NSW Office of the Children's Guardian Elevate Investigative Excellence with Targeted Training

In collaboration with ACFEC, the NSW Office of the Children's Guardian enhanced their investigative skills through a tailored Certificate IV in Government Investigations course. Officers gained confidence, practical skills, and legislative knowledge, enabling them to conduct thorough investigations and effectively present evidence in court.

Situation

The NSW Office of the Children's Guardian (OCG) is responsible for safeguarding children in NSW by ensuring compliance with child protection laws and conducting investigations into allegations of misconduct. Recognising the complexity and sensitivity of their duties, the OCG sought specialised training to enhance their investigative capabilities.

Task

OCG aimed to provide its Officers with comprehensive training that would develop their skills in investigative processes, regulatory compliance, and ethical conduct.

The training was tailored to the specific roles and responsibilities of OCG staff and considered the different backgrounds of the learners (audit, education, and investigation) and their different levels of experience. The package also had a specific focus on the applicable legislative framework to ensure that Officers could confidently conduct investigations, gather and manage evidence, interview suspects and witnesses, compile statements, and present evidence in court.

Approach

ACFEC tailored and delivered the course to meet OCG's needs by incorporating their internal policies, procedures, and processes. The training included:

• an introduction to the foundational principles of government investigations

• emphasis on the ethical and legislative requirements of the public service

• modules on gathering and managing evidence, interviewing techniques, and preparing statements

• realistic workplace simulations and mock court sessions to practice and reinforce the learned skills.

Throughout the course, Officers engaged in real-life centred scenarios related to their roles, particularly investigating compliance with Working with Children Checks. These scenarios required Officers to apply their knowledge of the Child Protection (Working with Children) Act, gather evidence, and determine if breaches had occurred.

Outcome

OCG Officers gained a deeper understanding of the relevant legislation and significantly enhanced their investigative skills, including:

• an increased confidence in their ability to pursue investigations and utilise their information-gathering powers effectively

• refining their skills in giving evidence and handling cross-examinations by participating in practical exercises, including the mock court

• improved preparedness provided by a robust framework for conducting investigations, ensuring they are well-prepared for real-world scenarios.

The face-to-face components and practical days were particularly highlighted as beneficial, with praise given to the trainers for their knowledge and real-world experience. The course successfully met the OCG's training needs, equipping their Officers with the necessary skills and confidence to uphold child protection standards in their investigative work.