Child Protection Unit
IMPORTANT
A number of changes have been made by the Commission for Children and
Young People to the Working with Children Check requirements that apply
to PCNSW. These changes were made effective from 2 January 2007.
To ensure that PCNSW is compliant with child protection legislation a Working with Children Check Annual Summary for the pastoral charge has been sent to all pastoral charges. This Annual Summary lists all people for whom the CPU has received forms and also shows SRE Card Expiry Dates.
The appropriate forms must be provided to the CPU for all ministers, home missionaries, deaconesses, licentiates, church workers, FES workers, metro trainees, elders, paid employees and volunteers working with children or young people within the pastoral charge.
Please click on "Forms - NSW' for NEW REQUIREMENTS about which forms are to be completed by which person.
To ensure that PCNSW is compliant with child protection legislation a Working with Children Check Annual Summary for the pastoral charge has been sent to all pastoral charges. This Annual Summary lists all people for whom the CPU has received forms and also shows SRE Card Expiry Dates.
The appropriate forms must be provided to the CPU for all ministers, home missionaries, deaconesses, licentiates, church workers, FES workers, metro trainees, elders, paid employees and volunteers working with children or young people within the pastoral charge.
Please click on "Forms - NSW' for NEW REQUIREMENTS about which forms are to be completed by which person.
The Child Protection Unit is an initiative of the Presbyterian Church
of New South Wales and is indicative of our commitment to providing all
parishes, presbyteries, organisations, and committees with the best
possible support, advice and resources in relation to child protection
matters.
The director of the unit is Mrs Elizabeth McClean.
The director of the unit is Mrs Elizabeth McClean.
Elizabeth is assisted in her work by Courtney Chan
In brief, the role of the CPU involves:
- enabling the provision of support for those offended against, those accused of offending, and those convicted of offending, and the monitoring of this support,
- acting as a liaison point to provide appropriate internal and external professional advice and support when required,
- providing a point of liaison for the Trustees, the New South Wales Ombudsman, the Child Protection Enforcement Agency, DoCS and other parties as required,
- facilitating consultation, briefings, and debriefings in need,
- receiving notification of all child protection complaints,
- taking action regarding all complaints, including providing information about the progress of the complaint to all involved,
- monitoring the progress of counselling for which the Presbyterian Church has undertaken to provide costs,
- enabling the provision of appropriate pastoral care for complainants, the person/s against whom a complaint has been made, and other affected persons (including congregations and families), and monitoring this care,
- ensuring that the Presbyterian Church in New South Wales carries out all obligations under the Child Protection Legislation in relation to clergy and church workers, and
- undertaking employment screening of all new applicants and transfers from outside the Presbyterian Church in New South Wales.
In brief, the role of the CPU involves:
- enabling the provision of support for those offended against, those accused of offending, and those convicted of offending, and the monitoring of this support,
- acting as a liaison point to provide appropriate internal and external professional advice and support when required,
- providing a point of liaison for the Trustees, the New South Wales Ombudsman, the Child Protection Enforcement Agency, DoCS and other parties as required,
- facilitating consultation, briefings, and debriefings in need,
- receiving notification of all child protection complaints,
- taking action regarding all complaints, including providing information about the progress of the complaint to all involved,
- monitoring the progress of counselling for which the Presbyterian Church has undertaken to provide costs,
- enabling the provision of appropriate pastoral care for complainants, the person/s against whom a complaint has been made, and other affected persons (including congregations and families), and monitoring this care,
- ensuring that the Presbyterian Church in New South Wales carries out all obligations under the Child Protection Legislation in relation to clergy and church workers, and
- undertaking employment screening of all new applicants and transfers from outside the Presbyterian Church in New South Wales.
The CPU continually review all existing procedures to assess their appropriateness.
All enquiries and complaints in regard to child protection matters should be directed to Elizabeth McClean, Director, Child Protection Unit at Presbyterian Social Services (marked confidential if appropriate), or by email at emcclean@pcnsw.org.au or on (02) 96909324.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can be of assistance in relation to a complaint, an enquiry or if you would simply like more information about child protection issues. Please be assured that all matters will be dealt with promptly and confidentially.
