SafetySafeMinistryPolicy

Safe Ministry Policy

Glen Waverley Uniting Church affirm that all people have the right to be emotionally and physically safe, respected, and have their views and opinions valued at all times. We also live in a country that legislates for people’s safety. This policy has been developed to help us to live out our Biblical mandate and our responsibilities under Australian legislation.

This policy aims to:-

• Ensure that leaders and programs are safe.
• Ensure that all people are respected and valued.
• Minimise the risk of abuse, ministry misconduct and the misuse of positional power.
• Ensure that all cases of suspected abuse and ministry misconduct are handled thoroughly.

Safe Leaders

a) Safe recruitment of leaders

• We will screen all prospective leaders in our ministries, before they are appointed.
• We will have a minimum church attendance policy for all prospective volunteer leaders.

b) Adequate training of all leaders

• We require that all leaders attend a Safe Ministry Induction workshop within their first year of ministry and attend a refresher course every 3 years.
• We require all leaders to attend additional ministry-specific training as required.

c) Continued supervision of leaders

• We commit to ongoing leadership training, supervision and support for leaders.
• All leaders will agree to follow our Leader’s Conduct Covenant

d) Responding to allegations of risk of harm (abuse) and serious ministry misconduct

• All leaders will report disclosures or suspicions of child abuse, according to our Reporting Procedure.
• Where a leader has an allegation of ministry misconduct made against them we will provide support to alleged victims and perpetrators and seek appropriate denominational help for a just and fair resolution.

Safe Programs

a) Safe emotional environment in our programs

• We will afford participants, including children, a say in the programs and the activities in which they participate by; fostering and valuing their ideas; and encouraging participation.
• We will obtain appropriate information relating to the program participants, including children’s health and family situation, to ensure that we are able to care for their physical and emotional needs, in accordance with the Privacy Policy.

b) Safe physical environments

• All leaders will discharge their duty of care through the use of forms, checklists and templates for establishment and maintenance of safe environments in our church.

• A Safety Team will be appointed to establish and maintain Worker Health & Safety, fire safety, building safety, first aid, food safety, safe transport, incident and emergency procedures.

• Team leaders are to complete a written permission process annually.

Helpful Definitions

Child: a person who is under the age of 18 years

Safe Environment: discharges duty of care by taking steps to keep all those in church’s care safe, including spiritual, physical, sexual, emotional abuse (including bullying) or neglect.

The Safety Team: is responsible for the oversight of the implementation of the Safe Ministry Policy and supporting documentation and processes in Avenel-Nagambie and Seymour Uniting Church. Approval for Ministry: a written process of accountability, whereby the Safety Team and Church Council reviews safety plans for a program and grants permission for that program to proceed under the church’s name.

Safe Leader: has been through a recruitment process, understands responsibilities, is supervised and is an accountable team player. Safe Ministry Program: all risks have been assessed and events though through and planned. These programs have had permission to proceed from the Safety Team and/or Church Council.

Program Leaders: responsible for a team and programs. They jointly recruit team members and complete safety management plans for their individual programs.

Safe Church Training Agreement: under the National Council of Churches in Australia

This Safe Ministry Policy applies to all staff members and volunteer workers associated with the ministries of Uniting Church in Australia.