Training calendar
Our professional development opportunities are offered online via the ACSL Learning Platform.
View the steps for creating a profile and registering for a session here.
See our 2026 training calendar below. Please note that registration for webinars, learning circles and panel discussions open two months in advance.
5 March – Workshop – Safeguarding Adults at Risk
This interactive online workshop allows learners to explore the term “adult at risk” and identify the essential safeguarding principles related to individuals within this category.
11am to 1pm AEDT
$150 per learner (ACSL Subscribers receive a discount of 25%).
18 March – Workshop – Safeguarding Risk Management
This interactive online workshop allows learners to explore safeguarding risk management and identify the essential tools, considerations and steps within such processes.
2pm to 4pm AEDT
$150 per learner (ACSL Subscribers receive a discount of 25%).
26 March – Webinar – Culturally Appropriate Service Provision
Presented by Dr Pooja Sawrika, Promoting Women in Academia
1pm to 2pm AEDT
Cost: FREE
To what extent do you think a frontline practitioner or their service organisation is responsible for delivering ‘cultural competency’? What specific characteristics do you think these two components entail? Do you feel overwhelmed by the complexity in this area and wish you had a checklist to consult? This talk will help you identify a comprehensive range of factors to be aware of in the service setting, and in doing so you will be better placed to deliver ethical practice and help protect the cultural safety of migrant communities in Australia.
Dr Pooja Sawrikar’s academic career spans more than twenty years; since 2000, she has taught over 10,000 students Psychology and Research Methods subjects, and worked on a significant number of commissioned research projects for Australian state and federal governments and national and international non-government organisations (NGOs). Her research areas and publications cover racism, sexism, child protection, domestic violence, culturally appropriate service delivery, culture, migration, mental illness, social cognition, and academic publishing and funding. She uses research to not just comprehensively capture and explain the size and nature of a phenomena, but to use that evidence to reduce injustice and increase well-being. She is also the Founder and Director of Scholar Freedom, an academic publishing platform.
15 April – Learning Circle Safeguarding and Overseas Ministries
11am to 12.30pm AEST
This Learning Circle focuses on safeguarding experiences with overseas ministries.
The panel includes:
- Anita Biddle, Sisters of the Good Samaritan
- Simon Davies, Safeguarding Services
- Melinda Frost, Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia and PNG
- Claire Pirola, De La Salle Brothers
- Donna Webb, Safeguarding Central
The panel will present their experiences promoting and establishing a safeguarding culture in overseas ministries. They will share stories of success and learnings.
Learning Circles are an opportunity to learn from a panel of practitioners’ experiences in a collaborative environment. The second half of these sessions is designed for workshop plenary discussions and sharing by all involved (participants and panelists). Participant numbers are limited to ensure a group learning experience.
23 April – Webinar – Your Rights, Your Voice: Understanding the New Aged Care Act
Presented by Beatrice Vann, ACT Disability, Aged and Carer Advocacy Service, Older Persons Team
1pm to 2pm AEST
Cost: FREE
Your Rights, Your Voice: Understanding the New Aged Care Act
Presented by Beatrice Vann, ADACAS Older Persons Team
Aged Care Advocacy is the process of supporting a person to:
· Make informed decisions about their aged care services
· Understand and exercise their aged care rights
· Understanding the New Aged Care Statement of Rights
· Have their voice heard, and views and wishes considered
This session will discuss the New Aged Care Act and implications for safeguarding older persons.
About Beatrice Vann
I have been working in the Aged Care Industry for 27 years. Starting as a Home Care, Aged Care worker and then a Care Coordinator for 16 years in total for a Home Care Provider.
This was followed up with a 6 year stint working at Australian Red Cross as a Community Visitors Coordinator , pairing wonderful volunteers who gave their time to visit with socially isolated older people who lived at home or in a residential Aged Care Home, but who were socially isolated with family living interstate or overseas or no family at all.
Finally, I found my niche as an Older Persons Advocate. Here at ADACAS(ACT Disability Aged & Carer Advocacy service). I have been able to utilise my skills working with and supporting older people to good use supporting older people to have their voices heard and their issues supported when things don’t go right with the support they are receiving either with their providers and or their families. I have learnt so much from older people and have a special interest in Dementia support.
ACSL Leaders and Leadership Teams Program
22 April to 27 May 2026
More information here.
ACSL Safeguarding Responsibilities for Boards and Trustees Workshop
4pm to 6pm AEST 21 April
More information here.
21 May – Webinar – Risks and Rewards of online communities for children and young people
Presented by the eSafety Commissioner team
1pm to 2pm AEST
Cost: FREE
Online communities offer opportunities for connection, learning, and support across diverse interests and identities. They can foster belonging, amplify voices, and provide access to resources and peer advice. However, these spaces also carry risks, including exposure to misinformation, cyberbullying, sexual exploitation, and harmful content.
This webinar explores the role of online communities in the lives of young people, highlighting how professionals can support young people to have safe and positive online experiences.
In this eSafety session you will:
· develop an understanding of experiences young people within online communities
· explore the risks of online communities for young people, including exposure to harmful beliefs and content
· identify strategies to support young people and promote safe and positive online experiences.
Presented by a team member of the esafety Commissioner, Australia’s independent regulator for online safety. They educate Australians about online safety risks and help to remove harmful content such as cyberbullying of children, adult cyber abuse and intimate images or videos shared without consent.
ACSL Leaders and Leadership Program
26 May to 2 July 2026
More information here.
25 June – Webinar – Governance in the Faith Based Sector
Presented by Kathleen Donnellon
1pm to 2pm AEST
Cost: FREE
Organisations and social institutions – such as schools, hospitals, aged-care facilities, disability-support services, and community support organisations – provide stability and security for all Australians. But who runs these organisations that we depend on? And what is it that these people actually do?
Kathleen is author of Deep Governance Matters, an exploration of the work of faith based not for profit boards. Kathleen’s presentation will offer practical insights and new perspectives on achieving your mission goals for anynone in governance roles in the faith based sector.
About Kathleen Donnellon
Kathleen Donnellon is an author, lawyer, mediator and facilitator. For the past 15 years, Kathleen has been a board director and board Chair of various faith based, not-for-profit organisations, mainly involved in international and local aid programs and in education. Kathleen has worked in private legal practice as well as in community-based law and has completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) Course. She taught at the University of Melbourne Law School, where she lectured in mediation and dispute resolution. Kathleen lives in Melbourne with Tony. They have three grown up children and two needy dogs.
ACSL Safeguarding Responsibilities for Boards and Trustees Workshop
4pm to 6pm AEST 23 June
More information here.
14 July – Learning Circle Safeguarding as Ministry
11am to 12.30pm AEST
This Learning Circle focuses on safeguarding as ministry.
The panel includes:
- Br Ambrose Payne, De La Salle Brothers
- Fr Shammi Perera, Archdiocese of Hobart
- Susan Sullivan, MaryMead CatholicCare Canberra and Goulburn
- Additional panellist to be confirmed
The panel will present their experiences and thoughts about safeguarding as ministry. They will share stories of success and learnings.
Learning Circles are an opportunity to learn from a panel of practitioners’ experiences in a collaborative environment. The second half of these sessions is designed for workshop plenary discussions and sharing by all involved (participants and panelists). Participant numbers are limited to ensure a group learning experience.
23 July – Webinar – Spiritual Care as a Safeguarding Asset: Building Trust, Culture and Early Insight
Presented by Rev Paul McFarlane, Spiritual Care Australia
1pm to 2pm AEST
Cost: FREE
Rev. Paul McFarlane is a board member and Partnerships Officer for Spiritual Care Australia and a wellbeing leader with over 30 years’ experience across healthcare, emergency services and workplace mental health. A long-serving ambulance chaplain and author of Charlie 1, Paul is passionate about helping organisations to embed safe, professional spiritual care practice and strengthen wellbeing, culture and safeguarding systems across Australia’s health, education and community sectors.
ACSL Leaders and Leadership Program
21 July to 19 August 2026
More information here.
20 August – Webinar – Spiritual Abuse
1pm to 2pm AEST
Cost: FREE
Presented by Rev Dr Jake Mudge
Rev. Dr Jacob (Jake) Mudge is a member of the Department of Systematic Theology and Pastoral and General Studies and a priest of the Diocese of Sandhurst. He is a member of staff at Corpus Christi College where he serves as the Director of Pastoral Work. His current academic interests including areas of research are; fundamental and pastoral theology, the role of history in theology, and Lonergan studies. He is currently completing research in the area of Christian formation, anthropology, and the work of Bernard Lonergan.
ACSL Safeguarding Responsibilities for Boards and Trustees Workshop
4pm to 6pm AEST 18 August
More information here.
24 September – Webinar – Advocacy Matters: Safeguarding Older Australians
Presented by Beatrice Vann, ACT Disability, Aged and Carer Advocacy Service, Older Persons Team
1pm to 2pm AEST
Cost: FREE
Whilst much attention is paid to the safeguarding of children and young people, there is growing awareness of the abuse of older people in residential care and in family and community settings. Aged and Disability Service providers have a duty of care to make sure their services are safe and to reduce the risk of abuse. They also have responsibility to respond to abuse whether committed by fellow residents, staff, volunteers or family members.
The webinar will explore these emerging risks and ways to respond. Beatrice will explore the role of advocacy in protecting our older Australians. The right of vulnerable adults to live free of abuse is our collective responsibility.
22 October – Webinar – Exposure and impact: Understanding online harms and risks facing children and young people
Presented by the eSafety Commissioner team
1pm to 2pm AEDT
Cost: FREE
Online communities offer opportunities for connection, learning, and support across diverse interests and identities. They can foster belonging, amplify voices, and provide access to resources and peer advice. However, these spaces also carry risks, including exposure to misinformation, cyberbullying, sexual exploitation, and harmful content.
This webinar explores the role of online communities in the lives of young people, highlighting how professionals can support young people to have safe and positive online experiences.
In this eSafety session you will:
- develop an understanding of experiences young people within online communities
- explore the risks of online communities for young people, including exposure to harmful beliefs and content
- identify strategies to support young people and promote safe and positive online experiences.
Presented by a team member of the esafety Commissioner, Australia’s independent regulator for online safety. They educate Australians about online safety risks and help to remove harmful content such as cyberbullying of children, adult cyber abuse and intimate images or videos shared without consent.
ACSL Leaders and Leadership Teams Program
27 October to 18 November 2026
More information here.
ACSL Safeguarding Responsibilities for Boards and Trustees Workshop
4pm to 6pm AEDT 20 October
More information here.
12 November – Panel Discussion – 10 years on from the Royal Commission
12pm to 1pm AEDT
Cost: FREE
With the upcoming anniversary of this important report, published 2017, it is timely that we review our experiences and learnings, with the goal of continuing to learn and improve.
Panellists include:
- Bishop Greg Bennett, Diocese of Sale
- Audrey Brown, Kildare Ministries
- Carla Bonev, St John of God Healthcare
- Robert Fitzgerald AM, Australian Human Rights Commission
- Hon Neville Owen, Truth, Justice and Healing Commission
- Dr Ursula Stephens, Australian Catholic Safeguarding Limited
This panel will reflect upon their experiences and learnings since the Royal Commission – our achievements and the gaps that need addressing. Through this reflection, we will gain insights to help improve our safeguarding practice.
19 November – Webinar – Child Safeguarding in Regional Australia
Presented by the Dalene Wray
1pm to 2pm AEDT
Cost: FREE
Dalene Wray has been bringing Australian businesses together in regional Australia, to co-design and drive action on Child Safeguarding. This cross-sector initiative seeks to strengthen the capability and commitment of Australian businesses to safeguarding policies and practices in regional Australia. Dalene will share her experience working with businesses in regional Australia that would not normally be targeted for awareness education.
ACSL Safeguarding Responsibilities for Boards and Trustees Workshop
4pm to 6pm AEDT 17 November
More information here.