Training and support

Our commitment lies in ensuring that all service delivery staff have access to specialised training and development programs. The responsibility of delivering these programs to child safety staff rests with our dedicated Child Safety Training team. They oversee comprehensive training initiatives covering essential aspects such as:

• GRO, our learning and development program for child safety staff
  • G — Getting started in child protection practice — this core learning area aims to provide and facilitate opportunities for new Child Safety Officers (CSOs) to become familiar with their role and responsibilities. CSOs are required to complete a pre-requisite interactive eLearning course which is designed to develop knowledge of departmental practice and processes and legislative requirements of the role of a CSO.  
  • R — Readiness for child protection practice — this core learning area aims to provide new CSOs with job readiness skills and knowledge to build role capacity and confidence. CSOs are required to complete:
    • two weeks of regionally based (whenever possible) face-to-face training
    • a number of practice specific courses; and
    • one or more role-specific courses.
    • The practice- and role-specific courses are eLearning products available through iLearn, the Department’s learning management system. CSOs can complete these courses in their workplace, before or after attending face-to-face training.
  • O — Ongoing practice development – this learning area aims to provide all Child Safety staff with ongoing professional development on a variety of practice-specific topics — examples include: Domestic and family violence, Cumulative harm, Worker safety in child protection, and Structured decision making. These are a mix of face-to-face workshops and eLearning courses.

• Interviewing Children and Recording Evidence (ICARE) — nationally accredited five-day program delivered jointly by the Queensland Police Service and Child Safety Training staff.
• Foundation studies in culture — delivered within Readiness for child protection practice, this training is designed to build and strengthen child protection services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people.

Support services

We also provide a range of support services to our staff including:

• advice on employment conditions and related departmental policies
• case supervision to support your practice development and client service delivery
• education about potentially stressful situations and how to manage these situations
• access to our Employee Assistance Service that provides counselling services
• post-incident interventions, including debriefings and individual support arising from traumatic and distressing events.

Read more about the benefits of working with us.