You will no doubt agree that training and educating your staff and volunteers is important in any organisation. When your staff and volunteers are working with children directly or indirectly this is paramount.
Whilst this might be driven by principle 7[1] of the 10 national principles resulting from the Royal Commission, it is imperative to have highly skilled and confident staff when handling child safeguarding requirements. Through your confident staff and volunteers and a child safeguarding culture your organisation has a fantastic foundation in being a renowned child safe organisation.
How do you achieve this?
How do you make sure your training delivers and you get the required return?[2]
When looking for your staff training or planning the development of your own training, you need to factor and combine two key elements;
- Adult learning principles and
- Sticky learning methodology
The adult learning principles[3] help ensure that your training addresses their;
- Need to know
- Self-concept
- Experience
- Readiness to learn
- Orientation to learning
- Motivation
With some additional principles that have been added over time i.e.
- Coaching and support
- Open to modern ways of learning
- Choosing how to learn
Adult learning principles on their own is not enough, sticky learning methodology helps to ensure your training is easily retained, addresses a key outcome and is easy to apply the learning in the workplace with confidence. Allowing the learner to make mistakes in a ‘risk free’ environment[4].
Incorporating the following stick learning methodology elements helps the brain learn and retain the information:
- Tailored content
- Clear learning objectives
- Audio-visual and strengthening elements
- Gamification – challenges, recognition
- Bench learner’s experience
- Varied methods of learning
Ensuring your training covers these elements will make training a positive experience for your staff and volunteers and you will gain confident and knowledgeable team members, with a thirst to learn more.
Delivered by highly qualified and experienced Child Wise trainers either online or face to face, our training services can be tailored to the individual needs of your organization. Contact us to speak to one of our experts, or get in touch directly with our QLD and NT Manager Angela Jegou.
Author: Harriet Sheppard, Director of Operations at Child Wise
[1] ‘Staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education and training’
[2] Not just return in investment but return through retention of knowledge and upskilling
[3] Whilst Malcolm Knowles pioneered the study of adult learning (andragogy – the art and science of helping adults learn) in the 1970, this is still a foundation even though over time additional timely principles have been added.
[4] Learning through mistakes without impacting the workplace or further traumatising child(ren)
