By Steve Rice
The Advertiser
July 11, 2011
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/ensuring-children-feel-safe-at-church/story-e6frea6u-1226091913204
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| Lutheran Church administration director Judi Sykes with Phoebe and Benjamin. |
THE church needs to be recognised as a safe place for kids to be, a Lutheran Church director says.
Lutheran Church administration director Judi Sykes - whose church's safe-place and child-safe policies are designed to ensure people in general, and children in particular, are cared for and protected from harm - said churches had a duty of care when working with children.
The safe-place policy, introduced in 1997, trains people within the church about sexual abuse and sexual harassment within the church structure.
The child-safe policy, introduced in 2006 in accordance with changes to the Children's Protection Act, is a safety management system focused on the care of children, as well as on identifying indicators of child abuse and dealing with suspicions, disclosures and allegations relating to child-protection issues.
Mrs Sykes said the church community trusted the policies because its members knew someone cared and would listen.
"The duty of care for children is the most important thing, because the children are vulnerable," she said.
Lutheran Church attendees Benjamin and Phoebe, both 11, said the child-safe policies provided them with a safety net when attending church.
"I like to know I am safe. It is a good feeling," Benjamin said.
"You don't get hurt. (I think) it's very important," Phoebe said.
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