RECENTLY Mario Landini and Fr Dennis attended the Archdiocesan Training Day for Child safety. The central part of the day was working through the 7 Victorian Child Safety Standards.
At times it seemed that these were more appropriate for schools than parishes but they must also form part of the parish risk management awareness and protocols.
We have the mandatory Police Checks and WWC (Working With Children) certification as an umbrella form of protection but there are numerous other ways in which parishes need to manage risk.
The particular factor given to our group was No 6: Detect and Prevent (risk management). This looked at the particular difficulty children with disability might have in reporting inappropriate behaviour; the provision of disability access and facilities for the hearing impaired.
Fr Dennis identified the spaces that we have where children can be out of sight and in spaces near rooms with closed doors. This applies particularly to the restrooms in the corridors. I notice that some children are visiting these facilities alone, during Mass and even when they arrive for Church early or are attending Catechetical classes. This should not happen.
All children wishing to visit the restrooms or in the corridor, for whatever reason, should ordinarily be accompanied by a trusted adult or parent.
In addition, a standing agenda item for the Parish Pastoral Council should be the identification of risks for young people in and around the St Bridget’s Catholic Church and its facilities.
We must insure a child safe environment with a zero tolerance of inappropriate behaviour, this includes not only touch but a large range of behaviours designated as grooming.