Resources
All Uniting Church in Australia entities are welcome to use these resources, especially those with child-related services or activities.
Why is a focus on Child Safety theologically important for the Uniting Church in Australia?
Concern for the safety and wellbeing of all, including children and young people, is part of our call to respect and value all people universally.
Jesus’ teaching crystalised a biblical theme of care for those of us humans who are in particular need—a call to feed the hungry, visit the imprisoned, bring sight to the blind, to care for the widow and the orphan. (e.g. Is. 61:1, Luke 4:18, Matt 25: 31-45, James 1:27)
This emphasis on care for the vulnerable leads us to take note of times when our systems and processes are vulnerable to enabling abuse or mistreatment of members of our community, especially those who may have less power or ability to protect themselves.
Jesus blessed children and held them up as exemplars to which others should look, calling his disciples to receive the Kingdom of God “as a little child”. He praised children as examples of humility and those who become like children as “the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
In Jesus’ teaching that welcoming a child is welcoming Christ, we powerfully see the responsibility to care for children and that mistreatment of a child is unacceptable (Matt 18: 5–7)
This strengthens our commitment to be a Safe Church for all people.
The National Safe Church Unit and Uniting Church Redress hosted an online forum to discuss the work the Uniting Church is doing to ensure we are a Safe Church for all People. If you missed the forum, and would like to hear the conversation, click here.
UCA National Safe Church poster
What is UCA National Child Safe Training?
UCA National Child Safe Principles Poster — English
UCA National Child Safe Principles Poster – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
UCA National Child Safe Principles Poster — Chinese
UCA National Child Safe Principles Poster — Korean
UCA National Child Safe Principles Poster — Indonesian
UCA National Child Safe Principles Poster — Spanish
UCA National Child Safe Principles Poster — Portuguese
UCA National Child Safe Principles Poster — Niuean
UCA National Child Safe Principles Poster — Fijian
UCA National Child Safe Principles Poster — Tongan
UCA National Child Safe Principles Poster — Samoan
UCA National Child Safe Principles PowerPoint Presentation
A Safe Church for First Peoples Conversation
A Safe Church for all people — Flyer for children
UCA Child Safe Sunday Resources
Tools for Listening is a practical guide to engaging children and young people in your community on decisions that affect them.
It has been developed by the Uniting Church in Australia to enable the implementation of:
- Principle 2 from the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations: “Children and young people are informed about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously”.
- Recommendations of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse:
- That children and young people are involved in the strategic development, design, implementation and evaluation of initiatives
- That children participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously
- That families and communities are informed and involved
Tools for Listening will assist you in the process of consulting, involving and collaborating with children, young people and adults on programs and activities in any Uniting Church entity.
You can use Tools for Listening when planning or reviewing your programs and activities to:
- Consult with community members, families and children when planning a new program or activity
- Include and consider feedback when reviewing a program or activity
- Inform people new to your program or activity about codes of conduct and the feedback process.
Tools for Listening – explanatory notes
On this page you will find helpful resources to be used alongside your Synod’s safeguarding policies, practice and tools.
Resources specific to Synods can be found on individual Synod websites.
We are constantly adding resources. If there are areas or topics you would like to see added, please contact us.
A safe Church is who we are called to be
As a community of faith, the Uniting Church in Australia is committed to providing safe environments for all people including children and young people, so that they may live life in all its fullness. Read more here
Theological basis for safe church
See Theological Foundation on this page
Safeguarding advice and support
- National Safe Church Unit – works collaboratively with Synods to support the Church in growing and sustaining a culture of safety, so all parts of the Church are places where people feel safe. The Unit’s work spans ministry and mission, including the Church’s congregations, agencies, hospitals and schools. More here
- Synod Safe Church Contacts
- UCA Redress Limited – the national body for the Uniting Church responding and supporting children and vulnerable persons who have experienced abuse.
Responding to concerns about safety of a child or young person
If you are concerned about the safety of any person, speak up.
Contact your Synod or the National Safe Church Unit.
Safeguarding training
National Child Safe Training
This training supports everyone across the Church in understanding what being a safe Church means, and what is expected from each of us in living this commitment to safety. Synods are rolling out the training to in the best way for their members and operations. Contact your Synod Safe Church Lead about how you can access the training in your Synod.
Webinars and forums
NSCU runs webinars and forums for adults in the Church. See the News section for current options.
Safer recruitment
Staff and volunteers – national policy framework
Refer to your Synod for their policy and practice.
Safeguarding resources
Posters – displaying information in UCA churches and other venues about the UCA’s commitment to safeguarding, Principles of a Child Safe UCA, and information about where to get help with safeguarding issues supports a culture of safety.
- Principles of a Child Safe UCA
Flyers
Tools – see the tab on this page for these resources
- Conversation starter for congregations: Principles of a Child Safe UCA
- Tools for listening: practical guide to engaging children and young people on decisions affecting them.
Videos
- First People convention
- Embedding safeguarding into leadership, governance and culture
- Listening to the voices of children and young people
External resources
- eSafety Commissioner – useful resources especially for children, young people and parents/carers
- National Office for Child Safety
Safeguarding national policy
Communication
- Safe Church News
Quarterly e-news update, particularly for ministers and congregational Safe Church Contacts. Sign up here
Please join the National Safe Church Unit Facebook page
- Safe Church Calendar – see tab here
Feedback
Feedback is welcome and appreciated. Please email
Child Safe Policy Framework
Child Safe Screening—National Policy Framework
National Child Safe Policy Framework
Person of Concern
Reports
Annual Report to the National Office for Child Safety 2021
Annual Report to the National Office for Child Safety 2020
Nationally consistent guidance and information tools for Ministry Agents.
Tools are currently being created in consultation with stakeholders across the Church, they will be flexible to support congregations and presbyteries in using them, and will be available below as they are developed.
- Best practice for retired Ministry Agents in congregations
- Code of Ethics
- Conflicts of interest
- Dealing with a breach of the code of conduct by a colleague
- Dealing with differences – representing opposing views
- Gifts and fees
- Particular relationships
- Pastoral relationships
- Privacy, including laws governing electronic communications
- Record keeping
- Recording and note taking
- Relationships with the Councils of the Church
- Self-care
- Supervision
- Understanding and use of a minister’s powers
- Use of social media
11 Mar Webinar: Online Safety for Adults who are youth leaders
21 Mar Harmony Day
5 May Forum: Safeguarding children and young people in the UCA
16-22 May Volunteers Week
12 Aug International Youth Day
4 Sept UCA Child Safe Sunday
5-11 Sept Child Protection Week
22 Oct Anniversary of the Apology to victims and survivors of institutional child sexual abuse
22-30 Oct National Children’s Week
20 Nov Universal Children’s Day
* Key dates for UCA activity: resources/messages will be shared
Dates led by external entities
We welcome feedback, especially from children, young people and members of the Uniting Church. If you would like to share feedback or contact us for more information on our safe church activities, please email safechurch@nat.uca.org.au