Safe Ministry Policy

1. Purpose and Commitment

Freedom Church Bribie Island is committed to providing a safe environment for all people, especially children, young people, and vulnerable adults.

We affirm that:

•       Every person is created in the image of God and deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.

•       The safety and wellbeing of children and vulnerable people is our highest priority.

•       We have zero tolerance for any form of abuse, neglect, or exploitation.

This policy sets out how Freedom Church Bribie Island complies with the Australian Christian Churches (ACC) Safer Churches Policy, the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations, and Queensland law, including:

•       the Child Safe Organisations Act 2024 (Qld), which establishes the ten Queensland Child Safe Standards, the Universal Principle, and the Reportable Conduct Scheme, overseen by the Queensland Family and Child Commission (QFCC); and

•       the Working with Children (Risk Management and Screening) Act 2000 (Qld) (Blue Card system).

As an organisation that provides services and activities specifically for children, Freedom Church Bribie Island is a “child safe entity” and a “reporting entity” under the Child Safe Organisations Act 2024.

2. The Child Safe Standards and Universal Principle

Freedom Church Bribie Island commits to implementing, and regularly reviewing its implementation of, the ten Queensland Child Safe Standards:

•       1. Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in our organisational leadership, governance and culture.

•       2. Children are informed about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.

•       3. Families and communities are informed and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing.

•       4. Equity is upheld and diverse needs respected in policy and practice.

•       5. People working with children are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice.

•       6. Processes to respond to complaints and concerns are child-focused.

•       7. Staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children safe through ongoing education and training.

•       8. Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing and minimise the opportunity for children to be harmed.

•       9. Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is regularly reviewed and improved.

•       10. Policies and procedures document how the church is safe for children.

Universal Principle – Cultural Safety

In accordance with the Universal Principle, Freedom Church Bribie Island will provide an environment that promotes and upholds the right to cultural safety of children who are Aboriginal persons or Torres Strait Islander persons. We uphold this principle in accordance with the ACC Doctrinal Statement and Position Statements, and will ensure our ministries welcome, respect and affirm the cultural identity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and their families.

3. Scope

This policy applies to:

•       All staff, volunteers, leaders, and board members at Freedom Church Bribie Island.

•       All other “workers” as defined under the Child Safe Organisations Act 2024, including contractors and subcontractors, consultants, labour-hire workers, trainees, interns and work experience participants, and religious leaders.

•       Visitors who may have contact with children or vulnerable people in our programs.

•       All ministries, activities, and events, whether onsite, offsite, or online.

For the purposes of the Reportable Conduct Scheme, this policy applies to the conduct of workers towards children whether or not that conduct occurs in connection with their role at the church. Conduct that occurs while a worker is off duty or outside church activities may still constitute reportable conduct.

4. Safe Ministry Governance

•       The Governing Body (Board) holds ultimate responsibility for safe ministry and for embedding child safety and wellbeing in the church’s leadership, governance and culture (Standard 1).

•       The Senior Pastor, Kane Attard, is the designated head of entity under the Child Safe Organisations Act 2024 and holds legal responsibility for the church’s obligations under the Reportable Conduct Scheme, including notifying the QFCC of reportable allegations and convictions and ensuring investigations are conducted. Functions may be delegated to a Safe Ministry Contact, but legal responsibility remains with the Senior Pastor.

•       The Board appoints Safe Ministry Contacts (Child Safety Officers), responsible for: receiving and responding to concerns; assisting the head of entity to meet Reportable Conduct Scheme obligations; ensuring reports are made to statutory authorities as required; keeping confidential records of all concerns or allegations; and overseeing training and compliance within the church.

Safe Ministry reporting contacts (in order):

•       Margaret Miller (Primary Safe Ministry Contact) – info@freedomchurch.org.au

•       Michael Mackerell (Backup Safe Ministry Contact) – mm@freedomchurch.org.au

•       Kane Attard (Senior Pastor / Head of Entity; for matters not involving him) – kane.attard@freedomchurch.org.au

5. Screening and Recruitment

All staff and volunteers working with children or vulnerable people must:

•       Hold and maintain a current Queensland Blue Card before commencing ministry.

•       Be registered in the church’s Blue Card register.

•       Complete the church’s Safe Ministry Application and Screening Process.

•       Agree in writing to the Code of Conduct for Safe Ministry.

•       Complete Safe Ministry training prior to commencing service.

Recruitment, screening and supervision practices will reflect Standard 5: people working with children must be suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice.

6. Training

•       All staff and volunteers must complete the Safe Ministry Check Training Course.

•       Refresher training must be completed every 2 years.

•       Training includes: recognising abuse, appropriate boundaries, responding to disclosures, reporting obligations (including obligations under the Reportable Conduct Scheme), and creating safe environments.

•       All staff and volunteers will be trained to recognise and report reportable conduct, including conduct that may not reach the threshold for a police response.

7. Safe Ministry Code of Conduct

All staff and volunteers must abide by the Code of Conduct for Safe Ministry adopted by Freedom Church Bribie Island. This includes commitments to:

•       Treat all people with dignity and respect.

•       Act transparently and avoid situations where they are alone with a child or vulnerable person.

•       Use appropriate physical contact and avoid any behaviour that may be misinterpreted.

•       Maintain safe supervision and environments.

•       Avoid private online or electronic communication with children and young people.

•       Never use physical punishment, abusive language, pornography, alcohol, or illegal drugs in ministry.

•       Report any concerns promptly and without bias.

(See separate Code of Conduct document for full detail.)

8. Empowering Children and Involving Families

In line with Standards 2, 3 and 4:

•       Children and young people in our ministries will be informed, in age-appropriate ways, about their rights, what safe and unsafe behaviour looks like, and who they can talk to if they feel unsafe.

•       Children will be given opportunities to participate in decisions affecting them, and their views and concerns will be taken seriously.

•       Families and carers will be informed about our child safety practices, including this policy, the Code of Conduct, and how to raise concerns or complaints.

•       Equity will be upheld and the diverse needs of children respected in policy and practice, including children with disability, children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

9. Safe Environments

•       Check-in/Check-out: Secure systems will be used so children are only released to authorised adults.

•       Transport: Children and youth must not be transported alone in a vehicle by a leader or volunteer unless specifically authorised by parents.

•       Online Safety: Ministry with children online must occur only in transparent, approved formats with parental awareness.

•       Physical and online environments will be regularly risk-assessed to minimise the opportunity for children to be harmed (Standard 8).

10. Reporting and Responding

10.1 Reporting concerns

•       All concerns, suspicions, allegations of abuse, or concerns about the conduct of any worker towards a child must be reported immediately to Margaret Miller (primary Safe Ministry Contact) or Michael Mackerell (backup Safe Ministry Contact), or to Kane Attard (Senior Pastor and third reporting contact) when neither is available and the concern does not involve him. For matters not involving the Senior Pastor, the receiving Safe Ministry Contact must inform Kane Attard (head of entity) within 24 hours. If a concern involves Kane Attard, it must not be referred to him; notify the Queensland Family and Child Commission (QFCC) directly and promptly, and involve a non-conflicted Safe Ministry Contact and ACC Qld/NT Safer Churches. Anyone may report concerns directly to the QFCC without first contacting the church. If a Safe Ministry Contact is implicated, contact the other non-conflicted contact or report directly to the QFCC.

•       The Safe Ministry Contact will ensure compliance with Queensland mandatory reporting laws and criminal offences relating to child safety (including failure-to-report and failure-to-protect).

•       Complaint processes will be child-focused (Standard 6): accessible to children and families, responsive, and centred on the safety and wellbeing of the child.

•       In emergencies, any staff member or volunteer must contact Police (000) or Child Safety Services (13 QGOV / 13 74 68) directly.

•       The church will fully cooperate with denominational and statutory authorities, including the QFCC, in all investigations.

10.2 Reportable Conduct Scheme

From 1 July 2026, the church is required to comply with the Queensland Reportable Conduct Scheme under the Child Safe Organisations Act 2024. Reportable conduct by a worker includes:

•       A child sexual offence (including grooming and child sexual exploitation material).

•       Sexual misconduct committed in relation to, or in the presence of, a child (including inappropriate touching, voyeurism, or sexual language or conversations that violate boundaries).

•       Ill-treatment of a child (cruel, humiliating or inhuman conduct, including verbal abuse, excessive or degrading demands, or inappropriate behaviour management).

•       Significant neglect of a child.

•       Physical violence committed in relation to, or in the presence of, a child (including physical intimidation and reckless application of force).

•       Behaviour that causes significant emotional or psychological harm to a child.

Reportable conduct may be a single act or omission or a series of acts or omissions, and includes conduct occurring outside the worker’s role with the church. It does not include conduct that is reasonable for the discipline, management or care of a child.

When a reportable allegation is made, or the church becomes aware that a worker has a reportable conviction, the head of entity will:

•       Notify the QFCC within 3 business days of becoming aware of the reportable allegation or conviction.

•       Report the matter promptly to the Queensland Police Service where the alleged conduct may be criminal. Any police investigation takes priority over a Reportable Conduct Scheme investigation.

•       Take immediate interim action to protect children and manage risk (for example, standing down or supervising the worker) without prejudicing any police investigation.

•       Arrange an appropriate, fair and timely investigation of the allegation. If the investigation is not complete within 30 business days of the head of entity becoming aware of the allegation or conviction, provide an interim report to the QFCC, and provide a final report (including findings and action taken) as soon as the investigation is complete.

•       Provide any further information requested by the QFCC.

10.3 Documentation

•       All reports, investigations and outcomes will be documented electronically and stored securely in a form that can be shared with the QFCC and other authorities as required.

11. Confidentiality and Record-Keeping

•       All records of Blue Cards, training, incident reports, complaints, reportable allegations, investigations and outcomes will be kept securely and only accessed by authorised leaders.

•       General records will be digitally maintained for a minimum of 7 years.

•       Records relating to allegations of child abuse, reportable conduct and related investigations will be retained for a minimum of 45 years, consistent with Royal Commission record-keeping principles, or longer if legally required.

•       Information will be shared with the QFCC, police and child protection authorities as required by law. The privacy of children, families and workers will otherwise be protected.

12. Review and Accountability

•       This policy will be reviewed every 2 years, or sooner if legislation, denominational requirements, or local circumstances change.

•       Implementation of the Child Safe Standards and the Universal Principle will be reviewed at least annually, and improvements made where gaps are identified (Standard 9).

•       The review process will include feedback from children, families, staff, and volunteers.

The Board of Freedom Church Bribie Island will monitor compliance.

Adopted by the Board of Freedom Church Bribie Island on 3 November 2026. Next scheduled review: November 2028, or earlier if required.