The Glen Waverley Uniting Church PSALTER
Working With Children Check Policy
For a shorter version see WorkingWithChildrenCheck For updated UCA policy, see the Synod web site (2024).
The Uniting Church in Australia believes that all people, including children, are made in the image of God. As a Christian community we believe that God reaches out to us in love and acceptance, and that our relationships with each other should express love, care and respect.
The Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of Victoria and Tasmania (the Synod) is committed to ensuring that children who participate in Uniting Church activities, programs and events are safe and led by adults who have obtained a positive Working with Children Check (Victoria and NSW) and the Working with Children Registration (Tasmania) as required by legislation.
All entities of the Uniting Church (UnitingCare agencies, schools, camps, programs and congregations) are expected to meet the requirements of the Working with Children legislation. This policy is inclusive of all entities; however it focuses on the particular application of the legislation to congregations.
The Synod has developed the Keeping Children Safe policy as an overarching policy for the whole church. This Working with Children Check/Registration policy should be read in conjunction with both the Keeping Children Safe policy and the Safe Church policy.
Purpose of the Working with Children Check/Registration (WWCC/R) policy
The objective of this policy is to ensure that children and young people participating in UCA activities, programs and events are safe. Before any person can work with children or young people, an appropriate screening process must be undertaken. By doing this the church is saying to its members and to the wider community that we are doing all we can to ensure the children in our care are safe. The Working with Children Check/Registration screens people’s criminal records and is one way to assist in preventing those who pose an unjustifiable risk to children from working with or caring for them.
Some congregation members and volunteers experience a request to obtain a WWCC/R as a lack of trust in them, which they find confronting. This is especially true when a request is made after years of faithful service to the church. Being asked to obtain a WWCC/R is not a reflection on the person. The position of trust they hold (or are being considered for) is a clear indication that they are seen to be trustworthy. However, community standards have shifted, new laws are in place and the church must ensure it can demonstrate that its leaders are able to be trusted. The Policy also says clearly to any individual who would not receive a positive check/registration that the Uniting Church is very serious about ensuring the safety of children in its care and is consequently vigilant about enacting appropriate screening processes and practices on anyone seeking to be involved in programs, activities or events with children and young people in our church.
Obtaining a WWCC/R is only one part of a system to help keep children safe in our church. This includes appropriate screening and selection procedures when choosing staff and volunteers as well as adopting and implementing Synod Safe Church practices and policies.
Who needs to have a Working with Children Check/Registration (WWCC/R)?
Ministers, pastors, lay preachers, lay leaders, appointed leaders and volunteers who are 18 years and over (Victoria & NSW) and 16 years and over (Tasmania) and who work with children and/or young people as part of a congregation, Presbytery or Synod activity, program or event, whether as a volunteer or in a paid role, must have a WWCC/R. This includes parent helpers who are working with children other than their own.
Legislated WWCC/R requirements apply in Victoria, Tasmania and NSW. While each State’s legislation is different, the intention of this policy is to simplify the requirements so they are consistent across the Synod. In some states this may mean that our policy goes beyond the basic minimum requirements as defined in that state’s legislation.
In the congregation, the Church Council is responsible for advising those individuals who require a WWCC/R. It must document this decision and the process for monitoring implementation in the Church Council minutes and ensure it is recorded in an appropriate register.
Ministers and Pastors
are all required to have a WWCC/R. This is a legislated requirement.
Volunteers, Lay Leaders, Lay Preachers and Employees
While there is some variation in the requirements from state to state, the Synod requires that all who fill particular roles where they have contact with children and young people in programs, events and activities run on behalf of congregations, presbyteries or the Synod have a WWCC/R. This includes, but is not limited to, Lay Preachers, Elders, Church Councillors, worship leaders, anyone commissioned by the Church Council to perform a leadership role, music leaders, organists and Bible study leaders.
Congregations and programs are requested to add to this group any other persons involved in activities within their bounds where it is reasonably expected the person might have contact with children as they fulfil their role.
Glen Waverley have added: CouncilMinutes20160418
- All leaders who photographs appear on the directory of leaders in the foyer.
All members of RosterGreeting and RosterDoor.
Synod position regarding exemptions
Retired Ministers who are exercising any form of active ministry (including marriages, funerals, supply ministry, pastoral care/visiting or leading worship) must have a current WWCC/R. The only exemption is for a retired minister who never leads worship, never makes a pastoral visit, and never conducts funerals or weddings. Minsters who fit this description should contact the appropriate church office to ensure their name has been removed from the marriage celebrant registrar.
Professional Employment (eg teachers, police officers, lawyers) exemptions vary from state to state. Therefore the Synod requires all volunteers to obtain a WWCC/R regardless of whether they are exempt due to their profession under their own state legislation.
Exemption due to direct supervision – Victoria only Victoria’s legislation exempts persons involved in child -related work who are ‘directly supervised’ by someone who holds a WWCC from requiring a WWCC themselves. Supervising another person’s contact with children must be personal and immediate but can include a brief absence, such as taking a phone call in another room. This sort of supervision could be used for situations of ad hoc leadership, however, it should not be used in any ongoing capacity. When ‘direct supervision’ is used, it should be documented by the church council or by the organiser of an event, program, activity or camp, including the name of the volunteer/worker, the name of the person in the supervision role, the date and location, the event and the way the person without a WWCC is involved.
Failure to obtain or cancellation/suspension of a Working with Children Check/Registration (WWCC/R)
Failure to obtain a WWCC/R is referred to as a Negative Notice (Victoria), Refusal (Tasmania) and being Barred (NSW). A negative notice, refusal or bar may be issued either on initial application or if an individual’s WWCC/R has been suspended or cancelled. This will indicate that the person is not suitable for participation in child -related programs, activities or events or in any leadership role. It is paramount that the church council or program, activity or event organisers remove this person from leadership and from having access to children immediately.
It is also very important that if you receive a Negative notice you immediately contact the Synod General Secretary ([email protected] or 03 9251 5215). Penalties apply for failure to act immediately.
Registering your Working with Children Check/Registration (WWCC/R) in the Synod’s database
NB. Individuals will need to complete the application process as outlined on pages 5 and 6 prior to being added to the database. In Victoria, congregations are required to enter their persons with a WWCC on the Synod’s secure online database. Each congregation, presbytery or event should have a Contact Person such as the Church Secretary, Minister or another specified person. This person will be responsible for registering each person from their congregation or event who has a WWCC in the congregation/event’s own secure section of the Synod database.
To apply for a WWCC in Victoria
In Victoria you must complete the on-line application form at https://online.justice.vic.gov.au/wwccu/onlineapplication.doj
- If you do not have a computer or internet access please contact your minister, employer, event/program organiser or presbytery or visit your local library.
- Organisation details: When prompted to enter the details of the organisations you are involved in please list both:
Glen Waverley Uniting Church, Level 2, Wesley Place, 130 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne Victoria 3000. Contact 03 9116 1400 or [email protected]. Note that this is a new address for Synod, that should be entered when renewing cards, but existing cards do not need to be changed.
Glen Waverley Uniting Church, 10-12 Bogong Ave, Glen Waverley, 3150. Contact ChurchOffice
Further information can be found on the WWCC website http://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/utility/home/