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Safeguarding Training

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Obligations for Diocesan workers and helpers

The Royal Commission into Institutional Response to Child Sexual Abuse highlighted the importance of workers being given knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children safe through training.

The Diocese is legally obliged to comply with the NSW Child Safe Standards and is also committed to meet the complementary National Catholic Safeguarding Standards that have been endorsed by the Australian Council of Bishops and Catholic Religious Australia. 

NSW Child Safe Standard Seven says:

A child safe organisation promotes continuous learning and provides regular ongoing education and training. Staff continually build their abilities to keep children safe.

National Catholic Safeguarding Standard Seven says:

Ongoing education and training.  Personnel are equipped with knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children and adults safe through information, ongoing education and training

The Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle has implemented a comprehensive safeguarding training regime to ensure that diocesan workers have the appropriate level of knowledge, skills and awareness to assist in safeguarding children:

  • As a part of their induction, all new employees are introduced to the Diocese’s safeguarding framework, including the central role of the Office of Safeguarding (OoSG).
  • Diocesan employees participate in annual safeguarding refresher presentations, as part of their local work groups.
  • Unpaid helpers (volunteers) receive safeguarding training as part of their induction to the Diocese.
  • Staff in child-related work are required to attend a specialist safeguarding training course within six months of starting employment with the Diocese.
  • Advanced safeguarding training is mandatory for staff in child-related work in diocesan schools, early education centres and welfare services as part of a cycle to updating and reinforcing the Diocese’s safeguarding practices.
  • Diocesan clergy participate in safeguarding training as well as receiving advanced and specialist safeguarding training with the Director of Safeguarding.
  • Targeted safeguarding training for work groups or workplaces identified as having or potentially having a deficit in safeguarding knowledge, practices or culture.

Safeguarding training is compulsory and is provided free to all diocesan workers.

Online training modules

The Diocesan safeguarding training regime is in the process of transitioning, with the majority of changes to be implemented from January 2024.

Prior to then, as a part of the Diocese’s promotion of National Child Protection Week, the revised core online training module has been launched, the ‘Safeguarding for Employees, Clergy and Religious’.

The new Diocesan safeguarding training regime is set out in detail as Appendix (E) of the Diocesan Safeguarding Framework Policy.

Prerequisite:      
Nil

Target groups:   
All paid workers, clergy and religious; irrespective of whether they are in child-related work or not

Frequency:

  • Within two (2) months of commencing to work for the Diocese.
  • Annually thereafter

Exemptions:       
Nil

Duration:            
Approximately 1 hour

Description:       
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 Statement and 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.  The employee, cleric or religious is 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.

Training courses

Safeguarding courses are more in-depth training packages, developed by the OoSG and presented by OoSG staff.  The training courses are interactive, including audio-visual material with written information presented through PowerPoint, and analysis and discussion of practice scenarios reinforcing key learning.

The drop-down menu below summarises the safeguarding training packages designed to provide targeted, specialised knowledge and support for employees in child-related work.

Employees who are required to attend the safeguarding training courses must register via mnpeople.  The course details, set out in the drop-down menus, specifies which groups of employees attend which courses.

In the following course descriptions, 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.

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

For Registrations:

Diocesan employees are to self-enrol via mnpeople.

Volunteers who require assistance in registering for a course in mnpeople contact Human Resources:

E:   HR-Training@mn.catholic.org.au –

For Any Other 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:

P: 4979 1390

E: oosgtraining@mn.catholic.org.au