Safeguarding Officer

OUR ROLE

Being part of Catholic Archdiocese of Perth’s Safeguarding Project, the role of a Safeguarding Officer is to promote awareness of our collective responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable individuals within the Catholic Archdiocese of Perth. The project, whilst working towards providing all forms of safety for children, will be focused on the prevention of abuse and harm to children and vulnerable individuals within parishes.

Valuing our young parishioners and vulnerable individuals

  • Children have a very important place in our parish. We celebrate their faith at Baptism reconciliation, First Holy Communion and Confirmation; they are the life and focus of our parish schools; their energies and initiatives play a vital role in many of our parish activities. We are always eager to encourage their active participation in parish life. Towards this end, we are committed to doing everything we can to create a safe and welcoming environment for our young parishioners, where their welfare is paramount. It is our parish policy to ensure that our children will be listened to, included, protected and supported in all activities.

Our quality commitments

  • be a source of support, advice and information on all matters of safeguarding children and vulnerable individuals in the parish.
  • be the first point of contact for children, vulnerable individuals and other members of the parish community regarding suspicions of abuse and other safeguarding concerns.
  • respond to all safeguarding concerns in line with the Archdiocese’s Safeguarding Policy and Procedures Manual, reporting these concerns to the Director Safeguarding Program and/or other authorities, as needed.
  • keep the Director Safeguarding Program informed of all concerns, responses and activities relating to safeguarding children and other vulnerable individuals of the parish community. When applicable, the parish will be informed.
  • raise the profile of safeguarding in the parish, ensuring that it remains a high priority, and report on any issues or concerns with the implementation of the safeguarding policy and procedures.
  • assist with proactive measures within parishes to safeguard children.
  • ensure all Church workers (paid and unpaid) who are in child-related work have been provided with safeguarding policies and procedures contained in the Safeguarding Handbook.
  • ensure that all statutory requirements are met within parishes in respect to the safeguarding of children and vulnerable individuals.