Religious organisations to meet in child safe community of practice
A community of practice for religious organisations will hold its first meeting in August to share information about implementing the Child Safe Standards and other obligations under the NSW Child Safe Scheme.
As well as the Child Safe Scheme, this community of practice will focus on building strong responses to other safeguarding and reporting obligations that work together to keep children safe, such as the Reportable Conduct Scheme.
NSW Children’s Guardian, Steve Kinmond, said he was looking forward to hosting this event.
The community of practice has been months in the making, beginning with an approach by Rabbi Mendel Kastel looking for ways religious bodies could share their knowledge and experience in protecting children.
‘We made some enquiries and found there was wide-spread support within the sector,’ Mr Kinmond said.
With about 30,000 organisations falling under the Child Safe Scheme – many of which have little regulatory experience - it is essential we establish mechanisms to support their compliance with safeguarding laws and regulations, Mr Kinmond said.
‘I’m working with several other sectors to establish a community of practice model to support them as they put the Child Safe Standards into practice,’ he said.
Attending the first meeting will be representatives from diverse faiths including Jewish, Islamic, Hindu and Baha’i faith leaders, together with Christian denominations: Catholics, Anglicans, Baptists, Presbyterians, Australian Christian Churches, Seventh Day Adventists, Salvation Army and Uniting Church.
Please contact us if your religious organisation would like to be included in this community of practice at media@ocg.nsw.gov.au
