Safeguarding Assessments are to be completed annually by all parishes and ministries.

The completed assessment should be used to inform the development of an annual Safeguarding Action Plan, identifying strengths, gaps and areas for continuous improvement.

Please complete the assessment thoughtfully and thoroughly, providing clear and relevant detail in the Evidence/Gaps/Comments fields.

All criteria and fields marked with a red * are mandatory.

There is no requirement or functionality for uploading supporting evidence; however, all relevant evidence should be retained locally.

** Important**

The Office for Safeguarding, external auditors, and government agencies or regulators may request access to Safeguarding Assessments, supporting evidence, and associated Safeguarding Action Plans at any time for review or inspection.

• Religious representatives include priests, deacons, chaplains, religious, religious trainees/aspirants, seminarians.

• Screening checks include Working with children Blue Cards (or exemption cards), criminal history checks (every 3 years), Archdiocesan Prior Conduct Declaration.

• Lay workers include employees, contractors, board members, Pastoral Council members, Finance Council members, volunteers (see the Volunteer Requirements Matrix), trainees.

• Screening checks include Working with children Blue Cards (or exemption cards), criminal history checks (every 3 years), Archdiocesan Prior Conduct Declaration.

• The Safe Behaviour Code must be signed on commencement and every 3 years thereafter.
  

• Safeguarding training must be completed on commencement and every 2 years thereafter.
  

• Each parish and ministry that works or conducts activities with children or adults-at-risk must appoint a Local Safeguarding Representative.
  

• The Archdiocese provides dedicated email accounts for Local Safeguarding Representatives at no cost to parishes and ministries. These accounts operate within the Archdiocesan IT system and are secure and regularly backed up.
  

• Key safeguarding information includes the Safeguarding Commitment Statement, Office for Safeguarding Services contact information, Local Safeguarding Representative photo and contact information, STOPline contact information.

• Information is made highly visible by displaying it in churches, parish offices, parish community halls, parish websites, parish social media posts, parish publications (bulletins, newsletters).
  

• The Safeguarding Incident Report Form must be made freely available in hardcopy in the parish office and the church and electronically on parish websites.
  

• Making safeguarding a standing agenda item prioritises the safety and wellbeing of children and adults-at-risk as per the National Catholic Safeguarding Standards, the Queensland Child Safe Standards, and demonstrates strong governance and accountability.
  

• Routinely tabling safeguarding reports ensures that parish leadership has regular visibility of safeguarding matters, risks, and compliance issues. It enables leaders to monitor trends, review incidents, and confirm that safeguarding actions, responsibilities and statutory obligations are being satisfied.
  

Some examples include:

• Inviting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parishioners to participate in planning or delivering activities and ministries (e.g., offering Welcome to Country, cultural teachings, or creative contributions).

• The parish actively supports events and campaigns (e.g., NAIDOC Week, National Sorry Day) that acknowledge and promote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

• Plans for parish activities and ministries include clearly identified cultural elements, and note community approval where appropriate.

• An Acknowledgement of Country is included at the beginning of parish meetings and significant events.

• Activities and ministries include culturally appropriate symbols or artwork, sourced ethically and with community input.

• Parish communications (posters, newsletters, invitations) include culturally respectful wording and imagery, reviewed for appropriateness.

• Parish Reconciliation Action Plan.
  

• Share safeguarding-related topics and issues during events, via parish websites, via parish social media posts, via direct email, via parish publications (bulletins, newsletters).

Regular activities and ministries may include (but are not limited to):

• Parish office operations (administration, visitor access)

• Mass and liturgical celebrations

• Children’s Liturgy of the Word

• Sacramental preparation programs

• Youth groups events

• Altar server training and coordination

• Parish pastoral care visits (to homes, hospitals, or aged-care facilities)

• Religious education classes / catechesis

• Community gatherings (morning teas, parish BBQs)

• Digital and online ministry (live-streamed Masses, online youth engagement)

Risk assessments should be documented and reviewed annually or where there are changes to how the activities and ministries are conducted.

High-risk activities, ministries and special events, due to their nature, require special planning to ensure that appropriate risk control measures are implemented to protect children and adults-at-risk. Examples include (but are not limited to):

• excursions and pilgrimages

• overnight camps/retreats/events

• billeting

• personal/private one-to-one counselling

• parish fetesjumping castles

• rock climbing

• water-based activities 

Insurance coverage should be confirmed, and risk management plans should be endorsed by the relevant leadership group and signed/approved by the Parish Priest.

• Disclosures, allegations and incidents may trigger legal reporting requirements and other obligations.

• The Safeguarding Service will assess the matter, provide guidance, and ensure it is recorded in the Archdiocesan information management system, where it is securely stored, retained, and routinely backed up.

• All disclosures, allegations, and incidents must be thoroughly documented.

• Records must be securely retained for a minimum of 50 years, or in accordance with legislation (whichever is the longer). 

• Records must not be altered or destroyed without proper authorisation.

• The Sacristy Register is used to record all activities and ministries performed by clergy within the parish.

• Clergy appointed to the parish are expected to complete the Register accurately and consistently.

• Visiting clergy from outside the parish who celebrate or concelebrate the sacraments, or who conduct other activities and ministries, must also record their attendance in the Sacristy Register and provide their Australian Catholic Ministries Register (ACMR) number in Section 2 of the Register.

• All visiting clergy, religious and lay people who wish to provide ministry or religious service within the Archdiocese must seek prior written permission by completing an Application for Short-Term Ministry. The application is assessed and managed by the Episcopal Office and the parish is formally notified of the pending visit.

• Clergy from other Queensland dioceses are granted automatic faculties to minister under the agreement between Queensland Bishops. However, they are required to notify the Archdiocese (Episcopal Office) of their intended visit and its purpose and undertake Safeguarding Training.

External parties may include individuals and religious or non-religious groups. Examples include (but are not limited to):

• a children’s tutor

• a children’s playgroup

• a lay ministry running youth activities

• an organisation running activities for disabled adults

• A Safeguarding Action Plan should address any gaps identified through the Safeguarding Self-Assessment. It should be presented to the parish leadership group for consideration before receiving approval from the Parish Priest.

I confirm that all information recorded in this self-assessment is true and accurate and no material information has been omitted.