approx 45 mins) to support the face-to-face training, CD of written resources and assessor’s guide. |
|
This video/DVD highlights key areas that are delivered through the face to face component of Identifying and Responding to Children and Young People at Risk of Harm. The video/DVD contains various scenarios that are used as triggers in the training to assist participants to identify the short and long term impact of child abuse and neglect. If you would like to use these resources for entry-level child protection training, you must have completed the facilitator training. Find out more information about the facilitator training. Details and order form available at: www.csh-itab.com.au |
Other resources may be available from industry peaks, National Training Information Service (NTIS), Registered Training Organisations and Community Services and Health Industry Skills Council.