About the Course
This full day workshop has been adapted through co-design with Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations to ensure the training is culturally safe, respectful, and grounded in Aboriginal ways of knowing, being, and doing — while still meeting all legislative and professional requirements for mandatory child protection reporting.
The training recognises that for many Aboriginal workers, child protection systems are not neutral. They are connected to past and current harm, including the impacts of colonisation, assimilation policies, and the Stolen Generations. This workshop allows space for reflection, discussion, and support, acknowledging that the content may bring up personal, family, community and transgenerational experiences.
Participants are supported to understand their legal responsibilities with the focus on protecting children and young people while working respectfully with families, communities, Elders, and other services.
Through culturally grounded case studies and guided discussion, participants will build confidence to recognise concerns, respond safely, and take action in ways that are ethical, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive.
Who should attend:
This training is designed for Aboriginal staff who are new to youth, family, or community work, including those who are mandatory reporters or supervisors
Learning
By the end of the workshop, participants will be supported to:
Understand mandatory reporting responsibilities in clear, practical terms
Apply culturally safe, ethical, and trauma-informed practices when working with children, young people, and families
Recognise signs of:
Neglect
Physical abuse
Sexual abuse
Domestic and family violence
Serious psychological harm
Identify when concerns meet the threshold for reporting and understand what is meant by risk of significant harm
Use the Mandatory Reporter Guide confidently and understand the reporting and notification process
Respond appropriately and safely to disclosures, recognising the impact of trauma across the lifespan
Exchange information appropriately and work collaboratively with other services to support children, young people, families, and communities
Hold the tension between protecting children and respecting family, culture, and community, recognising the ongoing impacts of intergenerational trauma and systemic harm
How the training is delivered
Facilitated at a responsive, respectful pace
Delivered in a way that values lived experience and community knowledge
Provides opportunities for yarning, reflection, and shared learning
Focuses on strength, responsibility, and care, rather than blame or surveillance
Your Instructor
Sandy Rawson
Sandy Rawson is a highly experienced Clinical Psychologist, Director, and trainer who has spent more than 20 years working alongside children, young people, families, and communities across regional and remote NSW. Her training is shaped by deep clinical experience and a genuine commitment to building the confidence, insight, and practical skills of workers, caseworkers, practitioners, and professionals across the human services sector. Sandy brings extensive expertise in trauma, family violence, child safety, behaviour support, and healing through connection, and is known for delivering training that is engaging, reflective, evidence-based, and highly relevant to the realities of frontline work.
Bring this training to your workplace
Rawson Psychologists and Consultants will travel to deliver in house Core Training aimed at practitioners working with children in family violence including Psychology, Social Work, Case Work, Support Work, Education, Early Childhood, Health, Legal, Corrections and Juvenile Justice. Get in touch to discuss today.
