St Margaret’s is committed to providing a safe space for all people, especially children, to worship and to connect with God. The safety of children and vulnerable people is the responsibility of us all, especially in the light of the revelations made during the Royal Commission into Institutional Child Abuse.
We have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to the abuse of children, and are working to put all possible mechanisms in place to ensure that when they come to St Margaret’s, children, young people, all people are safe to explore and deepen their relationship with God.
Parish Council regularly reviews the status of Child Safety in the parish, ensuring that we are compliant with the Diocese of Melbourne’s policies and procedures.
The Child Safe Team at St. Margaret’s consists of the Vicar, Reverend Yvette Daniel and the Child Safe Officer (see below). Any concerns re child safety can be raised with either.
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Revd. Yvette Daniel |
Email: childsafe@stmargaretseltham.org.au
Mandy Stevens has been appointed by Parish Council as our Child Safe Officer for 2024.
Mandy’s role is to act as a central contact person for any concerns raised about the safety and wellbeing of children and young people within the congregation of St Margaret’s church. This includes any complaints of misconduct against any member of the congregation or church workers.
If a child is in immediate danger, the police should be notified first before any other report
Below are the documents, policies and procedures that promote a culture of child safety here at St Margaret’s. Check them regularly for updates. Other documents are available on the Diocesan website: Making your parish child safe.
We recognise that making the church a safe place for children is an ongoing process, and we welcome feedback from children, families, and parishioners on how we can improve our procedures.
All those who work with children are required to have a Clearance for Service (if they are a lay volunteer) and a Clearance for Ministry (if they are in a ministry role licensed by the Archbishop). This page on the Diocesan website explains the process of applying for a Clearance for Service.
There are three levels of Child Safety Training. Those who require a Clearance for Service will complete Levels 1 and 2; those who have a Clearance for Ministry will complete all three levels; and those who are volunteers in any capacity will complete Level 1. The parish will cover all expenses for the costs of these courses which can be done online.
Every year we will offer Level 1 in-house training at the church to cater for those who do not wish to complete it online.
Further details about this can be found on the Diocesan website under Safe Ministry Training.
This training replaces previous training offered in the parish.