WEC POLICY – SAFE CHURCH
Background
Wagga Evangelical Church (WEC) is committed to the physical, emotional and spiritual welfare and safety of all people, particularly within our own community. This policy outlines the underlying principles that direct our approach to providing a welcoming and safe environment for all people to grow in their understanding and love of God.
The WEC Administration Committee take the responsibility for ensuring these principles are reviewed every three (3) years and embedded in our organisations culture at all levels.
1. Commitment to SAFE LEADERS
We commit to:
a) safe recruitment of leaders.
We will screen all prospective ministry coordinators, team leaders and team members in our ministries, before they are appointed. This includes an interview with all candidates and referee checks. A minimum church attendance policy is applicable for all prospective volunteers. Those working with children/youth require a verified NSW Working with Children Check. WEC’s screening processes are outlined in WEC Procedure – safe ministry roles, responsibilities & screening.
b) adequate training of leaders.
We require that all children/youth church team members complete online safe ministry training courses (www.safeministrycheck.com.au). This requires an online refresher training update every two (2) years. We provide ministry-specific training for our church leaders as required.
c) continued supervision of leaders.
We commit to ongoing leadership training, supervision and support for leaders. All leaders will agree to operate within the Safe Church Policy and underlying procedures.
2. Commitment to SAFE PROGRAMS
We will minister to all participants as servants of Christ, sharing and demonstrating the good news of Jesus in a welcoming, respectful and safe manner. We are committed to care for the vulnerable by actively preventing harm and abuse, and by seeking to provide safe programs in line with our core Biblical values .
We are committed to ensuring that vulnerable people (including children, families, the disabled and elderly) are informed and involved in decisions that considerably affect them. We recognise the diverse needs of vulnerable people should be taken into account and that their concerns be taken seriously.
3. Commitment to SAFE ENVIRONMENTS
We are committed to ensuring that our programs and events are safe and appropriate for those attending. Careful consideration must be given to the activities chosen, the venue, safe ratios of supervision, appropriate toileting practices, a safe online environment, transportation, work health and safety, parental or guardian permission and confidentiality of records.
A WEC member is appointed in the role of WEC WHS Officer to establish and maintain a safe physical environment. All relevant leaders at WEC will follow the safety procedures as set out in WEC Procedure – Work, Health & Safety. This procedure aims to minimise physical and psychosocial work-related safety risks.
WEC staff and volunteers are to comply with the WEC Guideline – Social Media to ensure a safe online environment.
4. Commitment to SAFE CULTURE
We are committed to embedding a culture of safe ministry and care into all levels of WEC’s leadership and culture. WEC promotes a culture of healthy relationships, of mutual responsibility and respect in marriages, families and congregations. WEC refuses to condone any form of abuse, inclusive of domestic violence. For this reason WEC has a WEC Guideline – Domestic and Family Violence.
WEC has a Code of Conduct for staff and a Code of Conduct for volunteers. A Code of Conduct outlines appropriate behaviour and assists to embed a culture where everyone is treated with respect and dignity. We ask all staff and volunteers to read and agree to abide by the appropriate Code of Conduct.
We are committed to creating a culture where people feel safe to speak out about inappropriate behaviour. All incidents or concerns raised by WEC members will be managed by WEC Safe Ministry Contacts, following the WEC Procedure – Safe Ministry Management. Throughout this process WEC is committed to protecting the confidentiality, dignity, health and well-being of all individuals involved.