Child protection practitioners participate in family violence training

A learning and development training program has been developed for child protection practitioners, focusing on the nature and dynamics of family violence. This new program includes group based learning sessions and e-learning modules and is being rolled out to all child protection practitioners. The e-learning modules are available on an ongoing basis to capture new employees and provide ongoing development opportunities for existing child protection practitioners. The training program covers the Department of Health and Human Services' practice guidelines for dealing with family violence.

All child protection staff, from beginning practitioners through to those in practice leadership and management roles, are required to attend the training and attendance is being monitored. As new staff join the organisation, they participate in the beginning practice program which includes family violence training and they also complete the series of family violence e-learning modules as part of their orientation program.

All child protection practitioners have been successfully targeted for the family violence learning and development training program, including those based in rural and regional locations. The training program targets practitioners at different stages of their child protection career from beginning practice through to practice leadership and management. An independent evaluation of the child protection family violence training program has concluded, and the Department of Health and Human Services is now considering the findings.