The WA Department of Education ensures child safety through policies, checks, and mandatory training. As of June 16, 2025, 90.67% of teaching staff (22,989) had completed the Child Protection and Abuse Prevention professional learning.

AnsweredQoN 215Legislative Assembly
Asked
17 June 2025
Portfolio
Education

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to the implementation of the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations in WA public schools, and I ask: (a) How many WA public school teachers had completed all of the training modules for the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations as at 1 June 2025; and (b) What does the answer to (a) represent as a proportion of the total population of WA public school teachers at that date?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
19 August 2025
Responded by
Minister for Education
Response time
9 days
(a-b)
In Western Australia, the Department of Education (The Department) ensures that public schools are Child Safe Organisations through a range of policy settings, employment checks and mandatory professional learning.
The Child Protection in Department of Education Sites Policy and Child Protection of Education Sites for Procedures for Allied Professionals outline the requirements for teachers.
These procedures require teachers to complete the online Child Protection and Abuse Prevention professional learning program within 6 months of enrolment in the online course and repeat the online professional learning every 3 years from the date of completion.
The Child Protection and Abuse Prevention professional learning equips staff with knowledge and tools to recognise and respond to abuse, including mandatory reporting.
As of 16 June 2025, 22,989 teaching staff completed this professional learning, 90.67% of teaching staff. The Department of Education works with Principals to diligently monitor compliance with the required timeframes.
Teachers, psychologists, school counsellors and boarding supervisors are mandatory reporters of child sexual abuse under Section 124B of the Children and Community Services Act 2004 (WA) .
To enhance child safety and minimise harm, all WA public schools are required to implement protective behaviours education from Kindergarten to Year 12. In 2024, 99.7% of schools reported they were implementing protective behaviours education.

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