Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable
Adults Policy
You may have children or grandchildren that attend this Parish, you may be elderly or have elderly relatives who are ministered to by volunteers from the Parish. At any age, anyone of us could be considered a vulnerable adult at anytime through illness, grief/loss, separation or financial stress. No matter the scenario, we want you to know that the church is making every effort to protect everyone in our Church, especially the most vulnerable.
As a parish we are committed to the highest standards of recruitment, screening, and selection of all of our employees and volunteers. We undertake intentional strategies to maintain a safe and healthy ministry environment for all. With your help monitoring and implementing this policy, our Parish can ensure the safety of our children and vulnerable adults is protected.
POLICY STATEMENT
Here at St John’s Wood/The Gap Parish we are committed to upholding the Archdiocesan Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults Policy which states:
The Church loves all her children like a loving mother, but cares for all and protects with a special affection those who are smallest and defenceless. This is the duty that Christ himself entrusted to the entire Christian community.
This means that everyone in the church must ensure that the fundamental rights of children, young people and vulnerable adults are respected. This will be achieved through the development of respectful relationships and a commitment to safety embracing appropriate boundaries, behaviours and practices, in accordance with the Archdiocese of Brisbane Code of Ethical Behaviour for employees and volunteers who work in service of the Church as well as adherence to the legislative imperatives of the State.
Local Safeguarding Representative
Our Local Safeguarding Representative is Ann Lister. She can be contacted at the Parish office on Thursdays and
Fridays on (07) 3300 6099 or by email at poa2.thegap@bne.catholic.net.au
Within the Archdiocese, safeguarding includes the actions undertaken to promote the protection and well-being of those who engage with the Archdiocese and to prevent abuse.
https://brisbanecatholic.org.au/safeguarding/
Link to Safeguarding Incident Report Form
Archdiocesan Safeguarding Commitment
Archdiocesan Safeguarding Policy
Archdiocesan Safe Conduct Standards
Safeguarding News
New laws targeting sexual offences against children
The Government has introduced new laws that target behaviour which ignores or conceals child sexual abuse. The new laws mean that all adults in Queensland now have a legal duty to:
- report sexual offending against children by other adults to the police; and
- protect children from the risk of sexual abuse by other adults in an institution (e.g. a school, church or sporting club).
The laws commence on 5 July 2021 and carry up to 5 years imprisonment.
Can all parish volunteers and parishioners please ensure you familiarise yourselves with this information, particularly those involved in child-related activities.
For more information please go to: https://www.qld.gov.au/law/crime-and-police/types-of-crime/sexual-offences-against-children/laws
SAFEGUARDING TRAINING
The Queensland Government has implemented new laws to increase the protection of children from sexual abuse and which place new legal obligations on all adults in Queensland. It is important that all Archdiocesan volunteers have an understanding of those legal obligations.
Click on the below link to watch a short presentation on the new laws. The presentation aims to raise awareness of the laws, and the process for reporting child sexual abuse suspicions that arise while working for the Archdiocese.
Video – News Laws to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse
After you have watched the presentation, a Confirmation of Completion form must be submitted for compliance purposes. This can be done by online or hardcopy form (see the below links). Hardcopy forms will need to be verified (signed) by the relevant parish, ministry or community before being forward to the People & Culture (HR) Office.
IMPORTANT – Safeguarding training that is not properly registered with the People & Culture (HR) Office will not be recognised for compliance.
Online – Confirmation of Training Completion form
Hardcopy – Confirmation of Safeguarding Training Completion form
The Archdiocese of Brisbane has two safeguarding training modules, Applied Safeguarding Training (level 2) and training for Local Safeguarding Representatives.
Below are links to access the training modules online.
IMPORTANT – Archdiocesan clergy and employees will be allocated the relevant safeguarding training via the internal Arch e-Learn online training system. Training completed by Archdiocesan clergy and employees via this website will not be recognised for compliance.
Applied Safeguarding Training (level 2 – Mandatory for everyone)
The Applied Safeguarding training module is designed for individuals who work with children or adults-at-risk (including clergy, seminarians, religious and religious aspirants/postulants). The training builds on the knowledge gained through the Safeguarding Induction. It takes about 45 minutes to complete.
Completion of the Safeguarding Induction is a prerequisite for this training.
Working with Children or Adults-at-Risk
Working with children or adults-at-risk means undertaking activities and ministries where contact with children or adults-at-risk is part of the activity, or reasonably expected, and the contact is more than incidental (i.e. brief or in passing).
Applied Safeguarding Training video
Confirmation of Completion
After completing the training, a Confirmation of Completion form must be submitted to register the training.
This can be done by online or hardcopy form (see the below links). Hardcopy forms will need to be verified (signed) by the relevant parish, ministry or community before being forward to the People & Culture (HR) Office.
IMPORTANT – Safeguarding training that is not properly registered with the People & Culture (HR) Office will not be recognised for compliance.
Online – Confirmation of Safeguarding Training Completion form
Hardcopy – Confirmation of Safeguarding Training Completion form