C3 AUS SC 2020 – Safe Church Policy & Guidelines – Board Approved
C3 AUSTRALIA SAFE CHURCH
POLICY AND GUIDELINES
1. SAFE CHURCH POLICY
OVERVIEW:
● Purpose
● Scope
● Policy Statements
● Responsibilities
● Safe Church Procedures
● Policy Approval and Review
1.PURPOSE
The C3 Australia Safe Church Policy and Guidelines:
1.1 guides our work in establishing and maintaining safe environments for all people,
including children and young people;
1.2 underpins our biblical mandate to: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul,
mind and strength and to love your neighbour as yourself (Matthew 22:37-40);
1.3 promotes and provides for the provision of services that foster the health and safety
of all who access our church and/or programs;
1.4 ensures that all workers (paid and volunteer) associated with our church fulfil their
pastoral and organisational responsibilities; and
1.5 ensures compliance with legislation, and also with the intention of the legislation, as it
relates to protecting people, particularly the vulnerable (including children).
2.SCOPE
This Policy applies to all those associated with our movement including:
2.1 all credential holders, workers (paid & volunteer) and members of boards;
2.2 as specified herein, guests or hirers of the church and its facilities
2.3 as specified herein, contractors, subcontractors, delivery persons or others
engaged to provide services; and
2.4 as specified herein, those who access our site and/or programs.
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3. POLICY STATEMENTS
3.1 We acknowledge that all people have a right to feel and be safe, and
to experience life-giving, harm-free interactions when engaging in C3
activities, events and programs;
3.2 We acknowledge the need for sensitivity and consideration of all people
of Aboriginal, ethnically and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds, as well
as any person with a disability;
3.3 We commit to the welfare of all people through the implementation and
ongoing improvement of our C3 Australia Safe Church Guidelines
including:
3.3.1 safe and friendly environments where people are listened to, feel
safe, accept challenges, develop faith and grow in connection with
God and others,
3.3.2 safe and adequate recruitment, training, supervision, support and
resourcing of our workers, and
3.3.3 appropriate and expedient responses to all incidents, accidents,
child protection and/or safe Church (misconduct and abuse)
concerns
3.3.4 In relation to children (0-17 years), we acknowledge the primary
role of parents and caregivers as well as the role of children in child
protection and will engage with children and caregivers, and invite
feedback as part of our procedures and interactions
3.3.5 In relation to children (0-17 years), we acknowledge the shared
responsibility of the whole community for child safety and welfare,
including caregivers and our workers, and as such we will promote
the role of parents and caregivers and the wider community in the
shared responsibility of child safety
3.4 It is a serious breach of this policy for any worker in our church to contravene
this policy, any related procedure, or any regulation in law, in relation to the
safety and protection of children and the vulnerable.
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C3 AUS SC 2020 – Safe Church Policy & Guidelines – Board Approved
4. RESPONSIBILITIES
4.1 ALL WORKERS ARE TO;
4.1.1 be respectful of all people, especially of children and the vulnerable, respecting
the rights of all people at our church to safe and friendly interactions,
4.1.2 foster and encourage the participation and empowerment of all people in
staying safe,
4.1.3 take all reasonable care for their own health and safety,
4.1.4 take reasonable care that their actions do not adversely affect others health
and safety,
4.1.5 comply with all reasonable instructions from the church leadership,
4.1.6 comply with church policies, guidelines and directives from the leadership as
communicated, including the code of conduct relevant to role/position,
4.1.7 report all child protection and other Safe Church (misconduct and abuse)
concerns, allegations or incidents immediately to the Safe Church contact
person, and
4.1.8 report all incidents or hazards to the Health & Safety contact person (or to a
Team Leader) as soon as practicable.
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES
In addition to the general responsibilities the following office holders and those
associated with our church have the following specific responsibilities under this
policy:
4.2 CHURCH BOARD
4.2.1 Primary duty of care, to ensure so far as is practicable the health and safety of
all persons involved in the organisation,
4.2.2 ensure that C3 Australia Safe Church minimum standards are maintained at
their church (as found in the C3 Australia Safe Church Policy and Guidelines),
4.2.3 assign responsibilities for the management of the C3 Australia Safe Church
Policy and Guidelines,
4.2.4 monitor and review the implementation of C3 Australia Safe Church Policy and
Guidelines,
4.2.5 ensure disclosures of harm are reported to all relevant regulatory bodies and
4.2.6 fulfill relevant legislative ‘head of entity roles’ (and equivalent in State based
reportable conduct schemes) in child protection related investigations.
4.3 MINISTRY LEADERS
4.3.1 implementation of this policy and related procedures as applicable to their
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C3 AUS SC 2020 – Safe Church Policy & Guidelines – Board Approved
Church program/events,
4.3.2 monitor workers who they oversee to ensure workers are acting safely and
according to policy, guidelines and procedures,
4.3.3 provide reasonable instruction to workers regarding the provision of safe
environments,
4.3.4 report to the Safe Church contact person any suspicions, allegations, incidents
or potential breaches of the relevant code of conduct, and
4.3.5 identify and report all risks and hazards to the Health & Safety contact
person/team for treatment.
4.4 SAFE CHURCH CONTACT PERSON/ TEAM
4.4.1. implementation of the procedures in relation to responding to Safe Church
concerns, including child protection,
4.4.2 tasks as directed by the Church Board,
4.4.3 receive reports of incidents and/or concerns of risk of harm in relation to
children or workers,
4.4.4 maintain secure records in relation to Safe Church Policy and Guidelines, and
4.4.5 regular reporting to Management Group and/or Governance Board.
4.5 HEALTH & SAFETY OFFICER / TEAM
4.5.1 implement WHS policies, including privacy policy and evacuation procedures,
4.5.2 keep WHS on the agenda at meetings of the Management Group and
Governance Board,
4.5.3 receive notifications of hazards/incidents such as serious events and
dangerous incidents from workers and visitors,
4.5.4 notify incidents such as serious events and dangerous incidents within a
prescribed period to the appropriate office holder/s e.g. board,
4.5.5 address health and safety concerns within reasonable time frame, and
4.5.6 undertake a site safety audit at regular intervals (minimum 2 times per year).
4.6 WORKERS (PAID AND VOLUNTEER)
4.6.1 uphold all church policy, guidelines and procedures,
4.6.2 report to Safe Church contact person any suspicions, allegations, incident or
potential breaches of the relevant code of conduct, and
4.6.3 identify and report all risks and hazards to relevant officer holder for treatment.
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4.7 CAREGIVERS OF CHILDREN AND VULNERABLE ADULTS
4.7.1 provide all information as necessary to ensure the safety of the person in their
care,
4.7.2 provide feedback to the leaders of the church about safety issues.
5.SAFE CHURCH GUIDELINES
This Policy is implemented through our C3 Australia Safe Church Guidelines.
6. DEFINITIONS AND TERMINOLOGY
See C3 Australia Safe Church Implementation Guide
7. RELEVANT LEGISLATION
See C3 Australia Safe Church Implementation Guide
8.POLICY APPROVAL AND REVIEW
This Policy was revised and updated to reflect current legislative requirements in
Australia in September 2020.
It was approved by the church governing body and adopted for use by our church,
C3 Destiny on 14.02.2021.
The Policy and Guidelines will be reviewed, as a minimum, by the C3 Australian
Region every 2 years and as often as necessary, in order to remain compliant with
new legislation.
Any proposed changes will be submitted to the Governing body of our church for
approval at a properly convened meeting for approval before being adopted and
implemented.
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3. C3 AUSTRALIA SAFE CHURCH GUIDELINES
The C3 Australia Safe Church Guidelines contain both C3 Australia Region’s
mandated ‘minimum standards’ (‘shall’) and ‘recommended good practice’
(‘recommend’) for duty of care, child and vulnerable people protection and just and
caring responses to misconduct and abuse.
The Guidelines are an outworking of our C3 Australia Safe Church Policy and are
divided into two categories:
– those considered to be legal, biblical and/or moral imperatives, denoted by the
word shall must be implemented as a minimum standards in practice, and
– those considered as good practice, denoted by the word recommended, are
nevertheless strongly recommended.
GUIDELINE 1
SAFE CHURCH TRAINING
As an outworking of policy statements:
We commit to the welfare of all people through the implementation and ongoing
improvement of our C3 Australia Safe Church Guidelines including:
● safe and adequate recruitment, training, supervision, support and resourcing
of our workers, and
● appropriate and expedient responses to all incidents, accidents, child
protection and/or Safe Church (misconduct and abuse) concerns.
a. All C3 workers (paid and unpaid) shall receive adequate, appropriate and ongoing
training in our C3 Australia Safe Church Policy and Guidelines.
b. All C3 workers involved in children and youth ministry shall receive adequate,
appropriate and ongoing training in the concepts of child protection including
identifying and responding to concerns about children at risk of harm.
c. C3 Australia Credential Holders as part of their credentialing shall complete C3
recognised Safe Church training initially and then every three years.
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GUIDELINE 2
PROMOTING EMPOWERMENT AND PARTICIPATION
As an outworking of policy statements:
● we acknowledge that all people have a right to feel and be safe, and to
experience life- giving, harm-free interactions when engaging in C3 activities,
events and programs
● we commit to the welfare of all people through the implementation and
ongoing improvement of our Safe Church Documentation which includes:
safe and friendly environments where people are listened to, feel safe,
accept challenges, develop faith and grow in connection with God and others
a. Our church shall promote the empowerment and participation of all people at
church.
b. It is recommended that C3 workers will assist the families of Children:
– Speak up when they have a concern
– Access information about what child abuse is,
– Feel welcome and have a say in the activities and programs in which their
Children or Young People participate as far as is practical,
– Engage in two-way communication between families and the church.
GUIDELINE 3
BEING AWARE OF CHILD ABUSE INDICATORS
As an outworking of policy statements:
We commit to the welfare of all people through the implementation and ongoing
improvement of our C3 Australia Safe Church Guidelines including:
● safe and adequate recruitment, training, supervision, support and resourcing
of our workers, and
● appropriate and expedient responses to all incidents, accidents, child
protection and/or Safe Church (misconduct and abuse) concerns.
a. All C3 workers in child related ministry shall be made aware of the indicators
of Child or Young Person abuse and neglect and report to their Safe Church
Contact when they have concerns about a Child and/or Young Person who is
involved in the church.
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GUIDELINE 4
RESPONDING TO CONCERNS OF RISK OF HARM
As an outworking of policy statements:
We commit to the welfare of all people through the implementation and ongoing
improvement of our C3 Australia Safe Church Guidelines including:
● appropriate and expedient responses to all incidents, accidents, child
protection and/or Safe Church (misconduct and abuse) concerns.
4.1. CONCERNS ABOUT CHILDREN
It is recommended that C3 church appoint a Safe Church Contact Person or Team,
whose roles include: receiving reports, assisting in the process of reporting of Safe
Church concerns and keeping accurate records permanently and securely in
accordance with privacy legislation.
a. All C3 workers (paid and unpaid) shall report concerns when:
– a Child or Young Person discloses they have been or are at risk of being abused
– someone else (regardless of age) discloses that they know of a Child or Young
Person who has been/is at risk of being abused
– there are concerns that the Child or Young Person may have been or is at risk of
being abused based on their physical appearance or behaviour.
b. C3 workers are not required, as an initial response, to establish or investigate if
abuse has occurred, but rather report reasonable suspicions or concerns of abuse,
including the grounds for concerns, to a Safe Church Contact Person (or
equivalent).
c. If a Safe Church Contact Person or Team member is not available and the abuse
is currently occurring, or there are reasons to believe that a Child or Young Person
is at risk, a report should be made immediately to the police and appropriate
authorities.
PROCESS FOR REPORTING CONCERNS ABOUT CHILDREN
(AS RISK OF HARM)
i) Report to Safe Church Contact Person/Team
Report concerns to the appointed Safe Church Contact Person/Team, except when a
disclosure occurs at a program or event, or a Child’s/Young Person’s immediate safety
is at risk (sexual and physical abuse). In this case, immediately phone the police and
organise appropriate support for the Child/ren. This can be done with the help of the
most senior on-site Leader, who will also need to assist with managing the immediate
situation.
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ii) Report to the Safer Churches Helpline 1800 070 511 (AEST Monday – Friday,
9am-5pm) for advice and guidance in the management of the situation as a church.
This will include appropriate actions including:
– Complete applicable form/s and/or online reporting, e.g. Safe Church Helpline Contact
form and/or state government online reporting tool.
– The Safe Church Contact Person will keep a Local Church log, upholding privacy
principles.
– Police and Government Child Protection agency reporting (police, government
agency).
– Initiate relevant complaints handling processes (including Reportable conduct) if the
allegations are about a worker.
– insurance reporting
iii) Provide ongoing support, pastoral care and risk management processes: It is the role
of the Church Board to implement pastoral care and support for all parties involved,
including the Child or Young Person and family, as much as is practical. There may also
be risk management action plans that need to be implemented, e.g. stepping aside a
worker who has been accused of harming a Child or Young Person whilst the
investigation occurs.
iv) Disclosures – “Do’s and Don’ts” – for Workers
DO:
● Listen … do not add anything to what the child says (you will need to write
this down, exactly)
● Reassure … the child that they have done the right thing in speaking to
you
● Inform … the child that you need to tell people who will try to help you
● Ensure … that the child is not in immediate danger
DON’T:
● Start an investigation re the information, do not ask leading questions,
i.e. questions that have a yes or no answer
● Promise the child that the abuse will stop
● Tell anyone who does not need to know
NOTE: Keep it brief, do not have a long conversation, as this may be seen to have
influenced the child.
4.2. CONCERNS ABOUT ADULTS
a. It is recommended that C3 churches appoint a Safe Church Contact Person/Team,
whose roles include: receiving reports, assisting in the process of reporting of Safe
Church concerns and keeping accurate records permanently and securely in accordance
with privacy legislation.
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b. It is recommended that C3 workers report concerns when there are concerns of:
● Bullying behaviours ● Emotional harm ● Harassment
● Elder abuse ● Domestic violence ● Criminal behaviours
● Sexual harassment ● Sexual misconduct ● Sexual assault
● Physical violence ● Stalking ● Self-harming / suicide risk
● Historical child
abuse (sexual,
physical, emotional,
neglect)
● Concerns about the
harmful behaviours
of any person at a
church program
● Concerns about
misconduct by a church
worker against another
adult
c. RECOMMENDED PROCESS FOR REPORTING CONCERNS ABOUT ADULTS;
i) During a disclosure – Follow the principles of the Disclosure (above)
ii) Report to supervisor
➔ Report to your supervisor all disclosures and reasonable concerns about
an adult to discuss reasonable appropriate pastoral, legal and
organisational actions, actions (unless the concern is about your
supervisor, then go to point ‘d’).
➔ It may be that this is a process of negotiation with the adult, as their right
to privacy should be considered. However, remember confidentiality does
not mean keeping secrets but rather telling those who need to know. As a
worker of the church you are required to follow all church procedures,
including this one, and as such will need to inform the person disclosing of
your church requirement to report, at least the some of the information, i.e.
that there has been a disclosure, the nature and the person’s first name.
Note: In the case of immediate danger to an adult it may be necessary to
call the emergency services, e.g. threat of violence against another
person, suicide attempts. In such cases the most senior leader on site
should make this phone call.
iii) Seek advice from National Safe Church Helpline
iv) Implement a response plan – Supervisor will contact the Safe Church Contact to
arrange a response plan.
v) Assist – Actively assist the Safe Church Contact to take the appropriate pastoral,
legal, organisational and risk management actions, dependent upon the nature of the
concern.
GUIDELINE 5
RECRUITMENT AND SCREENING OF WORKERS
As an outworking of policy statements:
We commit to the welfare of all people through the implementation and ongoing
improvement of our Safe Church Guidelines including:
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● safe and adequate recruitment, training, supervision, support and resourcing
of our workers,
a. C3 workers shall be screened, appointed and inducted using a formal accountable
/ transparent process.
b. All completed recruitment and screening documentation shall be stored securely,
and successful applicant documentation will be held on file permanently.
c. It is recommended that recruitment and screening documentation only be
accessed by a member of the church with the authority of the Church Board.
GUIDELINE 6
SUPERVISION OF WORKERS
As an outworking of policy statements:
We commit to the welfare of all people through the implementation and ongoing
improvement of our Safe Church Guidelines including: safe and adequate
recruitment, training, supervision, support and resourcing of our workers,
a. C3 workers shall receive appropriate oversight in their roles, including being
provided with clear behavioural expectations for their role through a code of
conduct.
b. C3 credential holders shall adhere to the standards in the C3 Australia Code of
Conduct for Credential Holders.
c. It is recommended that C3 churches:
i) Provide adequate support for workers, it is recommended that there is
adequate provision for formal and informal support for all C3 workers.
ii) Establish and maintain Safe Church environments for each other and those to
whom we minister when we work as the ‘body’, or minister in ‘team’ context.
All C3 workers shall minister in transparent and accountable teams e.g. avoid
unsupervised 1:1 contact with Children or Young People.
iii) Develop skills of workers, it is recommended that there is adequate provision
for developing workers. This may include things like regular team meetings and
through in-house in-services and external training events.
GUIDELINE 7
RESPONDING TO CONFLICTS, AND/OR ALLEGATIONS AGAINST C3 WORKERS
As an outworking of policy statements:
We commit to the welfare of all people through the implementation and ongoing
improvement of our Safe Church Guidelines including:
● appropriate and expedient responses to all incidents, accidents, child
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protection and/or Safe Church (misconduct and abuse) concerns.
a. C3 workers shall make an appropriate report to the relevant government
agency/department (e.g. police, child protection, children’s guardian/commission)
and we recommend contacting the Safe Church Helpline.
b. C3 workers shall work through an appropriate process which affords natural
justice to all parties.
c. In all instances, it is recommended that churches consider the pastoral, legal and
insurance implications of the conflict or allegation and respond with transparency
and accountability.
d. C3 Australia Ministry Standards Investigation Procedures shall be used in all
allegations of serious misconduct against credential holders.
GUIDELINE 8
COMPLIANCE WITH WHS/OHS
As an outworking of policy statements:
We acknowledge that all people have a right to feel and be safe, and to experience lifegiving, harm-free interactions when engaging in C3 activities, events and programs;
a. It is recommended that each Church:
● Elect a Health & Safety Team to oversee implementation of WHS compliance.
● Write and implement Health and Safety policies, including privacy policy and
evacuations procedures.
● Keep Health and Safety on the agenda at the Church Board team meetings.
● Notify incidents such as serious events and dangerous incidents within a
prescribed period to the Health & Safety Team.
● Address health and safety concerns within a timely manner of the concern being
communicated to the Health & Safety Team.
● Notify incidents such as serious events and critical incidents within a prescribed
period to the Health & Safety Team.
● Use incident report documentation to report serious incidents.
● Ensure all workers know and follow church guidelines for responding to risk of
harm concerns.
● Have the Health & Safety Team undertake a safe environment audit regularly.
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GUIDELINE 9
SAFE ENVIRONMENTS
a. SAFE SPIRITUAL AND EMOTIONAL ENVIRONMENTS IN CHURCH PROGRAMS
AND EVENTS
As an outworking of policy statements:
We acknowledge that all people have a right to feel and be safe, and to experience
life-giving, harm-free interactions when engaging in C3 activities, events and
programs;
The church shall provide safe environments including a commitment to:
i) servant leadership in our Church to all people,
ii) not engage in spiritually and emotionally abusive practices
iii) upholding National Privacy Act principles,
iv) respect for diversity ethnically, e.g. the cultural safety of Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander people and those from culturally and/or linguistically diverse
backgrounds,
v) the safety of people with a disability.
b. SAFE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENTS
As an outworking of policy statement:
● we commit to the welfare of all people through the implementation and ongoing
improvement of our Safe Church Documentation which includes:
– safe and friendly environments where people are listened to, feel safe, accept
challenges, develop faith and grow in connection with God and others
i) Churches shall appropriately risk manage physical environment, including but not
limited to; first aid, transportation, food safety, supervision numbers, management of
high risk activities, fire and emergency.
c. SAFE ONLINE AND DIGITAL PRACTICES
We acknowledge that the use of electronic media for communication is part of
everyday life, as such, as an outworking of policy statements:
– We acknowledge that all people have a right to feel and be safe, and to
experience life-giving, harm-free interactions when engaging in C3 activities,
events and programs;
i) C3 workers shall be mindful of the position of trust they hold by actively being
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safe in all online and digital interactions, including maintaining transparency and
accountability in the use of electronic communications especially with Children or
Young People as far as is practical, that is as a team, not as individuals, e.g. group
emails/text messages/Facebook, not sending electronic communication that
attempts to hide their identity or represent the sender as someone else.
ii) C3 workers shall not transmit, download or store any communication that is:
discriminatory or harassing, derogatory, obscene, sexually explicit or pornographic,
defamatory, threatening, for any purpose that is illegal or contrary to the Code of
Conduct relevant to their position. In the case where C3 workers receive such
communication from any C3 worker or other C3 Church attendee, they will report
this to their Safe Church Contact, Pastor or Safe Church Helpline.
iii) It is recommended that communications with Children under 16 occur with the
knowledge of the parent/s or carer/s of the Child or Young Person.
GUIDELINE 10
RESPONDING TO INCIDENTS
As an outworking of policy statement:
We commit to the welfare of all people through the implementation and
ongoing improvement of our Safe Church Guidelines including
– appropriate and expedient responses to all incidents, accidents,
child protection and/or Safe Church (misconduct and abuse)
concerns.
a. C3 workers shall;
i) respond to incidents appropriately and promptly and take adequate follow up
action.
ii) Use of report forms: Injuries or accidents requiring secondary medical
attention, e.g. visit to a doctor or medical centre, are to be written up on an
incident report.
iii) Incidents of a serious nature need to be reported to our insurer.
b. It is recommended that all incidents in relation to children are reported to parents
and/or care-givers of Children or Young People, and in instances where the impact
has been felt by a wider group, report, with the permission of those involved in the
incident, to the wider concerned group.
