Safeguarding
OMI have a zero tolerance of child abuse and abuse of vulnerable adults and regards its responsibilities with the utmost importance!
We are a child, young people and vulnerable adults safe organisation.
We are committed to the care, well-being and protection of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
We believe that all God’s children, young people and vulnerable adults have the right to be healthy and safe, and to have their voice heard, respected and valued.
The Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) hold the care, safety and well-being of children, young people and vulnerable adults as a central and fundamental responsibility of our organisation. Children and vulnerable adults have a right to be safe and we commit to ensure and protect these rights in all Oblate ministries.
We commit to policies and processes which reduce the likelihood of harm and respond appropriately to disclosures and allegations. We commit to providing the necessary resources to ensure compliance with all relevant child protection and vulnerable adult laws, regulations and the National Catholic Safeguarding Standards and to maintaining a child safe and vulnerable adults culture.
All volunteers aged 14 and over must have a Working with Children Check (WWCC).
Any adult volunteer must also complete the Safeguarding Essentials online training course (or a face to face course when available) which will include signing a Code of Conduct.
Click here to download the Archdiocese Initiation Check Request Form. (PDF format and opens in a new window)
Print the form, complete all the details and return to the Parish Office with your 100 points of identification.
The Adelaide Archdiocese has produced a number of policies and other resources which can be found below. Each will open in a new window.
- Safeguarding Legislative Framework
- Safeguarding Policies
These include Safeguarding Children and Young People and Safeguarding Adults At Risk policies - Resources and Fact Sheets
- Our Kids Corner
- Record of Concern Form (PDF format)
This form is for anyone wishing to report abuse, misconduct, or to raise any safeguarding concern about a child, young person or adult at risk in our parish. - Integrity and Safeguarding Unit contact details
- Integrity and Safeguarding Unit home page
Please refer to the church noticeboards and children’s liturgy boards for more information about Safeguarding.
If you require any further information on policies, please speak with the Parish Priest, Safeguarding Contact Person or the Parish Secretary.
Safeguarding Contact Person
Amanda Bartels
Amanda is appointed by the Parish to promote the safety and wellbeing of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
She collaborates, communicates with, and is approved and supported by the Archdiocesan Integrity and Safeguarding Unit.
For contact details, please see church bulletins, Safeguarding Contact Person poster on the foyer noticeboard or contact the Parish Office.
Below is a summary of the OMI Safeguarding Report (2021). A link to the full report is also included.
Oblate Safeguarding – May 2021
The Oblates of Mary Immaculate remain committed to the safety and well-being of all in our ministries, especially children and vulnerable adults.
We continue to prioritise healthy and respectful support for those affected by the trauma of abuse and the following report demonstrates some of the ways that the Oblates monitor and ensure the highest standards of care possible.
In Dec 2017 Australia witnessed the conclusion of the Royal Commission into the Institutional Response to Child Sexual Abuse and the handing down of the findings of this 5-year inquiry. In response an organisation called Catholic Professional Standards or CPSL (recently changed to Australian Catholic Professional Standards) was formed. It operated independently of the church and was responsible for developing the 10 National Catholic Safeguarding Standards and auditing all Catholic Church entities.
In 2019, the Oblates of Mary Immaculate employed a National Safeguarding Coordinator, Megan Vardanega, to oversee the safeguarding audit on behalf of the Oblates and their ministries in Australia. Work began in early 2019 and the final report of the Safeguarding Audit of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate has recently been published.
The Oblates have demonstrated compliance with 98% of the indicators relevant to their operations under the National Catholic Safeguarding Standards. A further two indicators (2%) are in the initial stages of implementation. There are 6 recommendations – no Priority 1 (high rated) audit recommendations and three Priority 2 (medium rated) recommendations and three Priority 3 (low rated) recommendations.
This excellent result reflects the significant work undertaken by so many people across all Oblate ministries to ensure that the Oblates have the safest places possible for children and vulnerable adults. The Oblates remain committed to building a culture into the future which places safeguarding at the core of all thinking and action.
Click here to view the full report. (NOTE: Opens in a new window)
Fr Christian Fini
Provincial
Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate
