Reportable Conduct training successfully rolled out

By Josh Low

Providing ongoing training in areas of safeguarding on a regular basis is an important work in the Archdiocese, with seven training sessions recently held for employees and volunteers, covering the state government’s new Reportable Conduct Scheme.

The Reportable Conduct Scheme and the Child and Youth Safe Framework became operational in Tasmania on 1 January 2024, with the majority of clergy, staff and volunteers having now completed the required training.

Archdiocesan Director of Professional Standards and Safe Communities, Jacqueline Highfield, said the scheme ties in with the work and goal of the Safe Communities Office in aiming to provide a safe environment for minors.

She added that the training sessions run by the Archdiocese better equipped employees and volunteers with the necessary knowledge of their obligations in the workplace.

“The purpose of the training session is to explain, in as straightforward a format as possible, what is required of us, and to make sure that, across the Archdiocese, everybody is aware of our obligations.

“In order for us to be able to comply with the legislation, our people need to understand what is meant by ‘reportable conduct’, what their obligations are and what steps they need to take if a matter of concern comes to their attention,” she explained.

“The obligation falls on the head of agency – the Archbishop – but obviously he can’t be everywhere at all times, so he relies on us, the employees and volunteers to know and do the right thing.

“The vast majority of employees and volunteers across the Archdiocesan offices have now completed the training, as have the majority of clergy.

“We’ve run two face-to-face sessions and five online presentations and now produced a recording of the training, which will be available to anyone who hasn’t had a chance to complete it.”