We are committed to the implementation of the Child Safe Standards and welcome the introduction of the Child Safe Scheme in New South Wales.
This info sheet outlines in greater detail the ways that the Presbyterian Church is meeting this standards at a policy level, and the ways that churches can show that they are implementing them locally. It is a helpful guide to use in preparation for the BTS Audit.
Download the Info SheetThe Child Safe Standards are a set of expectations for organisations (including churches) that are legislated in NSW under the Children’s Guardian Amendment (Child Safe Scheme) Bill 2021. This amendment established the ‘Child Safe Scheme’ as a framework in which the Office of the Children’s Guardian requires all relevant entities, such as the Presbyterian Church NSW, to implement the Standards. The ten standards relate to an organisation’s culture, processes and environment, outlining the key principles that help cultivate child safety at all levels.
The Presbyterian Church is committed to making our churches safer for children and vulnerable people, and the Conduct Protocol Unit (CPU) has ensured that the various Child Safe Standards are embedded within the Breaking the Silence policy and procedures. This provides our Church with the framework it needs to meet the requirements of the Child Safe Scheme. What remains is for each congregation to play their part in making sure that their practices align with the standards at a local level through the comprehensive implementation of Breaking the Silence.
From 2023, Presbyterian churches in NSW can be audited by the Office of the Children’s Guardian to provide evidence of how they are implementing each of the standards.
In 2023, the Office of the Children’s Guardian will begin auditing relevant entities for compliance with the Child Safe Scheme. The CPU will be actively working with churches through our own audits, training, advice and requests to help congregations meet the expected standard. Our aim is to support congregations in this process.
1: Child safety is embedded in organisational leadership, governance and culture. We need to ensure that commitment to the principles and practices of Breaking the Silence is being demonstrated by all levels of church leadership, and that this helps solidify a culture that prioritises the safety of the vulnerable.
2: Children participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously. We need to make sure that children are seen as valued members of our church communities, and that they are made to feel respected and included. We need to always be interacting with children in a way that reinforces that they will always be heard and believed, and that help is available.
3: Families and communities are informed and involved. We need to be making parents, carers and families aware that they are able to provide suggestions and feedback in relation to the things that impact their children. We need to be creating opportunities for them to be included in their children’s activities and to be consulted about their children’s needs.
4: Equity is upheld, and diverse needs are taken into account. We need to be treating all people with respect and consideration. We need to be aware of the different needs represented within our communities and seeking to remove any barriers that may prevent people from being heard and supported. We need to be welcoming, accessible and sensitive.
5: People working with children are suitable and supported. We need to be making sure that people in leadership roles are carefully considered before being appointed by Session. We need to be following the Breaking the Silence selection, screening and training requirements, and making sure that support is given to people serving these roles.
6: Processes for complaints of child abuse are child focused. We need to take all allegations of abuse seriously and follow the correct process for reporting notifiable circumstances to the CPU. We need to make sure that we’ve thought about how we would sensitively respond to a disclosure so that people are given access to the help they need. We need to be advocates for those who can’t speak up for themselves.
7: Staff are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children safe through continual education and training. We need to be committed to complying to the training requirements for all leaders and helpers and to use every opportunity to review and improve our ministry practices. We need to provide our ministry teams with relevant resources, such as those on the Breaking the Silence website.
8: Physical and online environments minimise the opportunity for abuse to occur. We need to ensure that all arrangements for ministry activities (in person or online) uphold the principles of accountability and transparency. We need to proactively keep records, adopt approaches and enforce boundaries that minimise the opportunity for abuse to take place.
9: Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is regularly reviewed and improved. We need to make safe ministry a consideration every time we plan a new ministry activity or event. We need to make the principles of Breaking the Silence part of church culture so that we are constantly reviewing our practices and taking on the advice of the CPU. We need to be keeping records that evidence our implementation of Breaking the Silence.
10: Policies and procedures document how the organisation is child safe. We need to be communicating our commitment to the Breaking the Silence Policy and Procedures. We need to make sure that our leaders are familiar with these documents and that this is evident in their practice.
This info sheet outlines in greater detail the ways that the Presbyterian Church is meeting this standards at a policy level, and the ways that churches can show that they are implementing them locally. It is a helpful guide to use in preparation for the BTS Audit.
Download the Info Sheet