SAFEGUARDING
Providing a safe environment for all in our community
COMMITMENT
St Andrew’s is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for all its members, leaders, and especially its children, young people and vulnerable individuals.
PURPOSE
The aim of the Safeguarding Program is to raise awareness of our collective responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable individuals within out church.
OFFICERS
Some adults in our parish have undertaken child protection training and have been appointed to the role of Parish Safeguarding Officers. The Parish Safeguarding Officers have been selected because they have good listening skills and sufficient knowledge about safeguarding children issues. They are familiar with parish activities and are available to our volunteers and parishioners to help us create an ever more child-friendly and child-safe environment in our parishes.
Protecting Children in the Catholic Church
The Perth Catholic Archdiocese is committed to the safety and security of all children and young people.
The Diocese recognises the need to protect children, young people and vulnerable adults and aims to achieve this through the Safeguarding Project. The Project is child focused and informed by a fundamental belief that children have the right to physical and psychological safety at all times.
Policies and proceedures have been put in place throughout the parish and all clergy, staff and volunteers are required to comply with the policy, procedures and practices outlined in the project. Trained Safeguarding Officers have been appointed your parish and their role is to assist you in all matters pertaining to concerns regarding the safety of children and vulnerable adults.
Parish Safeguarding Officers
If you have any concerns about a person in the parish or about a child protection or child safety issue, you can discuss it with our Parish Safeguarding Officers:
SANDRA LONG
Safeguarding Officer
sandra1965@iinet.net.au
TONY SUMMERS
Safeguarding Officer
summers.tony@imcc.wa.edu.au
Roles and Responsibilities of Parish Safeguarding Officers
The role of Parish Safeguarding Officers is key to ensuring that parishes meet the Archdiocese of Perth’s safeguarding responsibilities in all aspects of service that they undertake. They will be required to:
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be a source of support, advice and information on all matters of safeguarding children and vulnerable adults in the parish
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be the first point of contact for children, vulnerable adults and other members of the parish community regarding suspicions of abuse and other safeguarding concerns
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respond to all safeguarding concerns in line with the Archdiocese’s Safeguarding Policy and Procedures manual, reporting these concerns to the Safeguarding Project Coordinator and/or other authorities, as needed
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keep the Parish Priest informed of all concerns, responses and activities relating to safeguarding children and other members of the parish community
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raise the profile of safeguarding in the parish, ensuring that it remains a high priority, and report on any issues or concerns with the implementation of the safeguarding policy and procedures
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assist with proactive measures within parishes to safeguard children
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ensure that all statutory requirements are met within parishes in respect to the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults.
Roles and Responsibilities of Parish Volunteers
Please note that all special ministers, acolytes, choir members and catechists MUST read the Archdiocese’s Safeguarding Handbook and complete Form 2 and Form 18 of the Handbook.
Documents
Below are documents relevant to the Protection of children in our community. These documents are from the National Committee for Professional Standards and include resources that are available for you to download: