Our Parish Safeguarding Commitment

Our Safeguarding Practices

Working with Children Check (WWCC)

All clergy, employees and volunteers over the age of 18 involved in parish ministries are required to maintain a current WWCC linked to the parish. Employment in a paid or voluntary capacity is subject to and conditional upon a satisfactory WWCC.

Apply for a working with children check

Listening to children​

Keeping children and young people safe from abuse and harm involves creating safe environments and encouraging their participation in decision making, where they are respected, listened to and valued.

Resources:

Australian Catholic University (ACU) Safeguarding Portal

Responding to and Reporting Child Abuse

All clergy, employees and volunteers have a duty of care to protect children and young people from harm and a moral, legal and ethical duty to effectively respond to and report all concerns, allegations or complaints of child-safety related misconduct and/or child abuse.

Any person (for example, a child, young person, parent, priest, employee, volunteer, parishioner) can make a report in relation to child-safety related misconduct and/or child abuse.

It is a requirement of the Parish Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy that clergy, employees and volunteers make a report if they have formed a reasonable belief that a child or young person has experienced abuse, is experiencing abuse or is at risk of harm (even if others do not hold a reasonable belief or do not believe a report should be made). Not reporting child safety concerns, complaints or allegations or preventing, influencing or coercing a person from making a report is a breach of the Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy and may result in disciplinary action and/or possible legal action.

Making a child abuse report involves notifying statutory authorities and the Professional Standards Unit (PSU) of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne in a timely manner (as soon as practicable after forming a reasonable belief, unless the child or young person is in imminent danger).

The Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne has a legal responsibility under the Reportable Conduct Scheme to notify current and historical incidents of suspected child abuse or misconduct of clergy, employees and volunteers to the Commission for Children and Young People.

The Professional Standards Unit (PSU) is responsible for coordinating child-safety related misconduct and/or child abuse reports in relation to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people and liaising with statutory authorities e.g. Victoria Police, Reportable Conduct Scheme – Commission for Children and Young People.

Reporting child abuse:

If you believe a child is in immediate danger, call the Police on 000.

To report concerns about the immediate safety of a child contact Child Protection:

For a list of Child Protection contacts in regional and metropolitan during business hours visit Child Protection Contacts.

After hours, call the After-Hours Child Protection Emergency Service on 13 12 78.

If the report is not in relation to an immediate risk, contact your local Police station or call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.