Introduction
1. Disciples Church Springfield is committed to providing a child-safe and child-friendly environment.
2. Disciples Church adopts the ChildSafe Safety Management System (ChildSafe SMS) and is committed to its sound implementation.
3. Disciples Church is committed to ensuring that our ministries and supporting policies are godly and just. We seek to promote an environment in which children are affirmed as being of equal dignity and worth given by God to all people as His image-bearers.
4. This policy applies to every person involved in children’s or youth ministry at Disciples Church. A ministry includes any activity authorised by Disciples Church, including online activities.
5. For the purpose of this policy and according to law, a child is a person under the age of 18 years.
2. Disciples Church adopts the ChildSafe Safety Management System (ChildSafe SMS) and is committed to its sound implementation.
3. Disciples Church is committed to ensuring that our ministries and supporting policies are godly and just. We seek to promote an environment in which children are affirmed as being of equal dignity and worth given by God to all people as His image-bearers.
4. This policy applies to every person involved in children’s or youth ministry at Disciples Church. A ministry includes any activity authorised by Disciples Church, including online activities.
5. For the purpose of this policy and according to law, a child is a person under the age of 18 years.
The People Responsible
6. The Elder Board of Disciples Church Springfield is ultimately responsible for ensuring that Disciples Church is a child safe organisation. The Board commits to promote a culture of child safety across all ministries by ensuring that policies and practices are regularly reviewed, improved, and aligned with all relevant legislation.
7. The Elder Board has appointed David Machin, a Board Director, to the role of Risk Management Officer (‘RMO’). The RMO is responsible for overseeing the integration of ChildSafe SMS across Disciples Church as a whole and reporting quarterly to the Elder Board on this.
8. The Child Safety Coordinator (‘Coordinator’) is Emily Oliver. The Coordinator is responsible for ensuring the implementation of ChildSafe SMS and reporting monthly to the RMO on this.
9. Team Leaders appointed to recognised positions in Church ministries or are responsible for Team Members and participants in those ministries.
10. Team Members are volunteers invited by Team Leaders to assist in their ministry.
7. The Elder Board has appointed David Machin, a Board Director, to the role of Risk Management Officer (‘RMO’). The RMO is responsible for overseeing the integration of ChildSafe SMS across Disciples Church as a whole and reporting quarterly to the Elder Board on this.
8. The Child Safety Coordinator (‘Coordinator’) is Emily Oliver. The Coordinator is responsible for ensuring the implementation of ChildSafe SMS and reporting monthly to the RMO on this.
9. Team Leaders appointed to recognised positions in Church ministries or are responsible for Team Members and participants in those ministries.
10. Team Members are volunteers invited by Team Leaders to assist in their ministry.
Appointment Procedure
11. A person who wishes to serve in any ministry position listed in Item 2 of Schedule 1 must first go through the following Appointment Procedure:
12. A person who has been charged with a disqualifying offence (whether convicted or not) cannot be involved in child-related programs or work in close proximity to them.
13. Blue Card holders must notify Blue Card Services of any changes to their police
information and receive a status determination. Such changes must be
communicated to the Coordinator.
14. The Coordinator must maintain an appointment register of volunteers serving in children’s and youth ministries. Appointments must be renewed every three years.
- Be a member of Disciples Church
- Complete an appointment agreement
- Hold a current Queensland Blue Card linked to Disciples Church
- Provide two references: one from their Discipleship leader, and one from a person who has known the applicant for more than two years
- Complete relevant training
- Agree to a standard of conduct as described in relevant policies
12. A person who has been charged with a disqualifying offence (whether convicted or not) cannot be involved in child-related programs or work in close proximity to them.
13. Blue Card holders must notify Blue Card Services of any changes to their police
information and receive a status determination. Such changes must be
communicated to the Coordinator.
14. The Coordinator must maintain an appointment register of volunteers serving in children’s and youth ministries. Appointments must be renewed every three years.
Training Procedure
15. The RMO, Coordinator, Team Leaders and Team Members must be trained in accordance with the relevant training schedule provided by ChildSafe.
16. The Coordinator must maintain a training register. Retraining must be completed within a reasonable time.
17. Additional face-to-face training for Team Members and Team Leaders will be as arranged by the Coordinator.
16. The Coordinator must maintain a training register. Retraining must be completed within a reasonable time.
17. Additional face-to-face training for Team Members and Team Leaders will be as arranged by the Coordinator.
Permissions
18. A ministry activity cannot go ahead without approval from the Coordinator, using the ChildSafe SMS Permission to Proceed Procedure. This is a fundamental principle for all ministries involving children and youth at Disciples Church.
19. Approval is required when adding or varying the activities within an existing program.
20. Parent or guardian permission must be given prior to a child’s participation in any program run by Disciples Church or associated with a Ministry. This can be informal (the caregiver drops the child at the program) or formal (camp permission forms).
19. Approval is required when adding or varying the activities within an existing program.
20. Parent or guardian permission must be given prior to a child’s participation in any program run by Disciples Church or associated with a Ministry. This can be informal (the caregiver drops the child at the program) or formal (camp permission forms).
General Rules For Conduct
21. Every person involved in ministry at Disciples Church must treat the safety and care of children and vulnerable people as paramount.
22. Each person involved in ministry at Disciples Church must comply with the Code of Conduct.
23. Breaches of the Code of Conduct may result in disciplinary action under the Discipline Procedure outlined in Section 16.2 of the Constitution of Disciples Church Springfield.
24. Online activities and related conduct are set out in the Child Safe Online Engagement Policy.
25. The only person authorised to speak to the media in relation to any Disciples Church ministry is the Lead Pastor. No other person should speak to the media unless approved by the Lead Pastor or the Board.
26. Parents and guardians must be provided the opportunity to be informed of the scope of the program and all its activities, including its schedule, the platform to be used (if online), and safeguarding steps in place.
27. Parents, guardians and children must be provided the opportunity and method to contact the Team to ask questions and discuss any concerns.
22. Each person involved in ministry at Disciples Church must comply with the Code of Conduct.
23. Breaches of the Code of Conduct may result in disciplinary action under the Discipline Procedure outlined in Section 16.2 of the Constitution of Disciples Church Springfield.
24. Online activities and related conduct are set out in the Child Safe Online Engagement Policy.
25. The only person authorised to speak to the media in relation to any Disciples Church ministry is the Lead Pastor. No other person should speak to the media unless approved by the Lead Pastor or the Board.
26. Parents and guardians must be provided the opportunity to be informed of the scope of the program and all its activities, including its schedule, the platform to be used (if online), and safeguarding steps in place.
27. Parents, guardians and children must be provided the opportunity and method to contact the Team to ask questions and discuss any concerns.
Engagement and Reporting
28. Disciples Church seeks to cultivate an open and honest culture. Our practices aim to anticipate and respond to these varied needs to ensure every child is welcomed, valued, and protected.
29. Church welcomes the role of parents and carers in supporting child safety. We are committed to keeping families informed about our safety practices and encouraging open communication. We value family input as a crucial component in strengthening our approach to child safety. Feedback can be submitted verbally or through a form on our church app.
30. Children in our programs are provided ways to share their views or raise concerns about their safety and wellbeing, including via anonymous feedback forms accessible by QR codes in program spaces. All feedback will be reviewed and
considered to improve our programs.
31. Allegations of abuse are profoundly serious and must be dealt with rigorously. Children should be believed and at all stages the primary goal must be the best interest of the child.
32. Incidents, suspicions of abuse, disclosures and complaints must all be reported and acted upon as soon as possible, in accordance with the Child Safety Reporting and Investigations Policy and the Child Harm and Abuse Response Policy. Steps must be taken to ensure the safety of children once any concerns are raised.
29. Church welcomes the role of parents and carers in supporting child safety. We are committed to keeping families informed about our safety practices and encouraging open communication. We value family input as a crucial component in strengthening our approach to child safety. Feedback can be submitted verbally or through a form on our church app.
30. Children in our programs are provided ways to share their views or raise concerns about their safety and wellbeing, including via anonymous feedback forms accessible by QR codes in program spaces. All feedback will be reviewed and
considered to improve our programs.
31. Allegations of abuse are profoundly serious and must be dealt with rigorously. Children should be believed and at all stages the primary goal must be the best interest of the child.
32. Incidents, suspicions of abuse, disclosures and complaints must all be reported and acted upon as soon as possible, in accordance with the Child Safety Reporting and Investigations Policy and the Child Harm and Abuse Response Policy. Steps must be taken to ensure the safety of children once any concerns are raised.
Documentation, Review and Continuous Improvement
33. Disciples Church is committed to continuous improvement in child safety. Feedback from children, families, staff, and volunteers, as well as insights from incident reviews, inform improvements to our practices and policies.
34. Child Safety policies guide all ministry activities and are reviewed annually by the RMO to ensure ongoing compliance with legislative requirements and best practice standards.
35. Information and documents that contain personal information must be stored confidentially and securely in accordance with the Disciples Church Privacy Policy.
36. The procedures and other documents used by Disciples Church to implement this policy are set out in Items 3 and 4 of Schedule 1.
37. This policy was last updated in November 2023.
34. Child Safety policies guide all ministry activities and are reviewed annually by the RMO to ensure ongoing compliance with legislative requirements and best practice standards.
35. Information and documents that contain personal information must be stored confidentially and securely in accordance with the Disciples Church Privacy Policy.
36. The procedures and other documents used by Disciples Church to implement this policy are set out in Items 3 and 4 of Schedule 1.
37. This policy was last updated in November 2023.
Schedule 1
1. The people that must have valid and linked Blue Cards:
2. The people that must be screened by the Appointment Procedure:
3. Policies referenced in this document:
- All Elders
- All Deacons
- All Pastors
- The RMO
- The Coordinator
- All Team Leaders
- All Team Members
2. The people that must be screened by the Appointment Procedure:
- The RMO
- The Coordinator
- All Team Leaders
- All Team Members
3. Policies referenced in this document:
- Code of Conduct
- Child Harm and Abuse Response Policy
- Child Safety Reporting and Investigations Policy Privacy Policy
- Constitution of Disciples Church Springfield
- Child Safe Online Engagement Policy
- Appointment Procedure
- Training Procedure
- Permission to Proceed Procedure