Uniting Church in Australia Nambucca Heads is committed to protecting the safety of all people within its programs, ministries, and events.
All people regardless of age, gender, race, culture, disability, and family/social background have equal rights to this protection.
All people (including children) have the right to be respected and valued as well as feel emotionally, physically, and spiritually safe at all times.
Our policy has been developed to uphold this commitment to safeguarding and to adhere to National and Local legislation.
Our child protection policy:
This policy applies to all staff, including senior leadership, manager, coordinators, paid staff, volunteers, students, or anyone working on behalf of Uniting Church in Australia Nambucca Heads.
The purpose of this policy:
To protect children and young people and vulnerable adults who receive Uniting Church in Australia Nambucca Heads services.
To provide staff and volunteers with the overarching principles that guides our approach to child protection.
Uniting Church in Australia Nambucca Heads believes that a child or young person should never experience abuse of any kind. We have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people and to keep them safe. We are committed to practice in a way that protects them.
Our policy aims to:
Statement of commitment to child safety:
A statement of commitment explicitly states the Uniting Church in Australia Nambucca Heads ongoing commitment to Safeguarding children, young people, and vulnerable adults.
Uniting Church in Australia Nambucca Heads is committed to ministering to children, young people and vulnerable adults by providing an environment that is physically, emotionally and spiritually safe.
Uniting Church in Australia Nambucca Heads is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all children, young people and vulnerable adults and will endeavour to provide a safe and supportive environment for children, young people, and vulnerable adults by the following safeguarding measures: Recruitment processes (screening, selection, interviews etc), WWCC, Training, Induction, Supervision and Reviews. The following values reflect the culture that we are committed to promoting within the Uniting Church in Australia Nambucca Heads; Due diligence, Integrity, Duty of Care, Transparency, Inclusivity, Collaborative Ministry, Christian ethics and the Gospel principles.
Legal framework:
This policy reflects legislation and guidance that seeks to protect children, namely:
National Legislation:
Local Legislation New South Wales:
Working with Children Checks New South Wales:
We recognise that:
WE COMMIT TO:
We will screen all prospective leaders in our ministries before they are appointed. (ie relevant working with children’s check/vulnerable people/police check.
Adequate training of leaders.
We require all leaders to attend additional specific training as required.
Have a clear code of conduct.
We will adopt and implement a Code of Conduct for all leaders and volunteers, including boundaries of behaviours and expectations of interactions with children.
Continued supervision of leaders.
We commit to ongoing training, supervision, and support for leaders.
Responding to allegations of risk of harm (abuse) and serious misconduct.
All leaders will report disclosures or suspicions of child abuse, according to our procedure. We will listen to and believe children who raise concerns.
We will ensure that procedures are clear and appropriate in responding to allegations of abuse.
Where a leader has an allegation of misconduct made against them, we will provide support to alleged victims and perpetrators and seek appropriate denominational help for a just and fair resolution.
NB: Each State/Territory has guiding legislation around responding to allegations of abuse.
Responding to other disclosures of abuse.
We will understand the process or responding to disclosures of abuse and harm including self-harm and suicide ideation.
We will ensure that appropriate training takes place to recognise and respond to indicators of abuse and neglect and receive support for all involved in the disclosure (including leaders/volunteers).
We understand that responding to abuse is not limited to children, but also includes adults without our programs and ministries who may be vulnerable at any given time where abuse could be present and that everyone understands the most appropriate steps to take in supporting our vulnerable people within our community.
We will afford participants a say in the programs and the activities in which they participate by fostering and valuing their ideas and encouraging participation. We will be accountable and transparent.
We will create a child-friendly environment, allowing people to raise their concerns in an appropriate manner. We will obtain, appropriate information relating to the program participants, including children’s health and family situation, to ensure that we are able to care for their physical and emotional needs.
Understanding and value diversity.
We will be mindful in our approach for all programs to be inclusive for all people. This includes adapting programs for anyone with a disability to receive access to various programs and ministries, as well as provide adequate training for leaders.
We will be sensitive to those from ‘Culturally and Linguistically Diverse’ (CALD) backgrounds and those with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities with our programs, information, support and services. As well as upholding respect to all cultures and encourage the participation of all people and recognise their unique contribution to our community.
DEFINITIONS:
Abuse: Abuse and neglect includes but is not limited to:
Child: A person who is under the age of 18 years.
Disclosure: A disclosure occurs when someone informs a person in authority/leadership or a trusted adult within the church/community that they have been subject to abuse or knows of abuse. A disclosure may or may not be allegation or a notifiable circumstance, but it is the responsibility of the person in authority to investigate and take any appropriate action.
Safe Environment: Discharges duty of care by taking steps to keep all those in our care safe, including spiritual, physical, sexual, emotional abuse or bullying and neglect.
Safe Leader: Has been through a recruitment process, understands responsibilities, is supervised and is an accountable team player.
Safe Program: All risks have been assessed and events thought through and planned.
SCTA: Safe Church Training Agreement under the National Council of Churches in Australia; Safe Church Program.
Vulnerable Person: A person who may be considered to be susceptible to abuse or exploitation based on factors such as their health status (physical or mental) age, grief, previous experience of abuse, social isolation or financial hardship. In this sense vulnerability can be temporary or permanent.
We are committed to reviewing our policy and good practice annually.