The Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle has an absolute and abiding commitment to promote the safety, welfare and wellbeing of all children and vulnerable adults, particularly for those who participate in the life of the Diocese.
As part of this commitment, the Diocese established the Office of Safeguarding (OoSG) to respond to allegations of diocesan workers’ inappropriate and abusive behaviour against children or vulnerable adults. This response usually involves conducting an inquiry, which may be the staging of an alternative dispute resolution process or an investigation into the alleged conduct.
Local diocesan leadership may conduct these inquiries, with OoSG staff overseeing the process, or an OoSG investigator may conduct the inquiry directly. Dependent on the seriousness of the allegation, if the allegation constitutes a ‘reportable conduct’, an OoSG investigation is conducted under Part 4 Children’s Guardian Act.
Diocesan inquiries are secondary to any statutory authority-conducted investigations. Law enforcement criminal inquiries have primacy, then statutory child protection services, then diocesan enquiries.
Diocesan inquiries prioritises the safety, welfare and wellbeing of children, as either alleged victims or as witnesses to the alleged conduct.
OoSG investigations may form the “preliminary inquiries” conducted in a canonical process.
Diocese-conducted investigations are:
If you want more information about diocesan investigations:
Children can be the alleged victim or a potential witness in an investigation. Particular procedures are followed when children become a part of a diocesan investigation, particularly when an OoSG investigator conducts the inquiry. Children should feel safe and supported during the investigative process.
If you want more information as a child or parent of a child involved in a diocesan investigation:
Vulnerable adults can be the alleged victim or a potential witness in an investigation. Particular procedures are followed to ensure vulnerable adults give informed consent before participating in the inquiry. Vulnerable adults should feel safe and supported during the investigative process.
If you want more information as a vulnerable adult involved in a diocesan investigation:
The Diocese takes all allegations of misconduct seriously, but allegations are not accepted as fact. Any diocesan worker could be the subject of an investigation. All diocesan workers are entitled to due process and appropriate levels of support and advice during and after the investigative process.
If you want more information as a diocesan worker who is the subject of an investigation:
Diocesan workers may be potential witnesses in an investigation; or they may be aware a workmate or colleague is being investigated; or they may be the supervisor of a diocesan worker being investigated.
If you want more information about what your obligations and responsibilities are as a diocesan worker involved with an investigation:
The Office of Safeguarding is the organisational expression of the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle’s abiding commitment to promote the safety, welfare and well being of children and vulnerable persons. The Office of Safeguarding is an integral part of the Diocese, reporting directly to the Bishop’s Office. The Office of Safeguarding is placed outside the Diocese’s services, programmes and parishes, overseeing their safeguarding standards in operation. The Office of Safeguarding works with external statutory and Catholic authorities to fulfil its role.
Office:
50 Crebert St, Mayfield
PO Box 152, Mayfield NSW 2304
P: 02 4979 1390
E: childprotection@mn.catholic.
www.officeofsafeguarding.org.au
