Victoria | 19th August 2019
Under the patronage of His Eminence Metropolitan Basilios, the first Childsafe Workshop was held for all the parishes of Victoria as part of the ongoing objective of creating a safe environment for the children of our Archdiocese. Kh. Myriam, the Archdiocese Childsafe Officer, presented to the clergy, childsafe officers and Sunday school teachers representing all the parishes of Victoria on the following topics:
- What is Child Abuse?
- What is Childsafe?
- The Archdiocese’s Childsafe Policies and Procedures.
The workshop began with some interactive discussions about what being ‘childsafe’ means and focusing particularly on the seven standards as outlined by the Royal Commission in Victoria. Kh. Myriam provided scenarios about potential concerns that could arise within the regular parish activities and how to be proactive in primary prevention and the need for ongoing risk assessments within the parish communities.
The Policies and Procedures established by the Archdiocese were outlined with due diligence and were met with enthusiasm and positivity. The participants were guided through the policies and focus was placed on reporting and sound record keeping, ensuring that the privacy and safety of children always remains paramount.
The workshop was a great opportunity for the participants to meet Kh. Myriam, the Child Safe Officer; to have an open dialogue with her and other local members learning from each other’s experiences in the area of Childsafety. All the attendees left with a positive and strengthened outlook in the area of child safety and we can be rest assured that our children and future generations are in good care as our Archdiocese continues to strive for excellence in creating a childsafe environment.
