Everyone working in early childhood services regulated under the NQF must complete mandatory training to understand child safety, including how to identify child abuse and take appropriate action to keep children safe.
There are two different types of training in Victoria:
- National child safety training
- Victorian child protection training
This article explains who must complete each type of training and when.
National child safety training
National child safety training is mandatory for everyone working in NQF services, whether they work directly with children or not.
Foundation training
Required roles in an NQF service must have already completed foundation child safety training (courses 1 and 2). This includes all existing staff members, persons with management or control (PMCs), including school council members for school-council operated services, volunteers and students. Read who is defined as a volunteer or student.
New starters must complete foundation child safety training before they start working directly with children OR within 14 days of being employed, engaged or appointed at the service, whichever is earlier.
Advanced training
Advanced child safety training (courses 3 and 4) is available now. Nominated supervisors, persons in day-to-day charge, and staff members who work directly with children must complete these courses in addition to the foundation training.
PMCs, nominated supervisors and persons in day-to-day charge of a service must also complete course 5. This course will be available from 30 September 2026.
Advanced training must be completed by 31 March 2027 for existing staff. New starters in relevant roles must complete it within three months of employment, engagement, or appointment at the service.
Refresher foundation and advanced training must be completed every two years.
Accessing training
All courses are available through the Geccko online training platform.
For help registering, using and downloading completion certificates visit the Geccko training information webpage. To get help with your Geccko account or technical issues call 1300 615 262 or complete the online enquiry form.
Staff record of training
Staff will receive a certificate of training completion which can be accessed through Geccko. All staff should keep copies of their completion certificates.
Record keeping for approved providers
Approved providers must:
- keep certificates on staff records and maintain a staff training register to record the completion of training; and
- record completion of training on the National Early Childhood Worker Register.
Recording training on the Early Childhood Worker Register (Worker Register)
You must enter details into the Worker Register within 14 days of having viewed the worker’s completion certificate. Make sure that courses 3,4 and 5 have been completed before entering the details and record foundation and advanced training separately.
Only PMCs who perform a role at the service that meets the Worker Register requirements need to be entered into the Worker Register. Approved providers must still check that all PMCs have completed the required child safety training, and that they retain evidence of this. Keep them together with other staffing and volunteer records.
Find out more about the Worker Register at National Worker Register. Read National Early Childhood Worker Register for information about recording child safety training.
Victorian child protection training
People who work directly with children at the service and people in leadership and management positions are also required to have completed child protection training. In Victoria this training is EC PROTECT.
EC PROTECT focuses on Victorian specific child safeguarding frameworks, reporting requirements and legal obligations if a child is suspected to be at risk of harm.
The EC PROTECT training is compulsory for the following people who work in NQF services:
- nominated supervisors
- people in day-to-day charge of a service
- family day care coordinators
- staff members who work directly with children, and
- volunteers (including students) who work directly with children.
It must be completed before working with children at the service, or within 14 days of employment, whichever comes first. EC PROTECT training must be completed every 12 months.
Accessing training
- EC PROTECT is available at: Child protection and child safety training in early childhood
- Email ec.protect@education.vic.gov.au for technical queries and training support.
Updated