REPORTING AND CONTACT DETAILS
If a child or adult is in immediate danger you should call 000.
Anyone who believes that a criminal offence has been committed against a child or young person should contact Victoria Police on tel 131 444 or report online –www.onlinereporting.police.vic.gov.au .
Any concerns about risks to children and young people, or any allegations of abuse or unacceptable conduct, should be made to the Professional Standards Unit of the Archdiocese of Melbourne – psu@cam.org.au, tel 9926 5621. (See the reporting poster for further information about reporting to the Archdiocese.)
Our St Dominic's parish Child Safety Contact Person is Denis Fitzgerald, email at safety@stdominics.org.au, tel 0418 136 372. Please feel free to contact Denis on any aspect of safeguarding children and young people, or contact our Parish Priest, Fr Paul Rowse, at parish.priest@stdominics.org.au, tel 9912 6870
If a matter is reported to Victoria Police, advice to the Professional Standards Unit of the Archdiocese and to the Parish child safety contact person would also assist our work to make St Dominic’s and other parts of the Archdiocese safe for all children and young people.
Anyone who believes that a criminal offence has been committed against a child or young person should contact Victoria Police on tel 131 444 or report online –www.onlinereporting.police.vic.gov.au .
Any concerns about risks to children and young people, or any allegations of abuse or unacceptable conduct, should be made to the Professional Standards Unit of the Archdiocese of Melbourne – psu@cam.org.au, tel 9926 5621. (See the reporting poster for further information about reporting to the Archdiocese.)
Our St Dominic's parish Child Safety Contact Person is Denis Fitzgerald, email at safety@stdominics.org.au, tel 0418 136 372. Please feel free to contact Denis on any aspect of safeguarding children and young people, or contact our Parish Priest, Fr Paul Rowse, at parish.priest@stdominics.org.au, tel 9912 6870
If a matter is reported to Victoria Police, advice to the Professional Standards Unit of the Archdiocese and to the Parish child safety contact person would also assist our work to make St Dominic’s and other parts of the Archdiocese safe for all children and young people.
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Introduction
St Dominic’s Parish holds the care, safety and wellbeing of children as a fundamental responsibility.
This page provides links and information relating to our commitment as a parish to be a safe place for all.
It includes links to our key safeguarding documents:
Some posters sum up our messages to young people about our commitment that they be safe and feel safe at our Church, and about their rights and responsibilities.
Sections further down this webpage provide details on our parish Safeguarding Committee
Any queries, comments, suggestions etc about making our parish as safe as possible for children, young people and all who might be vulnerable would be welcomed. You should feel free to contact any of:
St Dominic’s Parish holds the care, safety and wellbeing of children as a fundamental responsibility.
This page provides links and information relating to our commitment as a parish to be a safe place for all.
It includes links to our key safeguarding documents:
- St Dominic’s Parish Policy on protection – this document sets out our policy on all aspects of protection of children, including Working With Children Checks for volunteers, and reporting any allegations of abuse or issues of concern
- our Statement of Commitment on Safeguarding Children and Young People is a simple statement of our fundamental commitment to child safety. This Statement is on display in our Church and parish office.
- Our Code of Conduct - all volunteers, staff and clergy are being asked to sign this every three years. (A more detailed Safeguarding Children and Young People Code of Conduct is also recommended reading.)
- Volunteers will also need to complete a Working With Children Check, or ensure that their current card is linked to St Dominic's Parish - click here for details and instructions.
- Our risk management plans for children's liturgy and for our youth group
Some posters sum up our messages to young people about our commitment that they be safe and feel safe at our Church, and about their rights and responsibilities.
Sections further down this webpage provide details on our parish Safeguarding Committee
Any queries, comments, suggestions etc about making our parish as safe as possible for children, young people and all who might be vulnerable would be welcomed. You should feel free to contact any of:
- our parish Child Safety Contact Person, Denis Fitzgerald (tel 0418 136 372, safety@stdominics.org.au)
- our Parish Priest Fr Paul (tel 9912 6870 x4, parishpriest@stdominics.org.au) or
- our Parish Secretary (tel 9912 6870 x3, secretary@stdominics.org.au)
Safeguarding Sunday 2022
In the Catholic Church in Australia, Safeguarding Sunday is a time to remind ourselves of the importance of ensuring that our Church is a welcome and a safe place for children and young people. On Safeguarding Sunday on 11 September 2022, members of the Parish Safeguarding Committee spoke after each Mass, and an insert in The Dominican newsletter further reminded parishioners of the key role of this responsibility. We also sought feedback on safeguarding via a hard copy and an online survey.
The recent Plenary Council of the Church in Australia reiterated “our profound sorrow that children and young people and vulnerable adults have been abused by clergy, religious and lay workers of the Catholic Church, and that religious leaders have failed to act sufficiently to prevent or respond to abuse”.
That focus naturally leads to the desire to make amends to the people who were abused and to ensure that children and young people will be safe at all times anywhere within the Church.
See other items on this webpage for details about measures we currently have in place to keep our children and young people safe.
The recent Plenary Council of the Church in Australia reiterated “our profound sorrow that children and young people and vulnerable adults have been abused by clergy, religious and lay workers of the Catholic Church, and that religious leaders have failed to act sufficiently to prevent or respond to abuse”.
That focus naturally leads to the desire to make amends to the people who were abused and to ensure that children and young people will be safe at all times anywhere within the Church.
See other items on this webpage for details about measures we currently have in place to keep our children and young people safe.
Information in other languages
Safeguarding Information is available from the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne in the following languages:
Arabic, Burmese, Croatian, Italian, Malayalam, Polish, Chinese, Spanish, Tagalog, Vietnamese - View here
Arabic, Burmese, Croatian, Italian, Malayalam, Polish, Chinese, Spanish, Tagalog, Vietnamese - View here
PARISH STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT
St Dominic’s Parish East Camberwell holds the care, safety and wellbeing of children as a fundamental responsibility of the Church. This commitment is drawn from, and inherent to, the teaching and mission of Jesus Christ, with love, justice and the dignity of each human person at the heart of the Gospel. A culture of safety within the Church ensures that children can actively and fully participate in the life of the Church and realise their potential in a faith community.
Click on the file below for the full text of our parish Statement of Commitment.
- We are committed to upholding the safety and dignity of each child and young person and ensuring that they are able to grow and develop in a caring and supportive environment in our Church.
- We are committed to creating a child safe culture across the Archdiocese that safeguards children and young people from all forms of abuse.
- We are committed to zero tolerance of all forms child abuse and discrimination, and will always act to safeguard children and young people and report suspected abuse promptly to the appropriate authorities.
- We are committed to ensuring that all persons who have, or may be expected to have, contact with children and young people acknowledge their responsibility to safeguard children and young people from abuse and discrimination.
Click on the file below for the full text of our parish Statement of Commitment.
| st_dominics_commitment_statement.pdf |
Follow this link for the Framework on ‘Safeguarding Children, Young People and Vulnerable Persons’ of the Archdiocese of Melbourne, of which we are part. https://cam.org.au/safeguarding-children-young-people-and-vulnerable-persons/
St Dominic's Parish Safeguarding Children and Young People Committee
Our safeguarding Committee is appointed by the Parish Priest and Parish Pastoral Council, to ensure that the safety of children and young people is embedded across the parish, and that all compliance requirements are met. Click here for the terms of reference of the Committee.
The Committee was formed in August 2020. Membership of the Committee comprises (at October 2022)
The Committee was formed in August 2020. Membership of the Committee comprises (at October 2022)
- Denis Fitzgerald, parishioner, Chair
- Rev Paul Rowse OP PP
- Ms Sarah Cleary, St Dominic’s school parent
- Ms Cynthia Viti, member of Parish Pastoral Council
- Parish Secretary
- Mr Carlo David, Pastoral Associate
- Br Oliver Bajon op, Youth Coordinator
- Mr Jacob Wilson, youth volunteer
- representative of St Dominic’s School