Ensuring the safety and wellbeing of every child in education and care is a shared national priority. This suite of courses is a result of Governments across Australia coming together to work with the sector to strengthen safety, improve quality, and better protect all children in education and care and responds to a key recommendation of the Review of Child Safety Arrangements under the National Quality Framework.
These national, mandatory courses support all individuals working or volunteering within the education and care sector to meet their legal child safety obligations, strengthen safeguarding practice, and reduce harm to children. The training supports a shared understanding of safeguarding responsibilities, helps staff recognise and respond to concerns, and promotes child-centred, trauma-informed practice aligned with Australian law and regulatory requirements. Staff and volunteers will learn how to embed a child-safe culture ensuring that every child feels valued, respected, and protected within education and care settings.
The courses have been developed by the Australian Centre for Child Protection (ACCP) in partnership with the Queensland Government, on behalf of all Australian states and territories and the Australian Government. They are currently being hosted in Geccko, the Department of Education’s online learning platform.
When to complete foundation training
All existing staff must complete foundation training by 27 August 2026. Staff entering the sector from 14 August 2026 must complete foundation training by whichever occurs earlier:
- 27 August 2026, or
- 14 days from when they are employed by the service, or
- before they work directly with children.
Ongoing, staff must complete foundation training once every 2 years.
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Visit the National Child Safety Training website for more information about the training’s development.
National Child Safety Training for the Early Childhood Education and Care Sector – Australian Centre for Child Protection – Adelaide University
