AUSTRALIA
ABC News
By Oliver Jacques
One of Australia’s most senior child protection bureaucrats has expressed concern with the way governments monitor incidents of child abuse within religious institutions.
NSW Deputy Ombudsman Steve Kinmond runs a watchdog scheme in his state that checks how schools, churches, childcare and foster care agencies handle complaints of child abuse.
He said there was a “hodgepodge” arrangement in place where some religious institutions were covered by his watchdog functions and others were not.
“We have a curious situation, and somewhat unhelpful situation where some religious organisations come under our jurisdiction and some don’t,” Mr Kinmond said.
“The issue that the churches have raised is that they are required to have working with children checks, but we have a hodgepodge arrangement as to whether the church or part of the church is under our jurisdiction.
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