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 opens two months in advance.
29 January – Webinar – Safeguarding Directions
Presented by Dr Ursula Stephens, ACSL
1pm to 2pm AEDT
Cost: FREE
Safeguarding in the Catholic Church is increasing in prominence. This session will provide an overview of direction of safeguarding initiatives as indicated in the second Pontifical Commission Annual Report and the proposed Universal Guidelines Framework. These initiatives will help provide context to our work in Australia and overseas centres. They will guide our continued efforts at creating a safeguarding culture in all Church entities.
Dr Ursula Stephens is CEO of Australian Catholic Safeguarding Limited (ACSL). Ursula has a deep understanding of the social services sector, government relations and community services more broadly.
19 February – Webinar – Reflections of a Reportable Conduct Investigator
Presented by Jon Sleeman
1pm to 2pm AEDT
Cost: FREE
An important aspect for many organisations to be child safe is to meet the requirements of reportable conduct schemes. This includes identifying allegations of reportable conduct, making notifications in required timeframes and conducting procedurally fair and timely reportable conduct investigations. These investigations are conducted in areas of risk such as relating to sexual misconduct, sexual offences, ill treatment, assault and neglect.
The conduct of such investigations is an important review and learning opportunity for organisations and one they should readily embrace to identify reasons why such alleged conduct may have occurred. Whilst the relevant regulatory agencies report annually on the specific areas of reportable conduct, an organisational data informed approach allows key child safe risks to be identified and strategies determined to address these. In this presentation Jon Sleeman will share some of the learning from reportable conduct investigations and links these to common child safety organisational challenges and areas of improvement.
About Jon
Jon has been an investigation, compliance and enforcement, and child safety protection practitioner, consultant, and trainer since 1999. These services were in the areas of investigations, child safety, child protection and emergency management
Recently, Jon held the position of the lead complex reportable conduct investigator for Catholic Education, Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn (CECG), where he investigated both complex and matters of a lesser threshold, recognizing they may still be categorised, upon receipt of the allegation, as reportable conduct. Jon continues to provide child protection and child safety services to CECG and the many schools in ACT and NSW.
ACSL Leaders and Leadership Teams Program
11 February to 25 March 2026
More information here.
ACSL Safeguarding Responsibilities for Boards and Trustees Workshop
4pm to 6pm AEDT 17 February
More information here.
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.
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.
ACSL Safeguarding Responsibilities for Boards and Trustees Workshop
4pm to 6pm AEST 23 June
More information here.
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.
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.
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.