Unit rationale, description and aim
This microcredential provides a comprehensive understanding of child protection laws and policies at national and international levels, with a focus on educational institutions. Participants will examine key legal frameworks, such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, that underpin child safety and will learn how to develop compliant policies that ensure the well-being of children. By exploring the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations, participants will understand the importance of aligning institutional policies with legal standards and the jurisdictional applications of these principles across different states and territories. Through practical exercises and policy development activities, participants will build their capacity to navigate the complexities of child safeguarding laws and create effective policies for child-focused institutions. The aim is to ensure that participants are equipped to lead the development and implementation of safeguarding policies that are legally compliant, ethically sound, and focused on the rights and safety of children.
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.
Articulate an understanding of the key child prote...
Learning Outcome 01
'UNMC515 - Safeguarding Children 5: Legal and Policy Frameworks - Graduate Capabilities v2 - '
Analyse the National Principles for Child Safe Org...
Learning Outcome 02
'UNMC515 - Safeguarding Children 5: Legal and Policy Frameworks - Graduate Capabilities v2 - '
Evaluate the effectiveness of current institutiona...
Learning Outcome 03
'UNMC515 - Safeguarding Children 5: Legal and Policy Frameworks - Graduate Capabilities v2 - '
Content
Topics will include:
- Overview of Australian child protection laws and their impact on educational institutions.
- International standards for child safety, including the UNCRC and UNCRPD, and understand how they shape national policies.
- Strategies for ensuring policy compliance and enforcement within schools and other child-focused institutions.
- Creating child-safe environments - lessons learned from practice.
- Policies that are both compliant and ethically sound.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of child-safe organisations, identifying both strengths and areas for improvement.
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. The assessment strategy is designed to deepen participants’ understanding and application of safeguarding frameworks within professional contexts. Through a structured task that combines policy review, reflective analysis, and policy development, participants are encouraged to engage critically with existing child protection policies, identify practical strengths and gaps, and contribute informed recommendations for improvement.
Minimum Achievement Standards
The assessment task for this microcredential is designed to demonstrate the 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: Policy Review & Developmen...
Assessment Task 1: Policy Review & Development (2000 Words)
Review an existing child protection policy, assessing its alignment with the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations and identifying strengths and areas for improvement. Reflect on your practical experiences with the focus policy, highlighting specific examples that demonstrate its impact on child safety in your professional context.
Propose a new or enhanced policy tailored to your institution’s context, with actionable steps grounded in legal, ethical, and safeguarding best practices.
100%
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
Learning in this microcredential will involve a participatory approach, combining activities that integrate theoretical learning with practical application. Legal case reviews, policy workshops, and comparative analysis of national and international child protection frameworks will be undertaken. 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.
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:
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: