Options to complete Safe Ministry Training

Safe Ministry training can be completed either face to face or online

  1. Safe Ministry Training Online
    Refresher Online and Essentials Online are available now. The Junior Leader’s course is also available – information is here.
  2. Face to face Safe Ministry Training
    The ODSM holds Safe Ministry training events throughout the year at a variety of locations. The training is provided by a qualified Senior Safe Ministry Trainer. Click here to view general face-to-face training information and upcoming Safe Ministry Training Events.

How can my church subsidise the cost of training for its members?

With the move to online training and the associated Safe Ministry Training account and enrolment/payment system, churches who wish to sponsor or subsidise the training (online or face to face) for their members need to use the following approach:

  • For online training, go to the Bulk Online Training Tickets page on this site, and carefully complete the form on that page.
    For face to face training events, go to the Bulk Face to Face Training Tickets page.
  • That will automatically generate an invoice to the church, which will be emailed immediately to you.
    When that is paid, the church will be issued with a unique discount code for the course(s) required.
  • That code should be given to the church members wishing to train, and they must individually create a Safe Ministry Training account and enrol for whichever course they are undertaking. When entered at the checkout, that code will automatically discount the fee for the course.
  • Once the account creations and enrolment processes are complete, the course can be undertaken as normal.

It is not possible to simply make one booking for x people in the one transaction. Each individual has to create and account with their own details.

Can two or more attend a webinar together on one device?

It is very important that you attend the webinar as an individual, and not as a couple or part of a group using one device.
This is because of the interactive nature of the event and how we record each individual’s interaction in the session.

Where we cannot satisfactorily verify an individual’s attendance in a webinar they may be required to attend another session.

Suggestions for couples:
Where a couple only has access to one device they should attend separate webinars so that their individual attendance is recorded.

Suggestions for groups:
It is possible for a group of people to gather at a suitable venue to log in to their webinar at the same time, provided the following is observed:

  • Each person has individually registered for the webinar as part of their training.
  • The venue has a high enough quality internet connection to service each device used. Do not expect a domestic grade connection to serve more than 2-3 devices (unless you have a 50Mb or 100Mb NBN connection). Wired connections will always work better than Wi-Fi (where possible).
  • Each person uses their own device to log into the webinar so that their attendance is recorded. We recommend a laptop or desktop, however an iPad or Android tablet can also be used. A mobile phone will NOT be a suitable device and you will be unable to complete the webinar on a phone.
  • Each person uses a set of headphones or earbuds to hear the webinar on their own device.

Attending a webinar on your iPad

Tips on having a great webinar on your iPad

First things first:

  • Make sure the iPad you are using has the current version of the Adobe Connect app installed. This is free and available in the iTunes App Store.
  • Make sure your confirmation email for the webinar is available on the same device.
  • Make sure you have a good strong WiFi signal for your iPad – ie: try to be close to your router or wireless access point.
  • Minimise how many other devices are connected to the internet at the time of the webinar. Perhaps ask other household members to hold back on Netflix streaming and other downloading for the duration of the webinar.

Logging in

  • At least 10 minutes before the webinar start time, open the confirmation email and click on the ‘Join’ button in the email.
    This will open your web browser and will display this page:
  • Click on the ‘Open Adobe Connect Mobile‘ button
  • This will start the app and log you into the webinar, where you will be in the ‘lobby’
  • Once logged in, wait for the advertised start time then follow the instructions given by the Presenter or Producer during the webinar.

Participating in the webinar

  • The Presenter and Producer will give instructions for participants to follow during the webinar, however there are a number of control icons that are helpful for iPad users to be aware of to help you to communicate and participate during the session.The following icons will appear on the top left of your screen as needed, once the webinar is underway:
    • Layout

      Use this button to return you to the full presentation screen layout if you have used the Q&A icon or the Poll icon.
    • Q&A

      This is how you communicate with the Presenter/Producer.
      To enter a question, touch the ‘speech bubble’ icon that appears in the list of control icons. This will make the Q&A pod come to the foreground. Touch ‘ask a question’, type your question, then hit ‘Done’ to submit your question to the Producer.
      Touch the layout icon to return to the main presentation screen. Any response from the Producer will appear under your question in the Q&A pod.
    • Polls

      Polls will appear at various times throughout the webinar. To participate in the poll, touch the ‘voting’ icon that will appear in the list of control icons. This will bring the poll to the foreground. Touch the radio button next to the answer you wish to give.
      When you have selected your answer, touch the layout icon to return you the poll presentation screen.

Logging out


When the webinar has concluded, you log out by touching the ‘hamburger’ menu at the bottom left of your screen and choosing ‘logout’.
You may then close the Connect app and wait for your follow-up email in 24 hours time.

Tips on having a great webinar

Tips on having a great webinar

PREPARING FOR THE WEBINAR
  • Laptop/desktop computer: Using a laptop or desktop computer is recommended as it provides the best experience. No additional software is needed – the webinar will be accessed through your web browser (we would recommend using Chrome).
  • iPad/tablet: If you are using an Apple iPad or Android tablet make sure you have the current version of the Adobe Connect app installed. This is free and available for different devices/platforms here:
  • Mobile phone: Do NOT attempt to take part in the webinar on a mobile phone (no matter how big it is) – you will not be able to participate fully in the webinar on a phone.
  • Your confirmation email for the webinar must be available on the device you will be using for the webinar.
  • If your internet connection is via Wi-Fi, make sure you have a good strong Wi-Fi signal for your device – i.e., try to be close to your router or wireless access point.
  • You might be surprised at how many devices use the internet connection in our homes! Minimise how many other devices are connected to the internet at the time of the webinar. Perhaps ask other household members to hold back on Netflix streaming and other downloading for the duration of the webinar.
LOGGING IN
  • At least 10 minutes before the webinar start time, open the confirmation email and click on the ‘Join’ button or the login URL in the email.
  • Depending on what device you are using the webinar will open in your browser (for laptop & desktop computers) or it will open directly in the Adobe Connect app (for iPads and tablets). If you are prompted to ‘Open in browser’ or ‘Open in app’ please choose the option that is relevant for your device.
  • Once you are logged in, you should check that your audio is working OK (follow the instructions on the screen). Remember, you do NOT need a webcam or microphone to participate in the webinar.
TROUBLE SHOOTING AUDIO ISSUES

If you experience audio issues once the webinar starts, try the following measures:

  • click on the SMT Webinar Room button at the top of the screen to test your speakers
  • if you have logged in via a web browser on a laptop or desktop computer
    • refresh your browser page – click the circular arrow next to the web address at the top of the screen, or press Ctrl + R (for Windows devices) or Cmd + R (for Mac devices)
    • check if audio is muted/blocked for the website – right click the tab for the Adobe Connect website and a menu will drop down. If the site is muted, choose ‘Unmute site’ from the list
    • log out and log back in – close your browser tab by clicking on the ‘x’, then use the ‘Join’ button in your confirmation email to re-join the session (you may need to persist with this a few times as there can be issues that interfere with your connection as you join the session)
  • if you have logged in via the Adobe Connect app on an iPad/tablet
    • log out and log back in – close your app by double-clicking the home button, then swipe the Adobe Connect app to the top of the screen. Use the ‘Join’ button in your confirmation email to re-join the session (you may need to persist with this a few times as there can be issues that interfere with your connection as you join the session)
    • un-install and re-install the app – touch and hold the app and choose ‘delete’ from the options that appear, then use the links in your confirmation email to re-install the app and log back in (there may have been issues that corrupted the installation of the app)

What happens if my course enrolment expires before I finish the course?

The online Safe Ministry Essentials and Refresher course both have an enrolment period of six months.
You should complete all the self-paced topics, the live webinar and the post-webinar topic within that period.

If your course enrolment (six months) expires before you can complete your training (including the webinar and post webinar Topic), then you will need to ‘Enrol‘ and pay for your course again, which will gain you an additional enrolment period, and you will need to start your course from the beginning .

Tips and Tricks – web browsers

Tips and Tricks – web browsers

If you experience problems progressing in the courses, the chances are that doing some simple maintenance on your web browser will fix it.
This involves clearing the browser cache and/or cookies.
Here’s a list of simple instructions on how to do that for common browsers.

NOTE: If this looks too technical for you, either seek local help or simply try another browser. We are unable to assist individuals with technical problems with their device.

Chrome – desktops and laptops

  1. On your computer, open Chrome.
  2. At the top right, click the menu button (three vertical dots).
  3. Click More tools, then click Clear browsing data.
  4. At the top, choose a time range. To delete everything, select All time.
  5. Next to “Cookies and other site data” and “Cached images and files” check the boxes.
  6. Click Clear data.
  7. NOTE: Try just clearing the ‘Cached images and files’ first and see if that helps.

Chrome – Android devices

  1. Tap Chrome menu > Settings.
  2. Tap (Advanced) Privacy.
  3. From the “Time Range” drop-down menu, select All Time.
  4. Check Cookies and Site data and Cached Images and Files.
  5. Tap Clear data.
  6. Exit/quit all browser windows and re-open the browser.

Chrome – iPads and iPhone

  1. Open Google Chrome on your iPhone or iPad and tap the Options
  2. Tap Settings
  3. Scroll down and tap Privacy.
  4. Tap Clear Browsing Data.
  5. Select which Browsing Data to clear (Browsing History, Cookies, Site Data, Cached Images and Files) then Tap Clear Browsing Data.
  6. Tap Clear Browsing Data again to confirm your selection.

Firefox – Windows

  • Click the menu button Fx57Menu and choose Options.
  • Select the Privacy & Security panel.
  • In the Cookies and Site Data section, click Clear Data….
  • Remove the check mark in front of Cookies and Site Data.
  • With Cached Web Content check marked, click the Clear button.
  • Close the about:preferences page. Any changes you’ve made will automatically be saved.

Firefox – Android devices

  1. Tap the menu icon located at the top right corner. …
  2. Tap Settings.
  3. After that, you will be taken to the settings screen. …
  4. You will then be taken to a list of what can be cleared. Hint: try leaving cookies intact first.
  5. After those have been selected, tap the Clear data button to actually clear the cache and cookies.
Safari 14.0 (Mac)
  1. In the Safari app  on your Mac, choose Safari > Preferences, click Privacy, then do any of the following:
    • Remove stored cookies and data: Click Manage Website Data, select one or more websites, then click Remove or Remove All.
      Removing the data may reduce tracking, but may also log you out of websites or change website behaviour.
    • See which websites store cookies or data: Click Manage Website Data.

Microsoft Edge

  1. Open the Settings Menu. In the top right hand corner you’ll see three dots in a horizontal line. …
  2. Locate Clearing Browsing Data. …
  3. Choosing What to Clear. …
  4. Restart the Browser.