Safeguarding training
DECYP employees and relief staff must complete the following compulsory online training modules each year:
- Child Sexual Abuse Awareness Training
- Mandatory Reporting Training
Alongside this training, employees are required to acknowledge that they have read and understood the DECYP Conduct and Behaviour Policy and Conduct Standards for workers.
Volunteers and all other non-DECYP employed workers must complete the Your Obligations – Safeguarding Training 15-minute video each year before engaging with children and young people.
For more information on training requirements and to access the training visit the Safeguarding Training webpage.
Working with Vulnerable People
DECYP requires all workers over 16 years* to hold current Tasmanian Registration to Work with Vulnerable People (RWVP) before they begin work. This includes volunteers, relief staff and service providers.
There are limited situations where RWVP is not required – see the Registration to Work with Vulnerable People Policy for further information.
This requirement supports the safeguarding of children and young people.
*Anyone that is 16 years of age or over and fits the RWVP requirements outlined on the Consumer, Building and Occupational Services (CBOS) website.
What is the process for undertaking checks?
DECYP Managers (such as Principals, Centre Leaders/Contact Officers) are responsible for ensuring compliance with safeguarding expectations for all workers, including employees, relief staff, volunteers and service providers.
It is up to business units to establish processes to undertake checks on workers, including making sure they have completed their Safeguarding Training requirements and signing in (kiosk or manual sign in), sighting and verifying RWVP before they attend worksites and engage with children and young people.
Additional information for schools and CFLCs
Checks on new workers
Staff in schools and CFLCs can support Principals/Centre Leaders to be compliant with worker safeguarding requirements by making sure that:
- external service providers/external service partners (ESP) and volunteers sign-in upon arrival using the kiosk or manual sign in sheet;
- all workers have their RWVP card sighted and verified against the CBOS website to ensure that their registration is valid; and
- all workers have their Safeguarding Training completion verified manually by asking the worker to produce a copy of their certificates. Further information will be released to business units soon to allow them to report on employee and relief staff completions in their area via the MyCareer system.
If there are no issues with the steps above, the new worker can start work.
If there are any issues, staff must escalate issues to their Principal/Centre Leader immediately. The new worker cannot begin work until issues are resolved.
*For technical support on reporting, contact safeguarding@decyp.tas.gov.au
Checks on returning workers
For future attendance by the external provider and/or volunteer to the DECYP site:
- All workers must have their RWVP card sighted and verified against the CBOS website on each attendance.
- To avoid the requirement to sight the safeguarding training certificate on each attendance, a database can be kept which records the date on which the volunteer/external provider’s certificate is due to expire.
More information
- Talk to your manager about arrangements in your business area.
- Volunteers in visitors in schools can find more information here.
- Refer to the Registration to Work with Vulnerable People Policy for further information.
- Contact the Office of Safeguarding Children and Young People via safeguarding@decyp.tas.gov.au