Safeguarding
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility
Safe Communities is an initiative of the Archdiocese of Hobart designed to protect Children and Adults at Risk from abuse and neglect. Archbishop Julian Porteous formed the Safe Communities Office in 2016 to ensure that Safeguarding policies are developed, maintained and readily available to organisations, individuals and the broader Tasmanian community.
Please click here to view the Commitment Statement from Archbishop Julian Porteous.
Clergy, employees and volunteers across the Archdiocese of Hobart are firmly committed to upholding the fundamental right of every person to feel safe, valued and respected. This commitment is expressed through active participation in creating and maintaining a culture of safety that is underpinned by comprehensive safeguarding policies, best practice procedures and a shared responsibility to protect all individuals – particularly Children and Adults at Risk.
These safeguarding measures are not only preventive in nature, aiming to stop abuse before it can occur, but also responsive, ensuring that any concerns or incidents are handled with compassion, integrity and efficiency.
Throughout the Archdiocese of Hobart, we affirm the inherent dignity of every human being and work collectively to foster an inclusive and welcoming Church. We are committed to ongoing training, education and reflection to ensure that our practices continue to reflect the highest standards of care and respect.
National Catholic Safeguarding Standards
The National Catholic Safeguarding Standards (NCSS) provide a framework of Catholic entities to create a safe culture for Children and Adults at Risk. For further information please go to Australian Catholic Safeguarding Ltd (acsltd.org.au)
“Families need to know that the Church is making every effort to protect their children. They should also know that they have the right to turn to the Church with full confidence, for it is a safe and secure home.”
Pope Francis
