You are here:HomeSafeguardingSafeguarding in the Chancery and Parishes The Safeguarding Office (Chancery & Parishes) assists to develop a culture and practice of safeguarding amongst chancery staff, the clergy and parishes to protect children, young people and vulnerable adults. General Enquiries: P 02 8379 1605 E safeguarding@bbcatholic.org.au Visiting Clergy and Religious (Screening Practices): E clergy.safeguarding@bbcatholic.org.au SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN AND VULNERABLE ADULTS IS EVERYONE'S BUSINESS REDRESS & SUPPORT The Diocese of Broken Bay recognises and apologises for the failings of the Catholic Church in the past. The Chancery & Parishes of the Diocese wishes to ensure survivors are welcomed to engage with us and tell their story, and that our response will provide the survivor with a sense of safe engagement and will take all concerns seriously. The Chancery & Parishes of the Diocese will comply with civil requirements to report allegations of abuse to police and other authorities. The Chancery & Parishes of the Diocese through its learnings from the past and current commitment to Safeguarding today wishes to build culture and raise awareness of safe communities. Survivors have a right to seek legal advice and this is encouraged. Professional legal input may assist to make the most informed decision possible going forward. However, if this is not a feasible course of action, we welcome contact with the Safeguarding Office (Chancery & Parishes) who will discuss further options with you. If anyone has been abused by a member of Clergy or Workers from the Diocese of Broken Bay we encourage them to bring their complaint forward and to consider the following pathways for redress: NATIONAL REDRESS SCHEME: The National Redress Scheme is in response to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse and allows eligible survivors of institutional child sexual abuse to apply for redress in the form of monetary payments, counselling and support and direct personal responses from the responsible institution. One of the key recommendations of the Royal Commission was that a National Redress Scheme be set up. This has been established as at 1 July 2018 and the Catholic Diocese of Broken Bay has applied to be a part of this Scheme. Visit the National Redress Scheme website for further information about the Scheme, or call 1800 737 377. Who can apply? You can apply to the Scheme if: you experienced sexual abuse when you were a child (under 18 years of age) and the abuse happened before 1 July 2018, and an institution was responsible for bringing you into contact with the person who abused you, and you were born before 30 June 2010, and you are an Australian citizen or permanent resident. For more information on eligibility please click here. CIVIL REDRESS: If you are considering, or wish to commence, a claim for compensation in court and you are a person who has suffered child sexual abuse by Church personnel and are considering making a claim against the Diocese in relation to a claim of sexual abuse, we recommend obtaining legal advice about your options for compensation. Subject to the advice you receive, your lawyer may initiate contact with us directly in relation to the nature of your claim. SUPPORT SERVICES The Royal Commission have listed support services. Within the Church in Australia there are already a number of established services for victims and survivors of sexual abuse; The National Response Protocol is a framework for Catholic entities across Australia to respond consistently to people raising concerns or allegations of child sexual abuse. Catholic Social Services Australia is the national network of Catholic social services. The majority of their members provide counselling and support services. Support Groups and Services Support Services Brochure NSW Directory of Support Agencies List of support services on the Royal Commission website Knowmore An independent service with specialist trained staff to provide legal advice and information to help you consider your options about compensation, redress and other legal issues related to institutional child sexual abuse Lifeline 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention Headspace Mental health support for young people Kids Helpline 1800 551 800 Child wise Toll-free national child abuse helpline – 1800 991 099 Men’s Line Telephone and online counselling support for men 1800RESPECT National sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service Blue knot foundation Support recovery for survivors of childhood trauma Bravehearts An Australian support group Broken Rites An Australian support group Survivor & Mates Support Network (SAMSN) For men coping with the effects of childhood sexual abuse SNAP Survivors network NSW Ageing and Disability Commission Aged Care Complaints Commissioner Seniors Rights Service CHILD SAFE ORGANISATION The Diocesan community endeavours to provide a safe environment where children and young people’s rights, needs and interests are met. The Royal Commission recommended 10 child safe standards, drawing on findings and extensive research and consultation about what makes institutions child safe. These standards have been adopted at a National level as the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations. The Australian Catholic Church has also articulated a framework that promotes the safety of children, developed upon the 10 child safe standards. This framework provides the 10 National Catholic Safeguarding Standards (NCSS). The NCSS are designed to drive cultural and behavioural change and promote accountability and transparency of Catholic Church leaders and their ministries and services. (CPSL, 2018). The NSW Government has endorsed the child safe standards recommended by the Royal Commission. The OCG have produced a guide to the Child Safe Standards (PDF 7.5MB) to support organisations working with children to create, maintain and improve their child safe practices. The Standards assist to provide a regulatory framework which can be audited against and assist in reducing risk and continual improvement. The Code of Conduct of the Diocese sets out expected conduct about the behavior, relationships, attitudes and responsibilities expected of all personnel. Induction and training Staff and Volunteers (Chancery & Parishes) of the Diocese are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children and vulnerable adults safe by attending an initial induction program and ongoing education and training opportunities. All education and awareness programs developed are in line with the learnings from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse and consistent with the National Principles of a Child Safe Organisation, the National Catholic Safeguarding Standards and the NSW Child Safe Standards. The education programs place emphasis on learners developing skills that can assist in addressing the needs of the child through understanding child development, safety and wellbeing. Further, staff and volunteers are able to identify indicators of child harm, respond effectively and support appropriately. SAFE BEHAVIOURS OF THOSE WHO WORK WITH CHILDREN The Chancery & Parishes of the Diocese takes seriously the behaviour of staff towards children. There are processes and systems in place to ensure those engaged to work with children are suitable. Once they are engaged, those that work with children are monitored and concerns addressed. Legislation obligations Workers of the Chancery & Parishes fall under legislation that exists to ensure greater protection of children and contribute to our commitment of ensuring safe communities in Broken Bay. Responsibilities include: 1.The general obligation to report serious crimes to NSW Police. Department of Community and Justice and Reporting to Police Fact sheet 2.Reportable Conduct Scheme of the Office of the Children’s Guardian oversights behaviour of those engaged by the Diocese that are Working With Children Check Holders . Office of the Children’s Guardian and Responding to Reportable Conduct Fact Sheet 3. Vos Estis Lux Mundi - The Bishops Conference has and created a web page to support the Church in Australia in meeting its requirements under Pope Francis’ apostolic letter motu proprio Vos Estis Lux Mundi. It is designed especially to facilitate reports from clerics and religious regarding crimes of sexual abuse committed by clerics and religious, and the concealing of crimes of sexual abuse by Bishops and their equivalents. Ongoing Performance Monitoring Support, mentoring, oversight and supervision of those in child related work focuses on child safeguarding. Leaders within the workplace are encouraged to provide clear expectations about the worker/volunteers role and responsibilities and giving the worker/volunteer access to support and training that can equip them to perform their roles as professionally as possible and children are safe from harm. [Reference: National Catholic Safeguarding Standard 5.4] Working With Children Check The Working with Children Check is only one way our Chancery & Parishes ensure those that access children act appropriately. Those roles that are required to have a WWCC under legislation including volunteers must apply for their own Working with Children Check which is valid for five years which is then verified. The Safeguarding Office (Chancery & Parishes) manages all Working with Children Check verifications for Clergy and Chancery paid workers who are in child related roles. Parishes manage all the Working with Children Check verifications for paid workers or volunteers in child related roles. All persons with a clearance will be continuously monitored by the Office of Children's Guardian. All Chancery & Parish workers in child related roles, including volunteers, are required to renew their Working with Children’s Check prior to the expiry date. The Safeguarding Office (Chancery & Parishes) assists with advice on which roles are considered child related and require a check. Positions that are considered child related cannot be commenced until the check is verified. Key Contacts Legislation to Protect Children Visiting Clergy Visiting Religious & Lay Minister