As members of the Charles Sturt community, we care about the wellbeing of children, and all have a role to play in creating safe and supportive environments for them to succeed.
When the Australian Government offered funding to enable universities to implement recommendations from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Charles Sturt University welcomed this opportunity to develop a new subject for students.
About the subject
The subject provides students with the ability to:
- identify and respond to children and young people at risk
- support the rights and safety of children and young people
- work collaboratively to maintain a safe environment for children and young people.
By completing the subject, students will also get an industry-recognised certification that will last for 5 years. Boosting student’s employability and empowering students to create a safer future for children.
At the steering wheel of the development and implementation of the new subject, is the distinguished, Dr Cate Thomas. Dr Thomas is the leader of the Social Equality, Intersectionality and Inclusion Research Group at Charles Sturt, and has bought a lifetime of experience to the role. Here’s what she has to say about the subject:
The subject was developed by senior and academic staff who are experts in the field and experienced in child safety matters. To ensure students have access to best practice research and resources, the consultation group also included members from the Student Senate, other Charles Sturt student volunteers, and First Nations colleagues.
So not only will this subject provide you with the skillset to address child sex abuse behaviours, but it will also provide you with an understanding of your positionality, the impact of generational disadvantage and the Stolen Generation.
Completing the subject
As of 1 January 2022, the subject will be mandatory for all Charles Sturt students to complete. To ensure the new subject meets the requirements, a pilot program will run in Session 2 2021. The pilot aims to test the delivery and content, to ensure students who complete the subject feel empowered to intervene and protect vulnerable children.
Graduating students and students completing subjects with Workplace Learning requirements will be enrolled to complete the pilot program. Students targeted in the pilot will be contacted via email on Tuesday 27 July 2021 with a link to complete the subject in their Interact2 subject sites.
Need support?
We highly encourage all students who have been enrolled in the pilot program to complete the subject. We’re aware that participation in this subject could evoke an emotional response from our students. Support is available to help you at Charles Sturt. Reach out to discuss the content before participating, or if you just want to talk to someone, speak to our counsellors to start a confidential conversation.
When the subject becomes mandatory for all students to complete in 2022, students will receive further details on how to access and complete the subject.
