Our Lady Queen of Apostles Parish - Safeguarding Program

Creating a Safe and Welcoming Parish for Everyone

Our Lady Queen of Apostles Parish, Riverton, acknowledges that safeguarding is a shared responsibility prioritising the care, protection and best interests of children and adults at risk. As a parish family, we are committed to ensuring that Our Lady Queen of Apostles Church remains a place where faith is nurtured, relationships are built on trust, and every person can participate with confidence, knowing they are respected, protected and cared for.

By providing a safe environment, actively identifying, and managing risk, and complying with the Safeguarding policy, guidelines and legal obligations of the Archdiocese, we serve Jesus and uphold human dignity as the foundation of our faith.

We aim for our parish to be safe, welcoming, and inclusive. Our Safeguarding officers assist in creating a safe environment for all. They are the first point of contact for any safeguarding concerns and support the implementation of the National Catholic Safeguarding Standards.

We are committed to implementing the National Catholic Safeguarding Standards (NCSS). A self-assessment (Safeguarding Activities Assessment Tool – SAAT) is annually performed to continuously improve and monitor the implementation of the NCSS.

Our Safeguarding Commitment

We are committed to fostering a parish community where every person is treated with dignity, respect and compassion. The safety and wellbeing of children, young people and vulnerable adults is central to our mission and reflects the Gospel values of love, justice and care for one another.

Safeguarding is the responsibility of every member of our parish community. Together, we strive to create an environment where everyone feels welcomed, valued and safe to participate in the life of the Church.

Our parish is committed to implementing the safeguarding policies and procedures of the Catholic Archdiocese of Perth. This commitment includes:

Promoting a culture of safety, respect and inclusion.
Ensuring clergy, employees and volunteers understand and fulfil their safeguarding responsibilities.
Safe recruitment and screening of those working with children and vulnerable people.
Ongoing safeguarding education and training.
Maintaining clear standards of behaviour through the Archdiocesan Code of Conduct.
Responding promptly, sensitively and appropriately to any safeguarding concerns or disclosures.

We encourage anyone who has concerns about the safety or wellbeing of a child, young person or vulnerable adult to speak up. Every concern is taken seriously and managed in accordance with Archdiocesan policies and relevant legal reporting obligations.

If you have a safeguarding concern or would like advice, please contact either one of our Parish Safeguarding Officers via email:

Safeguarding Office of the Perth Catholic Archdiocese

You may also contact the Safeguarding Office of the Catholic Archdiocese of Perth, which provides guidance, support and information regarding safeguarding matters.

Archdiocese of Perth Safeguarding Office 29 Victoria Square, Perth WA 6000, phone (08) 9221 7762, and email safeguarding@perthcatholic.org.au.

Safeguarding Policies, Guidelines and Resources

You can find out more about the safeguarding program guidelines, protective behaviours, resources and story books at https://safeguarding.perthcatholic.org.au/

To view the Archdiocese's Volunteer Screening Information, go to https://safeguarding.perthcatholic.org.au/asmp/

Reporting Abuse

If you have concerns about the safety and well-being of a child or adult within the context of the Catholic Archdiocese of Perth or wish to report abuse, you can either:

• Email our Safeguarding Officers

Safeguarding officers are the first point of contact for any safeguarding concerns;

• Submit a Safeguarding Concern Report Form

This is an online form that will be sent to the Safeguarding Program Office of the Catholic Archdiocese of Perth;

• Call the Safeguarding Program Office of the Catholic Archdiocese of Perth on (08) 9221 7762.

Program Feedback

You are encouraged to provide feedback for the continuous improvement of the Safeguarding Program. Feedback can be submitted to https://safeguarding.perthcatholic.org.au/feedback/

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