SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

PARISH, AGENCY AND ENTITY STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT

St Leo the Great Parish Altona North holds the care, safety and wellbeing of children as a fundamental responsibility of the Church. This commitment is drawn from, and inherent to, the teaching and mission of Jesus Christ, with love, justice and the dignity of each human person at the heart of the Gospel. A culture of safety within the Church ensures that children can actively and fully participate in the life of the Church and realise their potential in a faith community.

This commitment extends to clergy, employees and volunteers within St Leo the Great Parish regardless of their role or level of responsibility to act to safeguard children and young people from child abuse.

We are committed to upholding the safety and dignity of each child and young person and ensuring that they are able to grow and develop in a caring and supportive environment in our Church.

The Catholic Church has a mission-driven moral and legal responsibility to create nurturing environments where children are respected, where their voices are heard, and where they are safe and feel safe. We acknowledge that preventing child abuse requires proactive approaches across policies, procedures and practices consistent with the requirements of the Victorian Child Safe Standards.

We are committed to creating a child safe culture across the Archdiocese that safeguards children and young people from all forms of abuse.

St Leo the Great Parish sets clear behavioural expectations with an overarching commitment to the protection of children and young people from all forms of abuse. All child safety concerns and allegations will be treated very seriously, and reported in line with our moral and legal obligations articulated in the Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy.

We are committed to zero tolerance of all forms child abuse and discrimination, and will always act to safeguard children and young people and report suspected abuse promptly to the appropriate

authorities.

We are resolutely committed to ensuring that all those engaged in the Church are aware of the inherent vulnerability of all children and young people and acknowledge their own responsibility to promote the dignity of children and young people and their fundamental right to be respected and nurtured in a safe environment. Every person involved in the Catholic Church has a responsibility to understand the important and specific role he/she plays individually and collectively to ensure that the wellbeing and safety of all children and young people is at the forefront of all that they do and every decision they make.

We are committed to ensuring that all persons who have, or may be expected to have, contact with children and young people acknowledge their responsibility to safeguard children and young people from abuse and discrimination.

We acknowledge and welcome diversity in our Church community. We recognise that cultural safety and inclusion serve as protective factors in relation to child safety, particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people, those from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds, children with a disability, and are sensitive to how these factors may impact child safety.

Declaration

Fr Paul Tru

Parish Priest