Safeguarding
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 recognizes 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 procedures 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.
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: be a source of support, advice and information on all matters of safeguarding children and vulnerable adults in the parish 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 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 keep the Parish Priest informed of all concerns, responses and activities relating to safeguarding children and other members of the parish community 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 assist with proactive measures within parishes to safeguard children ensure that all statutory requirements are met within parishes in respect to the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE SAFEGUARDING REPORTING PROCESS
Please find below a summary of the procedure which will be followed if you report a child safety concern:
Concern brought to Safeguarding Officer
Safeguarding Officer will listen to the concern and make a written note at a later time
The Safeguarding Officer may contact the Director of the Safeguarding Program and/or the Department for Child Protection and Family Support
If the Safeguarding Officer decides not to pass on the concern, they will provide a written record of their reasons for doing so
Remember: The Safeguarding Officer is not in a position to investigate or to determine whether the child protection concerns are evidenced or not. Their role is to pass on concerns to professionals who can.
If you feel uncomfortable contacting the Safeguarding Officers in our parish you may contact the Department for Child Protection and Family Support directly on 1800 273 889 or the Director of the Safeguarding Program by email safeguarding@perthcatholic.org.au.
A more detailed description of the reporting process can be found under Form 5 in the Safeguarding Handbook, accessible from this link http://safeguarding.perthcatholic.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Safeguarding_Handbook.pdf or from our website.
SAFEGUARDING OFFICER JOB DESCRIPTION
If you would like to know more about the Safeguarding Officer position, please follow the link below: http://safeguarding.perthcatholic.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/FT10_JD_Safeguarding-Officer_Unpaid-Church-Worker_FINAL.docx.pdf
Please contact the parish secretary or Safeguarding Officers if you would like to volunteer in this position.
FEEDBACK FORM
Please use the following link to provide feedback to the parish.
Safeguarding Handbook_Rev 6_Full Version.pdf