Our CommitmentThank you for taking the time to explore our Diocese and its principles concerning the safety of our Church community for you. This is truly important to us and we hope that you will be reassured by our commitment, words and actions. Worldwide, in Australia, in our Diocese and in your local parish, the Anglican Church is committed to the physical, emotional and spiritual welfare and safety of all people. We affirm all people have the right to be safe in our church and be respected, and have their views and opinions valued at all times. We are blessed to live in a country that legislates for people’s safety and we are committed to making sure this is the case at all times. God calls God’s body the church to minister to vulnerable people whoever they are and wherever this may be. The Bible also names groups of people who are vulnerable and who need special care and attention, because their treatment in society makes them powerless (Ex. 22:21-22; Deut. 10:17-19; Jer. 22:2-4; James 1:27). Our systems, policies and practices are intended to create and maintain a Safe Church and have been developed and worked on over time, always focused on helping us live out our biblical mandate and our responsibilities under Australian law. This is an ongoing work of the Church that seeks to ensure continuous improvement over time. We remain open to the expectations of the wider community and are alert and actively diligent about our own commitment to the welfare and safety of all, and with particular attention to those who are most vulnerable. Apology We are deeply and unutterably sorrowful and apologise absolutely for the mistakes we have made in the past and where these still happen today, due to our own failures and unwillingness to deal with these realities for individuals and groups. We continue to learn actively from the past and from those who personally experienced wrongs and abuses from people for whom we were responsible, so we might continue to listen and learn; and in so doing, learn to speak humbly from our own brokenness. We seek to correct the mistakes we have made and support the victims who have advised us of their abuse. We seek to prevent mistakes occurring in the future and we are doing all we can to prevent this and welcome any feedback and information to help us in this commitment. We participate in the National Redress Scheme through the Anglican Representative National Redress Scheme nationally, and we continue to offer a Diocesan Redress Scheme. This latter Scheme is available through the Provincial (WA) Professional Standards Director which works independently of the Diocese to ensure such reports and wrongdoing are dealt with promptly and confidentially. The Director works directly with those who have been harmed. The contact details for this Scheme are at the foot of each page of our website. The application form and policy is also highlighted on this page. Statutes, Policies and Procedures The Diocese has a number of Church laws (Canons and Statutes) policies and processes to support its Safe Church systems and culture. The Anglican Church's national laws (Canons) can be found on the Anglican Church of Australia website. In addition, this Diocese has its own Statutes and supporting documentation. These apply to all our leaders, clergy and lay people who participate in the Church. These documents include: Statutes The Professional Standards Statute 2004 The Diocesan Tribunal Statute 1985-2018 Codes of Behaviour: Faithfulness in Service - For all clergy The Code of Conduct - For Licensed Lay Ministers, Authorised Church Workers and Volunteers Being Together - For all Anglicans FiS Sections 3&5 - For all Church Workers engaging with ministry to children under 18 years Policies Application Form for the Bunbury Diocese Redress Scheme Redress and Pastoral Care Policy The Grievance, Conflict Management and Bullying Policy 2018 The Family Violence and Domestic Abuse Policy 2019 There are a range of policies and procedures which you will find on the 'Resources' page, under 'Parish Admin' and contained in our Parish Handbook, Safe Church Handbook; and in our Church legislation in the Statutes (see in the 'Resources' page, in 'Statutes'). If you have any questions, please contact the Diocesan Office on 08 9721 2100. |
VolunteersIf you wish to volunteer in any ministry in the Bunbury Diocese you will to need to comply with our Safe Church requirements. You should discuss these requirements with your parish Safe Church Contact Person or Parish Clergy in the first instance.
If you need to download forms or wish to look up any other Safe Church information please click here for the Safe Church Handbook Safe Church Training
Online Training should be organised through your the designated Safe Church contact person in your parish.
Safe Church Contact Person TrainingThis training is provided periodically. Please contact the Diocesan Office for further information and check out our Diary Dates on the front page of the website.
Mandatory Reporter Training This training is required to be completed by all Clergy (including active PTO's) and Licensed Lay Ministers (including Safe Church Contact Persons) before 1 November 2022. Please click here for information and online training instructions. CLERGY MINISTRY WELLBEING AND DEVELOPMENT
Please find the forms for Clergy Ministry Wellbeing and Development below. Master Form Outlining what is required.
Download this file first to see what you need. ![]()
Year 1 Forms
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Year 2 Form
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Year 3 Form
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Forms Required For All Years:
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The National Policy and Guidelines in Full
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