Our commitment is drawn from, and inherent to, the teaching and mission of Jesus Christ, with love, justice and the dignity of each human person at the heart of the Gospel. This commitment ensures a safe and nurturing environment where all children can thrive and participate fully in the life of the church.

Newly released, continuous improvement

The Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne have in place policies and procedures to demonstrate our commitment to creating a safe and welcoming environment for our children and young people and be prepared to respond to allegations of abuse and misconduct in our parish.

The foundational policy Safeguarding and Wellbeing of Children and Young People Policy (SWCYP Policy).

The Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne has set out clear guidelines for reporting abuse or safety-related misconduct. Here is a copy of the Reporting abuse or safety misconduct flowchart.

The Safeguarding Unit at the Catholic Archdioces of Melbourne was established to ensure the protection of children and vulnerable individuals and fostering a safe, supportive environment with the church community.

The Safeguarding Committee established to act as the advisory to the Parish Leaders Team with promoting and implementing the requirements of the Safeguarding Children and Young People policy and compliance with requirements of the child-safety standards frameworks. Safeguarding Committee comprises clergy, employees and volunteers.

All clergy, employees and volunteers over the age of 18 involved in parish ministries are required to maintain a current Working With Children Check (WWCC) linked to the parish. Employment in a paid or voluntary capacity is subject to and conditional upon a satisfactory WWCC. The WWCC is a screening process for assessing or re-assessing people who work with or care for children and vulnerable adults. (Note: a current Victoria Institute of Teaching (VIT) covers WWCC and Police Check)

Once you have received your WWCC or VIT, please register it with Sacred Heart Parish.

A Police Record Check can provide important information (in addition to the Working with Children Check) that can be used to assess a person’s suitability to work and/or volunteer with children and young people. The assessment of criminal history information is designed to ensure that the parish does not knowingly expose children and young people to a person that may place them at risk.

All clergy and employees are required to undertake a Police Record Check. Police Record Checks are required for volunteers in high risk roles involving children and young people within Archdiocesan parishes. These roles include children's liturgy volunteers, choir members, parish leaders, counters, sacristans, collectors, age care volunteers, and youth groups members. If you are unsure, please contact the parish office.

Once you have received your Police Record Check, please register it with Sacred Heart Parish.

The Safeguarding Children and Young People Code of Conduct Declaration (‘the declaration’) is required to be signed by all Church personnel to state that they have read and understood the behaviours and conduct expected of them, and agree to comply with this code. This document should be read in conjunction with the Safeguarding and Wellbeing of Children and Young People Policy (SWCYP Policy).

Once you have signed, please forward it to Sacred Heart Parish.

This compulsory module has been developed for all clergy, employees and volunteers of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne. This module will provide you with foundational knowledge in relation to safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults from abuse and harm. Completing this module affirms your commitment and that of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne to the safety and care of those most in need.

You will need to provide your WWCC or VIT number to login the online training.

These videos are for the leadership teams and safeguarding committee. They were developed to inform parish leadership of best practices. The videos cover risk assessment, cultural awareness and reporting requirements.