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Child Protection for Teachers

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

24,995 enrolled on this course

Smiling child holding hands with two protective adults

Child Protection for Teachers

24,995 enrolled on this course

  • 2 weeks

  • 1 hour per week

  • Accreditation available

  • Digital certificate when eligible

  • Introductory level

Find out more about how to join this course

The CPD Certification Service

This course has been certified by the CPD Certification Service as conforming to continuing professional development principles. Find out more.

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.

Syllabus

  • Week 1

    Recognising child abuse and neglect

    • A discouraged boy sits with his head in his arms on the back of his chair.

      Impact of maltreatment

      Learn how maltreatment impacts on children’s learning and development.

    • Young girl hugging an adult male

      Why does this happen?

      Understand the theories behind child abuse and neglect.

    • Crying child raising his hand in a stop gesture

      Recognising the signs

      Learn to identify the warning signs of physical, emotional and sexual abuse, and neglect.

    • Girl holding parents hands

      Wrap up

      Finish the week with a summary and quick quiz.

  • Week 2

    Reporting child abuse and neglect

    • A row of law books

      The legislation

      Learn what the law says about your role as a reporter.

    • Writing in a notebook next to a laptop computer

      Reporting suspected abuse

      Learn how to report suspected child maltreatment to the authorities.

    • Sad boy hiding his face against a bookshelf in a darkened room

      Supporting students in class

      Learn some strategies for teaching students who have suffered complex trauma.

    • Girl holding parents hands

      Wrap up

      Finish the course by checking in on your understanding, confidence and self-care.

Who is this accredited by?

The CPD Certification Service
The CPD Certification Service:

The CPD Certification Service was established in 1996 and is the leading independent CPD accreditation institution operating across industry sectors to complement the CPD policies of professional and academic bodies.

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

  • Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

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

Professor in Education at Queensland University of Technology with expertise in child protection and child maltreatment prevention.

Who developed the course?

QUT logo

Queensland University of Technology

Queensland University of Technology (QUT) is a major Australian university with a truly global outlook. Home to over 50,000 students, we’re providing real-world infrastructure, learning and teaching, and graduate skills to the next generation of change-makers.

  • Established

    1989
  • Location

    Brisbane, Australia
  • World ranking

    Top 180Source: Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2019

Ways to learn

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Ways to learn

Choose the best way to learn for you!

Subscribe & save

$244.99 for a whole year

Automatically renews

Develop skills to further your career

  • Access to this course
  • Access to 1,000+ courses
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Digital certificate when you're eligible

Cancel for free anytime

Buy this course

$54/one-off payment

Fulfill your current learning need

  • Access to this course
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible

Limited access

Free

Sample the course materials

  • Access expires 18 Feb 2025

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

Sale price available until 3 March 2025 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

Sale price available until 3 March 2025 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

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