“The Safe Church Network is a group of denominational representatives in areas of professional standards and safeguarding who gather under the auspices of the National Council of Churches in Australia for the purpose of:
- Encouraging the sharing of best practice, experience and resources, focused on learning and collaboration among Australian churches on safeguarding issues.
- Identifying shared areas of work, trends and patterns to help inform our strategic planning for best practice.
- Contribute to collaborative professional development and networking opportunities.
- Sharing insights and resources about appropriate spiritual and pastoral responses that can contribute to the ongoing work of healing for individuals and communities.
- Providing the General Secretary advice on safeguarding priorities and initiatives for the benefit of all churches.
- Acting as a reference group for NCCA's Safeguarding responses
- Acting as a channel by which NCCA can feed information to State and Territory regulators and the National Office of Child Safety regarding trends, concerns and priorities.
This network is an important part of our response to the final report of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, which states that the “National Council of Churches in Australia is well positioned to work proactively with the independent oversight bodies to ensure that individual religious institutions are able to comply with the requirements” (Final Report, Volume 16 Religious Institutions, Book 3, page 293).”
Revised draft of Safe Church Network Purpose Statement (July 2021)
Approved by Resolution of Directors in NCCA Board meeting on 28 July 2021.
