The Executive Committee of the Union approved the formation of a Standards Unit, as a functional unit within Baptist Union Administration.
The key objectives of this unit are:
- Educate ministry teams and church leaders on how to do Child Safe and Child Friendly ministry
- Promote awareness amongst churches of the need for their space to be regarded by their community as a Safe Space. By safe in this context we mean a space where people with physical, mental, social, emotional or spiritual disabilities feel comfortable and most of all, safe.
Many of the above deliverables are covered by the Creating Safe Spaces recommendations, workbooks and workshops.
Creating Safe Spaces (CSS) Workshops
For an overview of the CSS Workshops, please click here.
A calendar of 2012 CSS Refresher Workshops is available, please click here (updated 6/1/2012)
A calendar of CSS Semester 1, 2012 Introduction Workshops is available, please click here (updated 24/1/2012)
Creating Safe Spaces Implementation Ideas and Forms
To download the various Implementation Ideas documents and Forms, please click here.
Creating Safe Spaces Workshop Frequently Asked Question
To view a response to the issue of prior workplace training, please click here.
Changes to Mandatory Reporting in NSW - January 2010
For a summary of these changes, please click here
The Online Mandatory Reporter Guide is a tool to help all mandatory reporters in identifying risk of significant harm. To access the Online Mandatory Reporter Guide, please click here. Please note that if you require assistance with the Online Mandatory Reporter Guide, you can contact the Keep Them Safe Support Line on 1800 772 479.
Child Protection Helpline 132 111
Crossing the Boundary
A copy of the Principles and procedures for dealing with complaints of sexual abuse and sexual harassment by ministers and church workers is available to download, please click here
Working With Children Check
The minimum requirement set down by NSW legislation for anyone working with children or youth is the Working With Children Check process. The forms for the Working With Children Check are located on the Kids NSW website www.kids.nsw.gov.au
If you go to the following webpage http://www.kids.nsw.gov.au/kids/working.cfm and at the bottom of the page there are some selections about whether you are employing staff or having volunteers working with children & youth. If you select the appropriate area, it will take you to the current forms. These forms are updated from time to time, and have been updated relatively recently, so it is important that the latest forms are used where possible. These forms can now be filled in online and then printed for signing or simply printed and filled & signed in by hand.
- the form for a potential employee to authorise a background check (this includes all pastoral staff to be employed by the church)
https://check.kids.nsw.gov.au/background-check-consent.php - the forms for volunteers to sign
https://check.kids.nsw.gov.au/volunteer-declaration.php
The idea behind the Working With Children Check process is that the church registers with the Commission for Children & Young People and then you can get background checks done with them for paid pastoral employees. The Working With Children Check forms are also the minimum requirement for all volunteers to sign that work with children & young people but it is not a requirement that the background check is done.
- the employer registration form
https://check.kids.nsw.gov.au/employer-registration.php - the form for an employer to check an applicant
https://check.kids.nsw.gov.au/background-check-request.php
As mentioned to you, these Working With Children Check forms are the minimum requirement for volunteers to work with children and youth in NSW.
