Tasmanian Church leaders engage in safeguarding session

Tasmanian Church representatives flew to Sydney in early March to attend an introduction session for leaders on their responsibilities surrounding safeguarding of children and vulnerable people.

The March 11 meeting – organised and held prior to COVID-19 travel restrictions – was designed to help Church authorities and senior leaders understand the process of the Catholic Professional Standards Ltd (CPSL) audit and reporting framework, and their responsibilities under the National Catholic Safeguarding Standards.

Twenty-one Church leaders from across Australia attended the session, from bishops to religious superiors.

Attendees from Tasmania included Archbishop Julian, Business Manager Chris Ryan, and Mother Mary Therese Ramsden SI and Sr Mary Immanuel Blenkinsopp SI, from the Sisters of the Immaculata.

During the day, those in attendance were asked to reflect on their own entities, and what might enable, or be a barrier to, safeguarding.

The experiences of safeguarding practises and processes in other entities were also shared.

The session was facilitated by CPSL, which was formed in response to findings of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

Established by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference and Catholic Religious Australia, CPSL operates independently of the Church. It has a board consisting of lay people with professional expertise in law, human services, education, safeguarding and regulation.

The attendance by Tasmanian Church leaders comes prior to an expected audit of Tasmanian Church entities by CPSL in relation to their compliance with the National Catholic Safeguarding Standards.

Archbishop Julian says the training session was very helpful.

“It helped us focus on some of the areas that we need to address going forward,” His Grace said.