Resources for schools
Practical resources to help schools when identifying and responding to child abuse, including posters, reference sheets, templates and guidance.
Schools
Use these resources alongside the 4 Critical Actions.
Also see
On this page
Guidance
At all times while completing the 4 Critical Actions:
Supporting guidance:
- Types of child abuse and what to look for
- Crimes against children
- Responding to a disclosure
- Interviews with students at school
- Preserving evidence
- Support and advisory services for school staff
- Supporting students with diverse needs
- Services, helplines and websites
- Wellbeing support for school staff
Posters and reference sheets
4 Critical Actions reference guides
Reference guides are for use in staff areas to provide a quick reference to guidance on the PROTECT website.
Open all
- Government schools
- PROTECT 4 Critical Actions reference sheet – for abuse by an adult engaged by a government school, including grooming (PDF, 671 KB)
- PROTECT 4 Critical Actions reference sheet – for student-to-student abuse (PDF, 420 KB)
- PROTECT 4 Critical Actions reference sheet – for abuse in the family (PDF, 110 KB)
- PROTECT 4 Critical Actions reference sheet – for abuse in the community (PDF, 370 KB)
- Catholic schools
- PROTECT 4 Critical Actions reference sheet – for abuse by an adult engaged by a Catholic school, including grooming (PDF, 723 KB)
- PROTECT 4 Critical Actions reference sheet – for student-to-student abuse (PDF, 467 KB)
- PROTECT 4 Critical Actions reference sheet – for abuse in the family (PDF, 150 KB)
- PROTECT 4 Critical Actions reference sheet – for abuse in the community (PDF, 415 KB)
- Independent schools
- PROTECT 4 Critical Actions reference sheet – for abuse by an adult engaged by an independent school, including grooming (PDF, 684 KB)
- PROTECT 4 Critical Actions reference sheet – for student-to-student abuse (PDF, 433 KB)
- PROTECT 4 Critical Actions reference sheet – for abuse in the family (PDF, 123 KB)
- PROTECT 4 Critical Actions reference sheet – for abuse in the community (PDF, 383 KB)
4 Critical Actions posters
Posters can be used in all areas of the school to promote the 4 Critical Actions and to encourage students to speak up if they don’t feel safe.
Open all
- Government schools
- PROTECT 4 Critical Actions staff poster (PDF, KB)
- PROTECT student poster – visual version (PDF, 173 KB)
- PROTECT student poster – for younger students or lower reading level (PDF, 563 KB)
- PROTECT student poster – for older students or higher reading level (PDF, 749 KB)
- Catholic schools
- PROTECT 4 Critical Actions staff poster (PDF, 732 KB)
- PROTECT student poster – visual version (PDF, 160 KB)
- PROTECT student poster – for younger students or lower reading level (PDF, 591 KB)
- PROTECT student poster – for older students or higher reading level (PDF, 809 KB)
- Independent schools
- PROTECT 4 Critical Actions staff poster (PDF, 707KB)
- PROTECT student poster – visual version (PDF, 152 KB)
- PROTECT student poster – for younger students or lower reading level (PDF, 553 KB)
- PROTECT student poster – for older students or higher reading level (PDF, 783 KB)
Templates
These optional templates can be used by school staff to keep records related to incidents, disclosures and allegations of child abuse. These templates help you record your actions and report to the relevant authorities.
Open all
- Government schools
- Template - for identifying and responding to child abuse by an adult engaged by a government school, including grooming (PDF, 356 KB)
- Template - for identifying and responding to child abuse by an adult engaged by a government school, including grooming (DOCX, 124 KB)
- Template - for identifying and responding to student-to-student abuse (PDF, 844 KB)
- Template - for identifying and responding to student-to-student abuse (DOCX, 151 KB)
- Template - for identifying and responding to child abuse in the family (PDF, 928 KB)
- Template - for identifying and responding to child abuse in the family (DOCX, 150 KB)
- Template - for identifying and responding to child abuse in the community (PDF, 852 KB)
- Template - for identifying and responding to child abuse in the community (DOCX, 111 KB)
- Catholic schools
- Template - for identifying and responding to child abuse by an adult engaged by a Catholic school, including grooming (DOCX, 223 KB)
- Template - for identifying and responding to child abuse by an adult engaged by a Catholic school, including grooming (PDF, 393 KB)
- Template - for identifying and responding to student-to-student abuse (DOCX, 261 KB)
- Template - for identifying and responding to student-to-student abuse (PDF, 419 KB)
- Template - for identifying and responding to child abuse in the family (DOCX, 375 KB)
- Template - for identifying and responding to child abuse in the family (PDF, 406 KB)
- Template - for identifying and responding to child abuse in the community (DOCX, 219 KB)
- Template - for identifying and responding to child abuse in the community (PDF, 392 KB)
- Independent schools
- Template - for identifying and responding to child abuse by an adult engaged by an independent school, including grooming (DOCX, 152 KB)
- Template - for identifying and responding to child abuse by an adult engaged by an independent school, including grooming (PDF, 362 KB)
- Template - for identifying and responding to student-to-student abuse (DOCX, 190 KB)
- Template - for identifying and responding to student-to-student abuse (PDF, 402 KB)
- Template - for identifying and responding to child abuse in the family (DOCX, 190 KB)
- Template - for identifying and responding to child abuse in the family (PDF, 404 KB)
- Template - for identifying and responding to child abuse in the community (DOCX, 148 KB)
- Template - for identifying and responding to child abuse in the community (PDF, 354 KB)
Child Safe Standards templates and resources
Further information and downloadable resources to meet the Child Safe Standards for schools.
Updated 30 March 2026
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