Culture of Safety
The Culture of Safety Unit works with people throughout the Church – whether in congregations, presbyteries or Synod – to make sure our Synod is a safe place for all.
Our special concern is to develop a culture and systems to encourage behaviour that helps Church people – both ordained and lay – to consider the conduct, ethics and responsibilities required of them.
We provide resources for reflection on ethical ministry and supervision and resources for congregations to assist them – and the whole Church – to be a safer place for all people.
Culture of Safety is not about trip hazards, fire extinguishers and safe electrical connections. For that important work, you need to visit Occupational Health and Safety.
Keeping children safe
This suite of resources assists congregations and Church councils to implement the Child Safe Policy (and its requirements). Child Safety is a key component of who we are as a Church – as well as a legal requirement of all organisations who engage with children and young people. Click here for more information on policies, processes and resources to assist Church councils to care for children by implementing the Child Safe Policy.
Code of Ethics and Ministry Practice
The Assembly Code of Ethics and Ministry Practice applies to all ministers, including retired ministers who are involved in any active ministry, candidates, pastors, chaplains and lay people engaged in ministry. All of these ministry agents are required to attend two Ethical Ministry Refreshers each year. Contact your presbytery for dates for the next Ethical Ministry Refresher in your area.
If you are concerned that a minister or other ministry agent has breached the Code of Ethics, please contact your presbytery minister.
Ministry supervision
This is required of all ministers in active ministry. A list of UCA supervisors to ministers is available by contacting cultureofsafetycontact@victas.uca.org.au or visiting the Australasian Association of Supervision.
Contacts
The Culture of Safety Unit is located at Level 2, Wesley Place, 130 Lonsdale St, Melbourne.
For general enquiries, email us here.
To learn more about Keeping Children Safe, click here.
For Working With Children/Vulnerable People Checks, click here.