Safer Ministry and Complaints
The Diocese of Adelaide does not tolerate harassment or abuse in its church community and is committed to ensuring a safe environment in all its ministries.
This section makes available to the general community documents and information relating to the protection of people within our church, reporting abuse and resolving complaints through the Healing Steps program.
Initiatives to ensure the church is a safe place include:
- Safer Ministry requirements for new ordination candidates, clergy, paid church workers and volunteers
- Licensing of all people ministering to those under the age of 18 years.
- Application of a Code of Good Practice
- Providing clergy, lay people engaged in ministry and lay employees with Safer Ministry Education, including mandatory notification
- Publishing Guidelines for the Protection of Children involved in activities within the Diocese
- Commissioning of independent status and compliance reports
Initiatives to ensure that the church is able to appropriately deal with complaints of abuse:
- Establishment of a confidential complaint procedure
- Commitment to resolve complaints in a pastoral manner
- Establishment of the Healing Steps process to resolve complaints