Mandatory national child safety training
All staff, volunteers, and students in early childhood education and care must complete mandatory national child safety training.
The training has been developed by the Australian Centre for Child Protection in partnership with the Queensland Government, on behalf of all Australian states and territories and the Australian Government.
The training is free and approved providers can access support to help staff to complete it.
This is a National Child Safety Reform initiative. All education ministers agreed to new mandatory national child safety training at a special purpose meeting in August 2025.
Mandatory child safety training applies to all individuals involved in providing education and care under the National Quality Framework, including long day care, family day care, OSHC, preschools, kindergartens, in home care and CCCFR services.
The training consists of:
Foundations of child safety
- Course 1: Understanding child safety
- Course 2: Understanding and identifying child abuse and neglect.
These 2 courses were released on 27 February 2026.
New - Advanced child safety
- Course 3: Creating child safe cultures through everyday practice
- Course 4: Responding to safeguarding concerns
- Course 5: Leading and governing child safety.
Courses 3 and 4 are available from 31 July 2026.
Course 5 is expected to be available from 30 September 2026.
Courses to be completed
| Role | Foundational training (courses 1 and 2) | Advanced training (courses 3 and 4) | Advanced training (course 5) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Persons with management or control (PMC) | Yes | Yes | |
| Nominated supervisors | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Persons in day-to-day charge | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Staff working directly with children | Yes | Yes | |
| Staff not working directly with children | Yes | ||
| Volunteers and students | Yes | ||
| Training due by |
Existing staff/volunteers: 27/08/26
New starters (from 14/08/26): before working directly with children or within 14 days of commencement | By 30/03/27* | By 30/03/27* |
* Staff required to complete advanced child safety training must do so within 6 months of course 5 being released (expected 30 September 2026). New starters after course 5 is released must complete the required training within 3 months of commencement.
How to register
Each participant must register to complete the training modules.
Follow the prompts to create your account on the Geccko registration.
If you already have your own Geccko account, log in and update your details.
If you use a shared Geccko account, you must re-register using a personal email address.
Find out more and get step-by-step support for Geccko, go to the Australian Government’s Department of Education website.
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