Safeguarding Vulnerable People

Module topics

1.    Introduction to Safeguarding-Governance Imperatives:  In this module, you will learn to understand and apply safeguarding principles and risk management. You will be able to define what safeguarding is and why it is essential. Additionally, you will gain insight into the legislative, regulatory, and criminal impacts of non-compliance, as well as the responsibilities of board members.

2.    Leadership Matters: Explore the critical role of leadership in establishing and maintaining a strong safeguarding culture. You will learn how executive leaders drive safeguarding outcomes, how leadership responsibilities extend across all levels of an organisation, and how different leadership roles interact to support a safe and compliant environment.

3.    Myths, Facts, & Stats of Abuse Against Vulnerable People: learn about the realities of abuse against vulnerable populations, highlighting common misconceptions, patterns of harm, and the systemic barriers that prevent justice. Through research-based insights, you’ll explore the prevalence and impact of abuse across different groups and gain a deeper understanding of the challenges in safeguarding and intervention.

4.    Preventing and Responding to Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation: deepen your awareness of how abuse manifests and ensure readiness to recognise and respond to it effectively. You will gain insight into how grooming manipulates victims and caregivers, creating barriers to disclosure, and understand the importance of trauma-informed and culturally appropriate responses in fostering safety, trust, and empowerment for vulnerable individuals.

5.    Rights & Equity: Explore the rights of vulnerable groups, including children, people with disabilities, and older Australians, by examining how their needs differ and why they require specific protections. You will gain insight into the importance of stakeholder engagement in safeguarding, exploring how inclusive and transparent communication fosters trust and accountability.

6.    Recruitment & Training: Understand how recruitment acts as the first line of defence in safeguarding, including the risks posed by poor screening practices and the importance of embedding safeguarding throughout the employee lifecycle. You will gain insight into how induction, training, and employment agreements reinforce safeguarding beyond recruitment, helping to embed clear expectations, legal protections, and ongoing accountability across the organisation.

7.    Disclosures, Incidents & Reporting: In this module, you will explore how to recognise and respond to disclosures, incidents, and complaints related to abuse and safeguarding breaches. Key topics include legal and ethical obligations, emergency response procedures, accurate record-keeping, and trauma-informed responses—equipping you to manage concerns confidently while supporting victims and meeting compliance requirements.

8.    Online Risks & Situational Onsite & Offsite Risks: In this module, you will explore how to identify, assess, and manage safeguarding risks in both physical and online environments. You'll learn to conduct effective risk assessments for onsite, offsite, and digital settings, and apply continuous improvement strategies to ensure safe environments for children and vulnerable people.

Bonus Content: Upon completion of this course, gain access to resources and guides in our Essential Safeguarding Document Pack, to help you apply important safeguarding principles in your work life and organisation.
 

The trauma informed microcredential for Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults is suitable for anyone who supports, protects, or interacts with vulnerable groups. This includes:

• Safeguarding Professionals and Consultants: Those responsible for developing trauma-informed safeguarding policies and practices.
• Board Directors and Executive Management: Leaders who need to integrate safeguarding, regulatory compliance, and cultural change within their organisations.
• Service Providers and Professionals: Staff working across healthcare, education, social services, law enforcement, aged care, disability services, and child protection sectors.
• Middle Management and Staff: Supervisors and frontline workers responsible for maintaining safe and supportive environments.
• Volunteers and Community Members: People who regularly interact with children, older adults, or individuals with disabilities.
• Equipping yourself with this micro credential will help protect vulnerable Individuals: Children, young people, older adults, and individuals with disabilities who benefit indirectly from improved trauma-informed care and safeguarding practices.

Goals and objectives

By the end of this course you will be able to:

1.    Understand key facts and research about sexual abuse and other harms against vulnerable people.
2.    Understanding key aspects of preventative, trauma-informed safeguarding, including risks, impacts and legacy of abuse.
3.    Understand the governance imperatives for board and executive management, staff and volunteers with a focus on leadership and culture.
4.    Understand the fundamentals of the legal and regulatory environments that exist for those who work or interact with children and vulnerable people. 
5.    Recognise and respond to the signs and symptoms of grooming, abuse, domestic violence and coercive control
6.    Identify appropriate legal requirements, standards and actions relating to rights, equity, recruitment, complaints, and organisational risks.

Assessment and recognition

Assessment for this course consists of a series of online multiple-choice quizzes that assess your understanding of the learning. You must complete and pass the assessment tasks to qualify for a digital Certificate of Completion.