Glen Waverley Uniting Church

Concerns of Abuse or Risk of Significant Harm

Reporting Procedure

Anyone working with vulnerable adults or children/young people regularly may come face-to-face with what may be cases of abuse. However, when our limited knowledge of a situation is combined with the factors that influence our perception, it can be difficult to be objective in our judgment.

To assist our decision-making, there are guidelines provided by state government legislation and the Uniting Church in Australia for responding appropriately when there are concerns that someone is being, or has been, abused.

Vulnerable adults:

• Criminal allegation towards a vulnerable adult is to be reported to the police and other local health services.
• Allegations of bullying, sexual harassment, spiritual abuse or heretical teaching also need to be responded to compassionately and justly.
• Allegations of serious ministry misconduct or abuse by church leaders against vulnerable adults need to be reported. In the case of an allegation against a minister this is reported to the Ethical Standards Officer. In the case of an allegation against a church appointed volunteer to the minister or Safety Concerns Person (this contact person is listed on church noticeboards).
• In a suicide attempt or threat, or other situations where a person’s mental health may be placing self or others at risk of harm contact the police or/and mental health crisis service.
• For concerns about people with special needs (eg intellectual or physical disability or mental health concern) speak to the minister or Safety Concerns Person. They may seek from relevant health services.
• Complete the ‘Safe Church Concerns Anecdotal Record’ to notify the Safety Concerns Person regarding the vulnerable adult’s situation.

Children and young people:

• Child abuse is in direct opposition to Jesus’ words about welcoming children (Matthew 19:14) and loving one another (John 13:34).
• The definition and interpretation of what is abusive have broadened over the past 40 years to include neglect, emotional, sexual, physical abuse, exposure to domestic violence and more recently electronic sexual grooming. The emphasis has also shifted to from investigations of abuse after the fact, to the prevention of abuse through the assessment of whether a child or young person has or is likely to suffer harm.

• A working definition of child abuse or maltreatment: physical, emotional, sexual abuse and or neglect resulting in harm to the child’s health, survival, development or dignity, often in the context of a relationship of responsibility, trust or power.

• There are reasonable grounds to report abuse if:-
  • a child tells you they have been or at risk of being abused
  • someone else tells you that they know of a child who has been or is at risk of being abuse
  • you have concerns that the child may have been or is at risk of being abused based on their physical appearance or behavior
• Many people are hesitant about making a judgment about abuse occurring in case their perception is incorrect. You are not required to establish or investigate is abuse has occurred. Your role is only to report your reasonable suspicions or concern of abuse, including the grounds of your concern to the minister or Safety Concerns Person using the ‘Risk of Significant Harm Form’.
• In a suicide attempt or threat, or other situations where a person’s mental health may be placing self or others at risk of harm contact the police or/and mental health crisis service.