STORY - "New diocesan-wide approach to child protection"

Bishop Michael Malone announced recently that the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle will establish a diocesanwide child protection unit.

“The area of child protection is extremely complex,” Bishop Michael said, “and the effects of child protection issues are
far-reaching.

“I am very conscious that there is a need to develop and preserve high levels of trust in all of our dealings with children. It’s one of the fundamentals of the church’s mission; it affects all areas.”

Bishop Michael acknowledged that breaches of trust on the part of individuals have a devastating effect on victims, families and communities and have set back the mission of the church immeasurably.

“The diocese is a very complex organization,” Bishop Michael said. “It incorporates many agencies, groups and individuals
with different needs possessing varying resources.

“Over recent months I have been discussing the importance of establishing an integrated diocesan-wide approach to child protection with the heads of our diocesan agencies.

“Until now child protection matters involving Catholic schools or Catholic welfare have been managed and resourced well by their respective agencies, the Catholics Schools Office and Centacare Newcastle. But there are areas within the diocese where systems can be improved.

“We realise that because the diocese did not have the systems and resources to draw on in the past we may not have made the best decisions in child protection matters,” he said.

Bishop Michael indicated that the exact structure, responsibilities and policies of the diocesan unit are yet to be determined but a Project Manager has been appointed to work on these tasks in close collaboration with members of the already established Catholic Schools Offi ce Child Protection Unit and staff from Centacare Newcastle.

Ms Helen Keevers, a Social Worker who has been involved in child protection for the last 20 years, has been seconded to this project management role from her position as Children’s Services Manager at Centacare Newcastle. Beginning on 1 February 2005, this secondment will run for six months.

Ms Keevers will work closely with Mrs Anne Gleeson and Ms Renee Tyczynski, both Child Protection Advisors at the Catholic
Schools Office, in developing a proposed model of child protection for the diocese. These specialists will advise and work closely with the bishop and agency leaders in their responses to all child protection matters until the diocesan unit is established.

Since 7 May 1999 the NSW Government has legislated that any organisation providing services for children was required to nominate a head of agency to deal with child protection matters. Until now, the NSW and ACT bishops have accessed the resources of the Catholic Commission for Employment Relations (CCER) for advice in all child protection matters. This head of agency responsibility will shift from CCER to the bishop in each diocese of NSW and the ACT from 1 July 2005.

“Consequently, our plans for a diocesan-wide approach to child protection represent a fundamental change in the way the diocese responds to child protection issues,” said Bishop Michael.

“Once developed the diocesan unit will work closely with other existing child protection services including the Department of Community Services and health services and will report directly to me as a sign of the priority I assign to this issue.”

Ms Keevers said she was looking forward to working with the Catholic Schools Offi ce Child Protection team and other diocesan personnel in establishing the new diocesan unit.

“The fundamental aim of the unit is to create a safe environment for children throughout the diocese. The unit will deal with allegations and adhere to all legislative requirements – to determine due process is followed in all investigations and that natural justice is served; to ensure that the needs for support of all parties are met; to educate and promote the message of child protection across the diocese and also to address the devastating effect of these matters on diocesan communities.”

The diocesan child protection unit will be established officially by July 2005 at which time the Catholic Commission for Employment Relations (CCER) will cease its role as head of agency for the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle in relation to the Ombudsman’s legislation.

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