Unit rationale, description and aim

This microcredential focuses on assessing and managing risks to child safety, particularly in digital and online environments. Participants will learn how to identify and evaluate risks related to both physical and online threats, including cyberbullying, grooming, and exposure to harmful content. They will develop skills to conduct thorough risk assessments and create risk management plans that address the unique needs of vulnerable children, including those with disabilities. The course will also cover strategies for managing physical risks in educational settings, ensuring a holistic approach to safeguarding. By examining real-world case studies, participants will gain insight into effective institutional responses to various risks. The aim is to equip participants with the knowledge and skills needed to implement comprehensive risk management strategies that align with the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations, thereby ensuring the safety and well-being of children in both physical and digital environments. 

2025 5

Campus offering

No unit offerings are currently available for this unit.

Prerequisites

UNMC511 Safeguarding Children 1: Ethics, Values and Practices

Learning outcomes

To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.

Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.

Explore the graduate capabilities.

Conduct risk assessments for child safety in educa...

Learning Outcome 01

Conduct risk assessments for child safety in educational settings, including digital environments. (APST 4.4, 7.4).
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC1, GC6, GC8

Develop risk management strategies for vulnerable ...

Learning Outcome 02

Develop risk management strategies for vulnerable children, aligned with the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations. (APST 1.5, 4.1).
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC3, GC5, GC9

Implement risk management practices that ensure th...

Learning Outcome 03

Implement risk management practices that ensure the safety and well-being of children in both physical and digital environments. (APST 4.4, 6.2).
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC2, GC7

Content

Topics will include: 

  • Risk Assessment in Child Safeguarding: A detailed look at conducting risk assessments for vulnerable children in educational institutions. 
  • Managing Online Safety Risks: Examination of online risks such as cyberbullying, grooming, and exposure to inappropriate content, and how to mitigate them. 
  • Physical Safety in Institutional Settings: Strategies for creating safe physical environments in schools and care institutions, including managing physical risks such as accidents or violence. 
  • Inclusive Risk Management for Children with Disabilities: Developing risk management strategies that are inclusive of children with disabilities and sensitive to their unique vulnerabilities. 
  • Risk Management in Practice: Case studies of how schools and institutions have successfully managed and mitigated risks to child safety. 

Assessment strategy and rationale

The assessment is designed to evaluate participants’ ability to apply the knowledge gained in a practical and reflective manner. It encourages critical thinking, self-assessment, and the integration of theoretical frameworks with professional practice. This microcredential is focused on evaluating participants’ ability to apply key knowledge and skills in risk management through a comprehensive, real-world task. Participants will create a risk management plan addressing both physical and digital risks, tailored to the needs of their institution and aligned with the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations. This task encourages participants to critically assess risks and integrate theoretical frameworks with practical applications, fostering depth of understanding and a capacity for leadership in safeguarding children.

Minimum Achievement Standards

The assessment task for this microcredential is designed to demonstrate achievement of each of the learning outcomes. In order to pass this microcredential, students are required to meet the learning outcomes and achieve a minimum overall passing grade of 50% for the assessment task. 

Overview of assessments

Assessment Task 1: Risk Management Strategy (2000...

Assessment Task 1: Risk Management Strategy (2000 words) 

Create a comprehensive risk management plan addressing both physical and digital risks, tailored to your institution's needs, and aligned with the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations. 

Submit your plan to an assigned peer for feedback, focusing on one strength and one area for improvement. 

Provide a brief reflection on how this feedback might inform any revisions to the plan. 

Weighting

100%

Learning Outcomes LO1, LO2, LO3
Graduate Capabilities GC1, GC2, GC3, GC5, GC6, GC7, GC8, GC9
Standards APST(HA)4.1, APST(HA)4.4, APST(Lead)1.5, APST(Lead)6.2, APST(Lead)7.4

Learning and teaching strategy and rationale

Learning in this microcredential will involve a participatory approach, combining activities that integrate theoretical learning with practical application. Through collaborative work, reflective exercises, and problem-solving tasks, students will develop key leadership and ethical decision-making skills. This strategy emphasises active involvement and self-assessment, enhancing students’ ability to translate theory into effective practice in child-related fields. The overarching goal is to ensure that participants are equipped to apply their learning in professional settings. Practical exercises, simulations, and case study analysis to develop and apply risk management strategies in real-world educational settings. 

Australian Professional Standards for Teachers - Highly Accomplished

In connection to the learning outcomes, on successful completion of this unit, pre-service teachers should have developed the following industry specific knowledge based on the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers - Highly Accomplished standards:

  • Relating toModel effective practice and support colleagues to implement inclusive strategies that engage and support all students.

    Relevant Learning OutcomeLO2

  • Relating toInitiate and take responsibility for implementing current school and/ or system, curriculum and legislative requirements to ensure student wellbeing and safety.

    Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO3

Australian Professional Standards for Teachers - Lead

In connection to the learning outcomes, on successful completion of this unit, pre-service teachers should have developed the following industry specific knowledge based on the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers - Lead standards:

  • Relating toLead colleagues to evaluate the effectiveness of learning and teaching programs differentiated for the specific learning needs of students across the full range of abilities.

    Relevant Learning OutcomeLO2

  • Relating toInitiate collaborative relationships to expand professional learning opportunities, engage in research, and provide quality opportunities and placements for pre-service teachers.

    Relevant Learning OutcomeLO3

  • Relating toTake a leadership role in professional and community networks and support the involvement of colleagues in external learning opportunities.

    Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1

Representative texts and references

Representative texts and references

Bond, E., & Rawlings, V. (2017). Virtual Vulnerability: Safeguarding Children in Digital Environments. In Safeguarding Children in a Digital World. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-60137-3_12 

Australian e-Safety Commissioner. (2018). Safety by Design Initiative: Embedding Child Safety in Digital Products. https://www.esafety.gov.au 

Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society, Harvard University. (2020). Youth Engagement Survey and Safety by Design Initiative. https://www.bkconnect.org 

Gillett‐Swan, J. K., & Sargeant, J. (2018). Voice Inclusive Practice, Digital Literacy and Children’s Participatory Rights. Children & Society, 32(1), 38–49. https://doi.org/10.1111/chso.12230 

ITU. (2021). Keeping Children Safe in the Digital Environment: The Importance of Protection and Empowerment. ITU Publishing. https://www.itu.int 

OECD. (2021). Protecting Children Online. OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/76a65389-en 

Sargeant, J., & Gillett-Swan, J. K. (2019). Voice-Inclusive Practice (VIP): A Charter for Authentic Student Engagement. The International Journal of Children’s Rights, 27(1), 122–139. https://doi.org/10.1163/15718182-02701002 

UNICEF. (2021). WePROTECT Global Alliance: Preventing Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse. https://www.unicef.org/csr/ict_tools.html 

UNICEF. (2021). Child Protection in Digital Education: Safeguarding Considerations for Decision-Makers. UNICEF. https://www.unicef.org 

United Nations. (2021). A Safer Digital Environment for Children: The Importance of Protection and Empowerment. United Nations. https://www.itu.int 

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