Engaging with religious education leaders to support child-safe environments
At a symposium and awards night for special religious educators, Children’s Guardian Steve Kinmond OAM spoke about the importance of implementing the Child Safe Scheme in faith-based settings.
Held at NSW Parliament House on Tuesday 12 November, the symposium brought together more than 100 leaders in their faith communities and educators in special religious education in NSW schools.
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The awards celebration that followed the symposium was attended by more than 400 people from Muslim, Jewish, Christian, Hindu, Buddhist and Baha’i faiths. Volunteer teachers and education providers received awards for their work in delivering special religious education in NSW public schools.
Also attending were members of the government’s Faith Affairs Council and denomination leaders, as well as Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Prue Car, and the Assistant Shadow Minister for Education, Matt Cross.
Mr Kinmond encouraged faith leaders and special religious education volunteers to help connect the Office of the Children’s Guardian with faith-based communities generally, including smaller, hard-to-reach faith communities that fall under the Child Safe and Reportable Conduct schemes.
‘If you’re new to the requirements of the Child Safe Scheme in NSW, a great place to start is our webpage Child Safe Standards: Getting started in your organisation,’ Mr Kinmond said.
He called on faith leaders and special religious education volunteers to help connect the Office of the Children’s Guardian with smaller, hard-to-reach organisations that fall under the Child Safe and Reportable Conduct schemes.
Mr Kinmond also commended the Department of Education’s commitment to creating safe and inclusive learning environments, which includes a new hotline to support school students and staff reporting religious bullying and discrimination.
