Child Safety course to be launched at USQ Open Day

Students seeking a rewarding career working with children at risk are now a step closer to fulfilling their dreams, thanks to a partnership between USQ and Department of Child Safety.

Department of Child Safety Training and Specialist Support Director David Bradford and USQ academic Lauretta Wright will launch a new child safety course at the USQ Toowoomba Open Day this Sunday.

The course ‘Child Abuse and Neglect: Intervention, Protection and Prevention' forms part of a four course child protection minor within the Bachelor of Human Services (Counselling).

The course was developed with a $50,000 grant from the Department of Child Safety in response to recommendations from a Crime and Misconduct Commission inquiry.

Mr Bradford said that the course opened up a rewarding career pathway for graduates.

'There is, unfortunately, an increasing need for Child Safety Officers,' Mr Bradford said.

'By undertaking this course, students will open up a whole world of rewarding career prospects, and at the same time make a positive, perhaps life-changing difference to children at risk.

'This can have a beneficial effect in the lives of vulnerable children that will last the rest of their lives,' Mr Bradford said.

Program Coordinator Lauretta Wright said that the course has already attracted a lot of interest, with 50 students enrolled in the first intake and strong interest already shown for next semester.

'A number of postgraduate students from USQ have enrolled in the course as well as staff from the Department of Child Safety, and I believe this is because of the relevance and appropriateness of the course,' Ms Wright said.

'Like all the courses in the degree, it meets the Department's mandatory requirements and we aim to produce work-ready graduates,' she said.

Media Contact:  Josh Ada, USQ Media, +61 7 4631 1628