SAFEGUARDING

Safe Ministry in Hamilton

The Anglican Parish of Hamilton is committed to Safe Ministry.

The community of faith at St Augustine’s Anglican Church in Hamilton treasures the children and young people under our care. We are fully committed to the Anglican Diocese of Southern Queensland’s commitment to providing a safe and supportive environment for them in every area of ministry.

Please be aware the Diocese has implemented a Child Protection Risk Management Plan to assist in the protection of children and reduce the risk of vulnerable people coming to harm in and through the church. This plan helps ensure that the Diocese’s ministries are safe and supportive environments by providing strategies to identify and minimise potential risks.

Screening lay employees and volunteers through the State of Queensland Public Safety Business Agency ‘Blue Card Check’ is an integral part of the plan.

Furthermore, the Risk Management Plan addresses the following elements:

  • A Child Protection Risk Management Plan Policy Statement.

  • A Code of Conduct for clergy and lay church workers who work with children

  • A Safe Ministry Check which provides procedures for recruiting, screening, selecting and supervising Church Workers.

  • A Protocol for dealing with complaints which provides clear and mandatory procedures for managing complaints and information regarding sexual misconduct by clergy and lay Church Workers.

  • Procedures for addressing breaches of the Risk Management Plan.

  • Procedures for ensuring proper implementation of the Risk Management Plan regularly reviewing its contents.

  • Maintenance of a register for all lay Church Workers who hold Blue Cards.

  • A specific Risk Management Plan for high risk activities and special events.

  • A strategy for communicating the Plan to parents and carers of children who participate in all the ministries in the Diocese.

Copies of all these documents, and further information, can be found on the diocesan website:

https://www.anglicanchurchsq.org.au/safeguarding