Child Safe Standards | Anglican Diocese of Melbourne

“As Archbishop, I am committed to ensuring that the Diocese, including its parishes and congregations, complies with these standards and I would like to assure you of the Diocese’s commitment to help and support you in that regard.”

– Archbishop of Melbourne Dr Philip Freier

The Child Safe Standards

All Victorian organisations that provide services or facilities to children (including religious bodies, parishes and authorised congregations) are required, under the Child Wellbeing and Child Safety Act 2005, to ensure that they comply with compulsory Child Safe Standards. This is to ensure that the safety of children is promoted, child abuse is prevented and allegations of child abuse are responded to properly. For full details refer to the CCYP webpage.

New Child Safe Standards apply from 1 July 2022. Refer to the New Child Safe Standards Information Sheet. Organisations must continue to comply with the current Child Safe Standards until the new Standards commence.

In complying with the child safe standards, the following principles apply as part of each standard:

promoting the cultural safety of Aboriginal children
promoting the cultural safety of children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds
promoting the safety of children with a disability

The new Standards include new requirements such as:

involving families and communities in the organisation’s efforts to keep children and young people safe
a greater focus on safety for Aboriginal children and young people
managing the risk of child abuse in online environments

Child Safe reference documents:

Implementing the Standards

CCYP require organisations to undertake a thorough self-assessment in order to form an action plan to address any gaps in compliance with the standards. Click here for the self-assessment template for parishes and congregations.

The Diocese is a complex organisation comprising over 200 parishes, congregations and other faith communities. Embedding a culture of child safety requires action at every level of the diocese from the Office of the Archbishop to the smallest parish or congregation and a commitment from their leaders, clergy and lay. Each community is expected to engage in this process of self-assessment.

The questions and resources below are intended to offer some assistance but are not exhaustive. Please refer to the Short Guide to the Child Safe Standards and the Guide for Creating a Child Safe Organisation for details of the documents and actions that are required as evidence of compliance with each standard.

The individual standards (from 1 July 2022)

Child Safe Standard 1 – Organisations establish a culturally safe environment in which the
diverse and unique identities and experiences of Aboriginal children and young people are
respected and valued

Child Safe Standard 2 – Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in organisational leadership,
governance and culture

How does your parish:

help leaders create an organisational culture that protects children from abuse?
ensure the parish’s policies and practices reflect a commitment to child safety?
ensure leadership is aware of their duties to report cases of abuse and respond in ways that protect children from abuse?
ensure staff and volunteers know and understand the Church’s commitment to child safety?
commit to continuous improvement through regular reviews and updating policies and practices, and being open to scrutiny?

The Archbishop in Council of the Diocese has approved a Code of Conduct for Child Safety for the diocese.

The Code sets out in more detail the standards of behaviour which the Anglican Church in the Diocese expects from all people associated with or representing it to ensure child safety. It is the responsibility of each Church worker to be aware of and meet these standards and, unless there are cogent reasons for not doing so, to follow the guidelines. Parishes are asked to support and promote compliance with the code.

Clergy and and those engaged in child related work are asked to sign the Statement of Commitment for Child Safety and forward it to the Parish Child Safe Officer.

As leader of the parish, are you familiar with the provisions of the Code?
Have you signed the Statement of Commitment to it as an example to others?

Child Safe Standard 3 – Children and young people are empowered about their rights,
participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously

Child Safe Standard 4 – Families and communities are informed, and involved in promoting
child safety and wellbeing

Child Safe Standard 5 – Equity is upheld and diverse needs respected in policy and practice

Child Safe Standard 6 – People working with children and young people are suitable and
supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice

Screening

The Diocese has adopted specific screening practices, referred to as Clearance for Ministry or Clearance for Service. Refer to the Safe Ministry page of this website.

Supervision

The immediate supervision of associate clergy in a parish rests with the vicar. In consultation with the vicar, the Archbishop may appoint or remove from office a deacon priest or lay minister.

As vicar, have you satisfied yourself that all clergy assisting you in the parish have the authority of the Archbishop granted by licence or permission to officiate?

The immediate supervision of lay people holding a role office or position in a parish rests generally with the vicar or their authorised agent: Parish Governance Act 2015, ss 28, 29.

As vicar, have you satisfied yourself of the fitness of those lay people holding office in the parish?
Have you delegated supervision of them to any person?
How is that monitored?
Are you familiar with the clearance provisions in the Act?

Training

All Clergy and Lay Volunteers and Employees must undertake safe ministry training. Refer to the Safe Ministry page of this website for details.

As vicar, have you ensured that all clergy and lay people holding a role, office or position have undertaken the appropriate levels of training?

Child Safe Standard 7 – Processes for complaints and concerns are child focused

Refer to the Making A Complaint webpage.

Does the parish display signs advertising Kooyoora Professional Standards?
Do regular parish communications advertise the Kooyoora complaint process?

Organisations need to ensure that children feel safe and comfortable in reporting concerns or allegations of abuse.

Does your parish have in place processes that help children understand what to do if they want to report abuse, inappropriate behaviour or concerns for their safety?
Have you sought the views of children in the parish about what makes them feel safe and unsafe?
Are the Kooyoora Professional Standards signs on display in the parish?
Have you placed suitable signs in the parish toilets?
Is there a protocol in place if children wish to raise a matter of concern?
Do the parish leaders understand and respect that protocol?

More information and resources are included in this CCYP guide.

Child Safe Standard 8 – Staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and
awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education and training

Child Safe Standard 9 – Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing
while minimising the opportunity for children and young people to be harmed

Child Safe Standard 10 – Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is regularly reviewed
and improved

Child Safe Standard 11 – Policies and procedures document how the organisation is safe for
children and young people

The Archbishop in Council of the Diocese (the governing body) has approved a number of key safe ministry documents including codes of conduct, a safe ministry policy, guidelines for child safety and a statement of commitment for child safety.

Has your parish adopted the Safe Ministry resources?
Has it been drawn to the attention of parishioners?
Is child safety a standing agenda item at parish council meetings?

Further resources

For more information relating to safe ministry, please refer to the resources on the Safe Ministry webpage. If you have a question after reviewing the resources, please email the Safe Ministry and Inclusion Officer at safeministry@melbourneanglican.org.au.

Diocesan resources (Kooyoora website)

Public Resources (Kooyoora website)

CCYP Resources and support

Child Wise – Publications

Child Wise – Posters and Fact sheets

Find a Church

Contact Us

Make a Donation

Making a complaint

Making Your Parish Safe

The Child Safe Standards

Implementing the Standards

The individual standards (from 1 July 2022)

Child Safe Standard 1 – Organisations establish a culturally safe environment in which the
diverse and unique identities and experiences of Aboriginal children and young people are
respected and valued

Child Safe Standard 2 – Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in organisational leadership,
governance and culture

Child Safe Standard 3 – Children and young people are empowered about their rights,
participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously

Child Safe Standard 4 – Families and communities are informed, and involved in promoting
child safety and wellbeing

Child Safe Standard 5 – Equity is upheld and diverse needs respected in policy and practice

Child Safe Standard 6 – People working with children and young people are suitable and
supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice

Screening

Child Safe Standard 7 – Processes for complaints and concerns are child focused

Child Safe Standard 8 – Staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and
awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education and training

Child Safe Standard 9 – Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing
while minimising the opportunity for children and young people to be harmed

Child Safe Standard 10 – Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is regularly reviewed
and improved

Child Safe Standard 11 – Policies and procedures document how the organisation is safe for
children and young people

Further resources

Wominjeka: The office of the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne stands on the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri/Woiwurrung people of the Kulin Nation.
We pay our respects to elders past and present, and affirm our commitment to the work of reconciliation.

Find a Church

Contact Us

Make a Donation

Making a complaint

Making Your Parish Safe

The Child Safe Standards

Implementing the Standards

The individual standards (from 1 July 2022)

Child Safe Standard 1 – Organisations establish a culturally safe environment in which the diverse and unique identities and experiences of Aboriginal children and young people are respected and valued

Child Safe Standard 2 – Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in organisational leadership, governance and culture

Child Safe Standard 3 – Children and young people are empowered about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously

Child Safe Standard 4 – Families and communities are informed, and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing

Child Safe Standard 5 – Equity is upheld and diverse needs respected in policy and practice

Child Safe Standard 6 – People working with children and young people are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice

Screening

Child Safe Standard 7 – Processes for complaints and concerns are child focused

Child Safe Standard 8 – Staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education and training

Child Safe Standard 9 – Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for children and young people to be harmed

Child Safe Standard 10 – Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is regularly reviewed and improved

Child Safe Standard 11 – Policies and procedures document how the organisation is safe for children and young people

Further resources

Wominjeka: The office of the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne stands on the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri/Woiwurrung people of the Kulin Nation.We pay our respects to elders past and present, and affirm our commitment to the work of reconciliation.

Child Safe Standard 1 – Organisations establish a culturally safe environment in which the
diverse and unique identities and experiences of Aboriginal children and young people are
respected and valued

Child Safe Standard 2 – Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in organisational leadership,
governance and culture

Child Safe Standard 3 – Children and young people are empowered about their rights,
participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously

Child Safe Standard 4 – Families and communities are informed, and involved in promoting
child safety and wellbeing

Child Safe Standard 6 – People working with children and young people are suitable and
supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice

Child Safe Standard 8 – Staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and
awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education and training

Child Safe Standard 9 – Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing
while minimising the opportunity for children and young people to be harmed

Child Safe Standard 10 – Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is regularly reviewed
and improved

Child Safe Standard 11 – Policies and procedures document how the organisation is safe for
children and young people

Wominjeka: The office of the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne stands on the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri/Woiwurrung people of the Kulin Nation.
We pay our respects to elders past and present, and affirm our commitment to the work of reconciliation.