Safeguarding remains a priority

Despite the social disruption due to COVID-19, the Archdiocese of Hobart’s Safe Communities committee is continuing to meet fortnightly to ensure that safeguarding remains a priority, and that the implementation of the National Catholic Safeguarding Standards continues across the Archdiocese.

Communication between the Safe Communities committee and Catholic Professional Standards Ltd is also continuing, with an audit of the Archdiocese of Hobart, as well as parishes, religious communities and Catholic agencies within Tasmania still expected to occur later this year.

Catholic Professional Standards Ltd was established by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference and Catholic Religious Australia in response to the findings of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. CPSL is in the process of auditing Catholic diocese and communities and publishing results in relation to their adherence to the National Catholic Safeguarding Standards.

Despite COVID-19, this auditing will continue, according to an update published on the CPSL website in early April. Policies and documentation will be audited remotely, as can discussions with key diocesan staff and religious community members. CPSL training sessions and workshops will also continue online.

However, the CPSL safeguarding conference, A Safer Church for All: Safeguarding, Core to Mission, has been postponed until June 2021.

On April 17 Archbishop Julian signed a renewed commitment for the Archdiocese of Hobart to protect children and vulnerable adults from abuse and neglect, and that Safe Communities would guide all Catholic agencies and parishes to take responsibility for creating and maintaining a safe environment for all.

This commitment follows a previous commitment to safeguarding, which was signed in 2016.

Image: Archbishop Julian has signed a renewed commitment for the Archdiocese of Hobart to protect children and vulnerable adults from abuse and neglect.