Facts, FAQ, Forms & Phone Numbers
Phone numbers
Community Services (former DoCS)
Mandatory reporters…133 627
Voluntary reporters…132 111
Fax…(02) 9630 7977
www.community.nsw.gov.au
www.keepthemsafe.nsw.gov.au
Commission for Children and Young People (CCYP)
Phone…(02) 9286 7220
Fax…(02) 9286 7201
www.kids.nsw.gov.au
Police
Emergency…000
Anglican Child Abuse Report Line
Contact Persons
Nicola... 0409 454 808
Sue... 0419 018 282
Margaret... 0408 282 854
Richard... 0407 102 912
Professional Standards Unit (PSU)
Director…(02) 9265 1514
Request protocol & other documents…(02) 9265 1604
Chaplain to victims…(02) 9265 1500
Legal information
Steve Lucas (Legal Officer, Sydney Diocese)…(02) 9265 1647
Parish Risk Management Program
Forms
NSW Working with Children Check
Volunteer Declaration
Anyone who is in a child-related position (paid or unpaid) must complete this form declaring that he or she is not a ‘prohibited person' before starting to work with children in a way that involves direct contact with children but is not directly supervised at all times.
Applicant Declaration and Consent
This form must be completed and signed by preferred applicants for paid child-related positions to consent to background checks by CCYP.
Click HERE for the latest Working with Children Check forms.
Mandatory Reporters Guide.
The Mandatory Reporter Guide is a tool designed to help mandatory reporters determine if a concern for a child or young person meets the statutory threshold for reporting risk of significant harm. It provides a series of questions which lead to a decision point. Specific instructions will vary according to whether your concerns about the child or young person are reportable or not.
Possible outcomes from the MRG include:
- Report to Community Services (FaCS)
- Consult with CWU or existing referral network (for Sydney Anglican Diocese refer to PSU for this outcome)
- Document and continue relationship.
Click HERE for the Mandatory Reporters Guide.
Safe Ministry Appendix
The Safe Ministry Appendix includes all the forms and policies to support safe practice in your church.
- Applications and Supervision
- Managing Programs and Events
- Incident Reports
- General Policies
Click HERE to download Safe Ministry Appendix.
Faithfulness in Service
Important Notice
Changes to Faithfulness in Service were approved by the General Synod Standing Committee in 2011 primarily concerning the definition of bullying, what constitutes child pornographic material, standards for clergy and church workers including in areas of boundary setting, conflicts of interest, communication, discipline, and tax evasion, and expanding on the impact of abuse.
Whilst these changes have not been adopted by the Diocese of Sydney they are likely to be considered by Synod this year.
Unless and until such changes are adopted by Synod the third edition 2007 Faithfulness in Service continues to apply in the Sydney Diocese.
Click HERE to download the third edition 2007 Faithfullness in Service document.
Working with Children Check FAQ
Q. How often do I need to get forms signed by volunteers and employees?
The Volunteer/Student Declaration is current throughout a volunteer's engagement or a student's placement. A new Declaration is required when a person enters into a new volunteer role or a new student placement with you.
Applicant Declaration and Consents are signed only once, before you appoint an employee. You only get another one if you are proposing to appoint an existing employee to a new role with a different range of child-related contact.
Q. What id is permitted for leaders who don’t have photo id?
Where photo id cannot be provided, documents that meet the 100 point check are acceptable.
CLICK HERE for 100 point check list.
Q. Who can sign the declaration to verify that photo id has been sighted?
The person conducting the interview is allowed to sign the form on behalf of the employer. Generally this would mean the minister and/or his representative eg Church Warden, Assistant Minister, Synod Representative. (For further details on this CLICK HERE)
Q. Do leaders under the age of 18 need to complete a Volunteer Declaration?
Yes, there are no age restrictions. If all of the following circumstances are met any leader must sign a Volunteer Declaration (however the Sydney Diocese does recommend that any leader under 18yrs co-signs the Declaration with their parent/guardian)
- Their work primarily involves contact with children
- They have direct (face-to-face) contact with the children
- This contact occurs without direct supervision (Direct supervision is when a supervisor is on site and observes the worker for the whole time they are with children except for infrequent and short breaks)
- The supervisor has the capacity to direct the employee
(Taken from https://check.kids.nsw.gov.au/employer-guidelines.php#guideline-8_3)
Q. How long do I need to keep forms?
- Original Applicant Declaration and Consents, Volunteer/Student Declarations and Adult Household Member Consents:
Retain for at least two years after the person leaves your employment. The Commission for Children and Young People or your Approved Screening Agency will ask you for these forms if they are needed for an estimate of risk, or for auditing or monitoring. If you are not able to provide an Applicant Declaration and Consent, Volunteer/Student Declaration or Adult Household Member Consent when requested, and you do not have a reasonable excuse, you may be guilty of an offence.
- Applicant's identity documents:
The Commission for Children and Young People does not require employers to retain these documents. However, the Sydney Diocese does require that copies of the identity documents used to reach or exceed 100 points must be kept on your files.
- Employer Request for Background Check:
Retain a copy only until you receive your Check result.
- Check outcome:
Retain for at least two years after that person leaves your employment, or longer, with their other personnel records
Safe Ministry PARTICIPANT Facts
Q. How much does it cost to come to a Safe Ministry Training?
The Anglican Diocese of Sydney pays for all Safe Ministry training for member of the Anglican Church. Other denominations are welcome to attend and the following fees apply.
- $15 Part A or Part B or Refresher
Q. What course do I need to do?
- If you have never done any Safe Ministry Training you must do Safe Ministry Essentials (Part A&B)
- If you have done Safe Ministry Training you must do the Safe Ministry Refresher
-
If you are under 16 we recommend you do Safe Ministry Junior Leader's module.
Those who have completed Safe Ministry Junior Leader's module will need to do Part B when they attend their next update.
Please Note: The course is not mandatory but Junior Leaders should never be left alone with children.
Q. Where and when is the next Safe Ministry training?
Safe Ministry is run in week blocks. All dates and locations will be sent to local Anglican churches and on our website as soon as they are confirmed.
Q. Do I need to register for Safe Ministry?
No you just need to show up and fill out the registration form on the day/night. Registration will take place on the day for the first 15 minutes after the advertised start time.
Q. How often do I have to do Safe Ministry?
Everyone must do Safe Ministry Essentials (Part A&B) and then the Safe Ministry Refresher every 3 years.
Q. Can a Youthworks trainer come and do it at our church
Generally no but we can make exceptions. Contact 8268 3355 for enquiries.
Q. Can we do Safe Ministry ourselves?
Yes. You need accredited as a Local Safe Ministry Trainer and then you are free to run the training at your convenience. See Safe Ministry TRAINER Facts.
Q. Do ordained clergy need to complete/update Safe Ministry?
The Archbishop provides training for current Ministers. These three-yearly Faithfulness in Service seminars are coordinated by the PSU. Pre and post ordination or appointment training is provided through Moore Theological College, Ministry Training and Development (After College Training programme) and Youthworks College. (Taken from Safe Ministry in Parishes in the Anglican Diocese of Sydney, August 2008, section 33)
Safe Ministry TRAINER Facts
Q. How much does it cost to become a Local Safe Ministry Trainer?
The Anglican Diocese of Sydney pays for all Safe Ministry training for member of the Anglican Church. Other denominations are welcome to attend and the following fees apply.
- $200 Trainer Course plus all Safe Ministry Course Resources needed to run Safe Ministry. Any updates in the material will be sent to you while your training is current.
- $250 Trainer Observation
All fees are payable prior to attending the trainer course and are not refundable after the Local Safe Ministry Trainer course has been completed.
Q. Can Local Safe Ministry Trainers run training in any church?
No, Local Safe Ministry Trainers can only run the training for members of their church. Smaller parishes can agree to have one trainer approved to run the training in multiple parishes. Trainers need to inform Youthworks if they are training for multiple parishes.
Q. Can members from other churches come to my church for training?
No, Local Safe Ministry Trainers can only run the training for members of their church. See answer above for exception and solution to not having a suitable person.
NB. While this is our policy if people do attend unexpectedly then they are allowed to do the training and should be issued with the appropriate certificate acknowledging the training is complete.
Q. How do I become a Local Safe Ministry Trainer?
- Attend Safe Ministry Training- Leading and Protecting Children and Young People.
- Attend Trainer Seminar.
- Be Observed Training either ‘Protecting Children and Youth’ or ‘Safe Ministry Refresher’. This observation is to be done by a Youthworks Safe Ministry Trainer.
- Be accredited as a Local Safe Ministry Trainer. Subject to a satisfactory observation.
Q. What must I do to maintain my accreditation?
Local Safe Ministry Trainers must attend an update training every 3 years to maintain Accreditation.
Safe Ministry TRAINING Facts
These facts are all covered in detail in the Safe Ministry Training notes. It is recommended you refer to the notes for a more detailed answer. Further answers can also be found at http://www.community.nsw.gov.au
Q. Who is a Mandatory Reporter in a church context?
Any paid worker or any person who manages a ministry area. For example if you are responsible for supervising the crèche helpers then you are a mandatory report. We recommend you report the incident to your senior minister and make a joint report.
Q. Who can I call for advice about a safe ministry situation in our church?
Professional Standards Unit (PSU) provide support and advice for individuals and churches.
Phone 9265 1514
Q. Who do I call to make a report?
- Community Services 132 111
-
Keep Them Safe Support Line 1800 772 479
(if you are not sure if you need to report) -
Anglican Church Abuse Report Line 1800 774 945
(if the person is a past/present church worker)
Q. When should I make a report?
Members of the community and mandatory reporters who suspect, on reasonable grounds, that a child or young person is at risk of significant harm (the statutory threshold) should report their concerns to the Child Protection Helpline. This risk includes neglect, physical, emotional and sexual abuse.
Q. What is ‘significant harm’?
Significant means that which is sufficiently serious to warrant a response by a statutory authority irrespective of a family's consent. What is significant is not minor or trivial and may reasonably be expected to produce a substantial and demonstrably adverse impact on the child or young person’s safety, welfare or well being.
Click HERE for a comprehensive guide for reporting ‘significant harm’.
Q. What about unborn children?
Mandatory reporters are not obliged to report risk of significant harm to unborn children however they are encouraged to make a report if it is appropriate.