‘A culture of safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do’

The Archdiocese of Hobart has begun rolling out an ambitious program of face-to-face training for volunteers on its safeguarding policy.

Some 150 volunteers attended one of six training session in the parishes of Bridgewater, Richmond, Moonah and Central Tasmania in April.

The Archdiocese’s Director of Professional Standards and Safe Communities Office, Jacqueline Highfield, said it was a ‘great roll up’ and she was encouraged by the enthusiastic way volunteers engaged with the training.

More sessions are planned around the state over the next six months.

“We have over 800 volunteers in the Archdiocese, an enormous resource, who give many hundreds of hours of their time,” Mrs Highfield said.

“It is important to make them aware of our obligations under the Reportable Conduct Scheme and the Child and Youth Safe Framework, which became operational in Tasmania on 1 January.

“This is so that we create a culture of safeguarding, which is at the heart of everything we do.”

The Reportable Conduct Scheme aims to create a culture where organisations that engage with children and young people investigate concerns about their wellbeing in a thorough, transparent, safe and child-centred way.

Mrs Highfield said the Archdiocese’s hardworking and dedicated Safe Communities team members, including Andrea Probert and Di Kelly, were excited to meet the volunteers.

“It important that we are as proactive as possible in our safeguarding practices and to make sure that across the Archdiocese, everybody is aware of our obligations,” Mrs Highfield said.

“We are really looking forward to meeting more of our fabulous volunteers.”

Volunteer training sessions are scheduled for Kingston-Channel Parish on 28 May and Sandy Bay Parish on 29 May.

National Volunteer Week is Australia’s largest annual celebration of volunteering and takes place on 20-26 May. In a statement, the Safe Communities team added: “We would like to take this opportunity to thank the volunteers within the Archdiocese for the many hours of time they give to our parishes.”