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	PROTECT OUR CHILDREN 
	All children have the right to feel safe at all times. The emotional, physical and spiritual safety, well-being and dignity of children is an integral part of the teachings and values of the Catholic Church. 
	Here at Our Lady of the Way, Kingsbury, we commit to help keep our children safe from all harm. 
	Our parish values children as an important part of its life and teaches of the need to respect their dignity.  
	Children encounters with adults in the Church can have lasting consequences. It is important for the formation of children that our encounters with them affirm them and create a positive experience of the Church. 
	On April 2015, the Victorian State Government introduced minimum Child Safe Standards that apply to organisations to help protect children from all forms of abuse. These Child Safe Standards have come about in response to the Betrayal of Trust Inquiry. 
	The Child Safe Standards consist of the following seven standards that aim to create and maintain a child safe environment.. 
	Standard 1: Strategies to embed an organisational culture of child safety, including through effective leadership arrangementsStandard 2: A child safe policy or statement of commitment to child safety
 Standard 3: A code of conduct that establishes clear expectations for appropriate behaviour with children
 Standard 4: Screening, supervision, training and other human resources practices that reduce the risk of child abuse by new and existing personnel
 Standard 5: Processes for responding to and reporting suspected child abuse
 Standard 6: Strategies to identify and reduce or remove risks of child abuse
 Standard 7: Strategies to promote the participation and empowerment of children
 
	Our Lady of the Way needs to ensure compliance with the above Child Safe Standards by January 2017.  
	Our lifestyle as Christians and the practices we are expected to live out will fulfil the requirements outlined in the above standards. 
	For this reason, Our Lady of the Way, has developed the following child safety documents which aim to protect the rights of all children and young people through raising awareness, preventing, reporting and responding to issues related to protecting our children. 
	Click here to download our Child Safety Policy 
	Listed below are the resources supporting child safety at Our Lady of the Way Parish: 
	Child Safety at Our Lady of the Way will be managed by a Child Safety Team as follows: 
	
		The Parish Administrator Father Trac Nguyen - 0488020364 
	
		Margaret Leonard - 0407841232
		Carolyn Nguyen - 0423433245 
	Listed below are the resources and requirement of Victorian Government: |