PROTOCOLS FOR FACULTIES, NATIONAL CATHOLIC SAFEGUARDING STANDARDS DECLARATIONS and ACMR (Australian Catholic Ministry Register) ID NUMBERS
The Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference (ACBC) and the Catholic Religious Australia are two of the peak representative bodies for Catholic – Clerical, Religious and Lay Persons in Australia.
With the support of these representative bodies, Australian Catholic Safeguarding Ltd (ACSL) has also been established as the Australian Catholic Churches national body to oversee and develop a national approach to policies and practices relating to the safeguarding of children and adults at risk. It has developed new framework and national standards for Catholic entities which have now been adopted by Church authorities, religious institutes, ministries and organisations across Australia.
Ministry, Religious or Spiritual Activities
All Clergy and Deacons, engaged in ministry require habitual Faculties which are granted by the Archbishop or Bishop of the place in which they reside and/or exercise their appointed ministry. Whenever there is movement to minister in another diocese or parish, they require permission to do so in that new place from the appropriate authority.
For Religious Brothers and Sisters, Seminarians and Novices whenever there is movement to engage in spiritual or religious activities in another diocese or parish, they also require permission to do so in that new place from the appropriate authority.
Such permission can only be granted when a Bishop or Ordinary has testified to the individuals’ good standing and the Working with Children Check (WWCC) has been verified by the appropriate department of the receiving diocese.
It is expected that all Clergy, Deacons, Religious Brothers and Sisters, Seminarians and Novices coming into the Port Pirie Diocese for any period of time, make themselves familiar with the following principles and guidelines:
- Integrity in Ministry,
- National Catholic Safeguarding Standards,
- Best Practice Guidelines for Interacting with Children and Young People.
In accordance with the Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017 a minister of religion is mandated to report belief or suspicion on reasonable grounds that a child has been or is being abused or neglected. Types of abuse that are legally required to be reported include physical, sexual, emotional/psychological and neglect. The report must be made to the Department of Child Protection by phoning the Child Abuse Report Line on 13 14 78.
Further, to fulfil legislative requirements, the Diocese has established policies and procedures within a Safe Environments for all framework for safeguarding. Compliance with all policies and procedures are mandatory to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children, young people and adults at risk.
Prior to the planned visit specific documentation must be completed and submitted to our office in order for the necessary permissions to be granted.
For a visitation to the Catholic Diocese of Port Pirie (including visits for the purpose of a holiday), the following requirements for incoming Clergy, Deacons, Religious Brothers and Sisters, Seminarians and Novices are as follows:
- Completion of the ACMR Form (with ACMR ID # details)
- Interstate Working with Children Check (WWCC) and
- South Australian Working with Children Check (WWCC) – only if visitation is more than 10 days
_____________________
Annotations:
- Completion of the Interstate with Declarations Form
- Presentation of either a signed Safeguarding Statement Form* or
Safeguarding Declaration and Disclosure Form** (whichever is applicable) - Interstate Working with Children Check (WWCC) and
- South Australian Working with Children Check (WWCC) – only if visitation is more than 10 days
_____________________
Annotations:
The appropriate verification of documentation will take place and permission to minister in the Diocese will, if appropriate then be issued by the Bishop’s Office.
- In the case of Clerics (Persons under Holy Orders), a letter granting permissions to exercise clerical ministry will be prepared for the Bishop’s approval.
- In the case of other Religious, a letter of welcome will be prepared for the Bishop’s approval.
- For any stays, the Clergy, Deacons, Religious Brothers and Sisters, Seminarians and Novices will be issued with a ‘Mandatory Notification – In a Nutshell’ document.
- For any stays exceeding 30 days, the Clergy, Deacons, Religious Brothers and Sisters, Seminarians and Novices may be required to attend a full day of training on Child Safe Environments.
- The relevant Parish Priest within the Diocese of Port Pirie will be notified that this permission has been granted.
At the conclusion of the approved appointment period, a representative from the Bishop’s office will follow-up to confirm that the placement has concluded. In the event that an extension to the approved period becomes necessary, a ‘Variation to Length of Stay’ document is required to be completed and submitted. The request for the extended approval for an additional period will be reassessed at that time.
Where appointments and transfers to the Diocese of Port Pirie are being planned, correspondence to the Bishop from the Church Authority must contain all of the relevant details relating to the intended appointment /transfer. The initial correspondence must be directed to the Bishop in the first instance at least six weeks before the intended date of arrival, to allow for sufficient time to undertake the necessary verifications and prepare the documentation required. The response from the Bishop will outline next steps to be undertaken in order to progress the permissions process.
PLEASE NOTE: Clergy/Religious from an Eastern Rite are considered as Clergy/Religious from another Diocese and should follow the above protocols.
For an appointment to the Catholic Diocese of Port Pirie, permissions are further considered with the provision of the following documentation:
- Completion of the ACMR Form (with ACMR ID # details)
- Interstate Working with Children Check (WWCC) and
- South Australian Working with Children Check (WWCC)
_____________________
Annotations:
- Completion of the Interstate with Declarations Form
- Presentation of either a signed Safeguarding Statement Form* or
Safeguarding Declaration and Disclosure Form** (whichever is applicable) - Interstate Working with Children Check (WWCC) and
- South Australian Working with Children Check (WWCC)
_____________________
Annotations:
The appropriate verification of documentation will take place and permission to minister in the Diocese will, if appropriate then be issued by the Bishop’s Office.
- In the case of Clerics (Persons under Holy Orders), a letter granting permissions to exercise clerical ministry will be prepared for the Bishop’s approval.
- In the case of other Religious, a letter of welcome will be prepared for the Bishop’s approval.
- For any appointments and transfers into the Diocese, Clergy, Deacons, Religious Brothers and Sisters, Seminarians and Novices will be required to attend a full day training on Child Safe Environments.
At the conclusion of the approved appointment period, a representative from the Bishop’s office will follow-up to confirm that the placement has concluded. In the event that an extension to the approved period becomes necessary, a ‘Variation to Length of Stay’ document is required to be completed and submitted. The request for the extended approval for an additional period will be reassessed at that time.
For a visitation to the Catholic Diocese of Port Pirie, (including visits for the purpose of a holiday) requirements for incoming Clergy, Deacons, Religious Brothers and Sisters, Seminarians and Novices are as follows:
- Completion of the Overseas with Declarations Form
- Presentation of either a signed Safeguarding Statement Form* or
Safeguarding Declaration and Disclosure Form** (whichever is applicable) - An Itinerary for the planned visit – if the visitation period is 7 days or less
- A Police Check from your country of origin – only if visitation period is more than 7 days
- South Australian Working with Children Check (WWCC) – only if visitation period is more than 7 days
_________________
Annotations:
For visitations from overseas of more than 7 days, it is a legal requirement that a South Australian Working with Children Check is obtained and provided.
https://screening.sa.gov.au/applications/application-information-for-individuals
The appropriate verification of documentation will take place and permission to minister in the Diocese will, if appropriate then be issued by the Bishop’s Office.
- In the case of Clerics (Persons under Holy Orders), a letter granting permissions to exercise clerical ministry will be prepared for the Bishop’s approval.
- In the case of other Religious, a letter of welcome will be prepared for the Bishop’s approval.
- For any stays, the Clergy, Deacons, Religious Brothers and Sisters, Seminarians and Novices will be issued with a ‘Mandatory Notification – In a Nutshell’ document.
- For any stays exceeding 30 days, the Clergy, Deacons, Religious Brothers and Sisters, Seminarians and Novices may be required to attend a full day training on Child Safe Environments.
- The relevant Parish Priest within the Diocese of Port Pirie will be notified that this permission has been granted.
At the conclusion of the approved appointment period, a representative from the Bishop’s office will follow-up to confirm that the placement has concluded. In the event that an extension to the approved period becomes necessary, a ‘Variation to Length of Stay’ document is required to be completed and submitted. The request for the extended approval for an additional period will be reassessed at that time.
Where appointments and transfers to the Diocese of Port Pirie are being planned, correspondence to the Bishop from the Church Authority must contain all of the relevant details relating to the intended appointment /transfer. The initial correspondence must be directed to the Bishop in the first instance at least six weeks before the intended date of arrival, to allow for sufficient time to undertake the necessary verifications and prepare the documentation required. The response from the Bishop will outline next steps to be undertaken in order to progress the permissions process.
PLEASE NOTE: Clergy/Religious from an Eastern Rite are considered as Clergy/Religious from another Diocese and should follow the above protocols.
For an appointment to the Catholic Diocese of Port Pirie, permissions are further considered with the provision of the following documentation:
- Completion of the Overseas with Declarations Form
- Presentation of either a signed Safeguarding Statement Form* or
Safeguarding Declaration and Disclosure Form** (whichever is applicable) - Police Certificate from the country of residence and
- South Australian Working with Children Check (WWCC)
_____________________
Annotations:
https://screening.sa.gov.au/applications/application-information-for-individuals
The appropriate verification of documentation will take place and permission to minister in the Diocese will, if appropriate then be issued by the Bishop’s Office.
- In the case of Clerics (Persons under Holy Orders), a letter granting permissions to exercise clerical ministry will be prepared for the Bishop’s approval.
- In the case of other Religious, a letter of welcome will be prepared for the Bishop’s approval.
- For any appointments and transfers into the Diocese, Clergy, Deacons, Religious Brothers and Sisters, Seminarians and Novices will be required to attend a full day training on Child Safe Environments.
At the conclusion of the approved appointment period, a representative from the Bishop’s office will follow-up to confirm that the placement has concluded. In the event that an extension to the approved period becomes necessary, a ‘Variation to Length of Stay’ document is required to be completed and submitted. The request for the extended approval for an additional period will be reassessed at that time.
All Lay Persons wishing to visit for the purpose of conducting spiritual or religious activities within the Catholic Diocese of Port Pirie are required to obtain approval to do so prior to arrival.
Approval will only be considered upon receipt of the following:
- Completed Visiting Lay Person Form
- Signed Code of Conduct Statement Form
_____________________
Annotations:
The Diocese is resolute in its responsibility for care of all participants involved in its programs and activities across the Diocese. Therefore, in accordance with the Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017, the Diocese has established policies and procedures within a Safe Environments for All framework for safeguarding. Compliance with all policies and procedures are mandatory to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. Strict screening guidelines apply and therefore additional WWCC screening may be required dependent upon the length of stay. The location at which the activities are scheduled to take place will determine the requirements for screening which will be in accordance with state legislation and Diocesan policy.