An online global informational package describing diocesan safeguarding structures, policies and processes. The module discusses:

• the diocesan safeguarding framework policy
• the Diocese’s Safeguarding Commitment Statementand codes of conduct
• the role of the Office of Safeguarding
• indicators of abuse and neglect and how to support a child to disclose to a staff member
• reporting obligations
• safeguarding risk management including e-safety
• complaints handling policy and procedures.

The module is an audio-visual package with written information presented through mnpeople.  

The module includes a competency assessment quiz at the completion of the presentation. All employees, clergy and religious are automatically registered by mnpeople as having completed the module when they have successfully achieved a correct score of 80% or higher in the competency assessment quiz. 

This module is to be completed by all paid workers, clergy and religious; irrespective of whether they are in child-related work or not, within two months of commencing employment and repeated annually thereafter.

COMING SOON

An online global informational package describing diocesan safeguarding structures, policies and processes.  The module discusses:

• the diocesan safeguarding framework policy
• the Diocese’s Safeguarding Commitment Statementand codes of conduct
• the role of the Office of Safeguarding
• indicators of abuse and neglect and how to support a child to disclose to a staff member
• reporting obligations
• safeguarding risk management including e-safety
• complaints handling policy and procedures.

This module can be accessed online by the individual or facilitated in a group setting in a parish, school, early education centre for social service programme, by a diocesan worker who has been familiarised with the content. Attendance at such a group must be recorded against the volunteer’s or contractor’s record to evidence completion of a mandatory piece of training.

This module is to be completed by all agency volunteers and volunteers in parishes or the Curia who are in child-related work (hold a WWCC), within two months of commencing engagement and repeated annually thereafter.

Volunteers in parishes and the Curia who are not in child-related work (no WWCC) are to complete this module within two months of commencing engagement and repeated every three years thereafter.

Contractors in categories 2b and 4a are to complete this module once within two months of commencing engagement.

The advanced course is for employees engaged in child-related work.  The term child-related work refers to any diocesan employee who is required to hold a NSW WWCC (working with children check) as a condition of their employment with the Diocese.

This course is tailored to the specific environment in which the participant is engaged and is designed to maximise interactivity between presenter and participants to test the participant’s integration of the safeguarding information presented in the online module and their ability to apply it in ‘real world scenarios’.  It is four hours in duration and delivered face-to-face or live online. 

Self -care with potentially confronting content:

Safeguarding the children and vulnerable persons of the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle is our priority.  Our courses are tailored to ensure you, as workers of the Diocese, receive all the information and support you need to be able to comply with your legal and moral obligations to report any concerns for children and vulnerable persons.  Our approach to training is a holistic one. The course content will include a brief history on the legacy of historic child sexual abuse in our diocese.

For some, this content can be confronting.  If you are concerned for your possible response to the material, speak with your manager before the training day to discuss potential alternatives.  If during the presentation of the course you start to feel distressed, please use your own judgement and make sure that you are safe.  It is okay to withdraw yourself from the training if you need to, physically or psychologically.  If you would like to speak directly to someone from the Office of Safeguarding before or after this training day, please call 4979 1390 or email oosgtraining@mn.catholic.org.au. 

Please remember the Diocese has an Employee Assistance Program available to all staff and their families, if you need support please reach out to either The Rosewood Centre on 1800 613 155 or email hello@rosewoodcentre.com.au, or AusPsych on 4926 1688 or email admin@auspsych.com.au

Self-Registration process:

Diocesan employees are to self-enrol into one of the following sessions via mnpeople.

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS

CATHOLICCARE

ST NICHOLAS

 Pre-requisite:

Module 1: Safeguarding Children & Vulnerable Persons

Further information:

For information regarding the currency of your training or confirmation of which course you are to attend please contact the Office of Safeguarding directly on 4979 1390 or by emailing oosgtraining@mn.catholic.org.au

As part of the clerical, religious or lay leadership of parishes and a cleric’s public ministry in the Diocese, the individual commits to the Diocese’s continuous professional development process, available on the Diocese’s website mn.catholic.org.au/people/clergy-and-parish-leaders-professional-support/.  The Cleric and parish leader is required to undertake safeguarding training on an annual basis, as a part of the person’s obligations to undertake professional development (practice of ministry).

The course assumes the participant has prior knowledge and experience in ministering in accordance with the Diocese’s safeguarding framework and an understanding of their obligations to contribute to a safeguarding culture in the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle. The course reinforces the participant’s understanding of:

• The indicators of individual and circumstantial/environmental vulnerability
• grooming of individuals and groups by a predatory individual
• the indicators of abuse and neglect
• the effects of abuse
• supporting a child or vulnerable person to disclose abuse
• reporting obligations to State and Church
• information sharing and record keeping
• safeguarding risk management including e-safety
• complaint handling
• the Office of Safeguarding’s roles and responsibilities

The course highlights the particular roles and responsibilities of the parish leaders and is adjusted to address particular foci that may be of concern at the time.  The course has a heavy emphasis on in-depth analysis and discussion of practice scenarios calibrated to parish ministry.

Pre-requisite:

Module 1: Safeguarding Children & Vulnerable Persons

Self-Registration process:

Clergy and parish leaders are to self-enrol into one of the following sessions via mnpeople.