We believe every person should be safe
Christ Church, as part of the Anglican Church Diocese of Sydney, is committed to the physical, emotional and spiritual welfare and safety of all people, particularly within its own community. To ensure the safety of children and vulnerable people in our communities, the Anglican Church Diocese of Sydney , in conjunction with the Anglican Church of Australia, will –
- Carefully recruit and train its clergy and church workers,
- Adopt and encourage safe ministry practices by its clergy and church workers,
- Respond promptly to each concern raised about the behaviour of its clergy and church workers,
- Offer pastoral support to any person who has suffered abuse.
All our leaders are trained
In order to be able to lead, help, teach or supervise any children’s ministry at Christ Church, leaders need to have a Working with Children Check (WWCC) and to have completed the Safe Ministry Essentials Course. This is our Diocese’s best practice to equip all people working with children and other vulnerable people with the knowledge and understanding to do so in a manner that builds a culture of safe ministry.
Our Safe Ministry Representative
Jacquie Woods is our Safe Ministry Representative. She assists our Senior Minister David Mears and the parish to comply with the Safe Ministry requirements of the Diocese. She helps to monitor our Safe Ministry accreditation and our Working with Children Checks and she also reports on Safe Ministry systems and practice.
Safe Ministry Essentials Course
The Anglican Diocese of Sydney requires that all people working in ministry to children and youth, including ministers and assistant ministers, complete Safe Ministry Essentials. This course is also relevant for those working in ministry to other vulnerable people. This course takes around 4.5-5.0 hours.
Course contents include:
- Identifying and appointing appropriate leaders for Christian ministry
- Safe practices to protect vulnerable people
- Recognising and reporting abuse
- Providing a safe environment
Safe Ministry Refresher Course
After first completing the Safe Ministry Essentials training, the minister, assistant minister and anyone working in ministry to children and youth must complete Safe Ministry Refresher training every three years. If someone fails to complete a Refresher course within 30 days of their three year expiry, they must then do Essentials again in order to maintain currency.
This course is also relevant for those working in ministry to other vulnerable people who wish to maintain their accreditation. This training is also designed for people aged 18 years and over, but may be suitable for some 16-17 year olds.
Safe Ministry Junior Leader Course
This training module educates junior leaders on what it means to lead and protect children and vulnerable people in a ministry setting. This course is not run by the PSU, but is part of the Safe Ministry Pack, and can be run by Local Safe Ministry Trainers.
This course is also relevant for those working in ministry to other vulnerable people who wish to maintain their accreditation. This training has been designed for people aged 18 years and over, but may be suitable for some 16-17 year olds.