Reflection

Safeguarding Sunday

When my girls were young I worried about keeping them safe.  I watched them carefully as they swam at the beach, played in our local park, or rode their bike to a friend’s house.  I clearly remember the first time they travelled by bus to school.  I was tempted to follow in my car to check they had arrived safely.  All children can be vulnerable sometimes.  Like all parents, I wanted to protect my children from all harm, and my worst fears, and to teach them how to be safe as they set out to explore their world.

On Sunday, 10 September, the Catholic Church in Australia marks Safeguarding Sunday.  The day seeks to acknowledge the enormous damage experienced by children and adults within the Catholic Church.  It makes a commitment to practices and protocols that create and maintain safe environments for all.  It also invites us to pray for those who have been harmed.

During the Institutional Abuse Royal Commission, we heard many stories from survivors and their families of the profound trauma and broad-ranging impacts of abuse, experienced during their childhood and throughout their adult lives.  Child abuse can have fatal consequences for some victims.

Safeguarding Sunday reminds us of the need to look after everyone in our school community, especially children and adults at risk.  There are a number of ways we can do this.  If you wish to participate in Child Related Work of any kind in our school, you will need to ensure that your safeguarding requirements are up to date.  

As a Child Related Worker,  you will:

• require a Working With Children Check
• commit to and sign our Code of Conduct which outlines the principles, values and behaviours around which our school operates
• participate in our Child Safety Induction - Parent Helpers Course

You can also voice your concerns about school life, the physical environment, or particular concerns around anyone’s safety. Contact me or speak with Rebecca Heenan (Child Safety Officer) at the school. Together we can ensure that our school is a

place of welcome and safety.

And by the way, I promise I didn’t follow that bus, tempting as it was.

Nicholas Boyhan