Safeguarding

St Mary's Cathedral Parish Sale, holds the care, safety and wellbeing of children and adults at risk as an absolute necessary responsibility.

All children, young persons and adults at risk 1 have the right to feel & be safe, be heard and included in decisions affecting them.

If you are concerned that someone has been abused, is being abused, or is at significant risk of being abused in the future, you should immediately raise your concerns with of our Parish Safeguarding Officer, Tim Morrison 03 51444100

Contact via the Parish Office: (03) 5144 4100 or email  [email protected]

Remember in an emergency situation, you can call the Police on 000 for help or advice.

Our commitment is drawn from and inherent in the teaching and mission of Jesus Christ, with love, justice and the sanctity of each human person at the heart of the gospel.

The Church’s social doctrine constantly points out the need to respect the dignity of children. ‘In the family, which is a community of persons, special attention must be devoted to the children by developing a profound esteem for their personal dignity, and a great respect and generous concern for their rights’ (Apostolic Exhortation, Familiaris Consortio, 26). Indeed, it was Jesus who, when his disciples were arguing among themselves about who was the greatest, directed his attention to a little child and said to his disciples,

‘Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me’ (Mark 9.37).

Volunteers

Every person who volunteers in any way within the church or the parish at all needs to:

  1. Hold a valid Working With Children Check (WWCC) card [2] with our Parish as a named Organisation 2
  2. Complete a Volunteer Information form [3]
  3. Return your signed form to our Parish Safeguarding Officer

By signing the Volunteer Information form, you are acknowledging that you have read, understood, and agree to abide by the Parish Code of Conduct [4] for the safety of children and adults at risk.
If you need any help with any of these forms, or any other safeguarding issue, please contact our Parish Safeguarding Officer, Tim Morrison 03 51444100 or email [email protected]

[1] Bishop’s Statement of Commitment  or St Mary’s Cathedral Parish Statement of Commitment
[2] Working With Children Check (WWCC) card
[3] Volunteer and Code of Conduct form
[4] Parish Code of conduct
[5] Diocesan Safeguarding Policy

1 These are adults with diverse circumstances and experiences that increase the risk of abuse which include being elderly, having a disability, having mental illness, having cognitive impairment, having diminished capacity, having suffered previous abuse, being culturally, linguistically diverse or identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, experiencing transient risks such as bereavement or relationship breakdown or having an impairment that makes it difficult for that person to protect themselves from abuse or exploitation.

2 Personal information entered in your WWCC application is not passed on to the relevant organisations when you deal with the Department of Justice and Community Safety – It is up to the applicant to contact with the organisation.

Further information regarding Safeguarding

Catholic Diocese of Sale with links to the Policies, Guidelines, Legislation and Standards which must be followed by all Parishes.

Bishop Greg’s message for Child Safety week.

https://bit.ly/46R28B5

 

 

The Commission for Children and Young People are an independent statutory body that promotes improvement in policies and practices affecting the safety and wellbeing of Victorian children and young people. They support and regulate organisations that work with children and young people to prevent abuse and make sure they are using child safe practices.

CatholicCare exists to help with building positive relationships, and repairing connections when needed. CatholicCare is not just a program, or series of programs – they’re a safety net and a capacity builder, who aim to prevent relationship breakdowns, or help people get back on track when these issues occur. CatholicCare provides family and relationship services, relationship courses, pastoral services, refugee and asylum seeker support, and school and education support. All services are offered to the whole community, regardless of religious belief or background.

Australian Catholic Safeguarding Limited (ACSL) was established in December 2020. 

ACSL is responsible for:

  • maintaining the National Catholic Safeguarding Standards (NCSS) and assisting Catholic entities to implement the Standards and other national protocols;
  • implementing a framework for review/audit of the safeguarding practices of Catholic entities and reporting the results of those audits/reviews;
  • providing oversight of complaints management at a national level by: providing an independent process for responding to complaints against Church Authorities; providing an independent review mechanism for complaints managed by a Church Authority; and assisting Church Authorities to implement Vos Estis Lux Mundi (‘You are the light of the world’);
  • implementing and managing the continuous review of the National Response Protocol
  • administering the Australian Catholic Ministry Register (ACMR); and
  • assisting Church entities to meet their legislative obligations in relation to safeguarding and professional standards.

Lifeline crisis support and suicide prevention is available via:
Telephone: 131114
There is also a Chat service available where a counsellor can chat online with you if you’re more comfortable this way.

Resources – There are lots of help sheets here on all facets of crisis and suicide which may be assistance. They give tips, contacts, reassurance and more.

Headspace is the National Youth Mental Health Foundation providing early intervention mental health services to 12-25 year olds. Headspace can help young people with mental health, physical health (including sexual health), alcohol and other drug services, work and study support.