Basic Training

Basic TRAINING

As part of the CRCA’s commitment to Safe Church all people who

  • hold leadership positions, or
  • minister to children under 18, or
  • are involved in Pastoral Care

in a CRCA congregation or organisation are required to complete the CRCA Safe Church Basic Training Course.

This includes:

  • Ministers
  • Elders
  • Deacons
  • Bible Study Leaders
  • Music Ministry Leaders
  • Camp Committee Leaders
  • All those who work with children under 18 (e.g. Mainly Music, playgroup, Sunday School, youth groups, kids’ or holiday clubs, creche and any other ministry to children under 18)
  • Pastoral Carers

The three hour Basic Training course covers the implementation, procedures and practice of the Safe Church Policy and Code of Conduct in all child-related ministries and operations within the denomination. Paid staff and volunteers will not be permitted to take part in any child related ministries without completing the Safe Church Basic Training. People commencing a leadership, pastoral care or child-related role in the CRCA for the first time must complete Basic Training before taking on that role.  This course is also referred to as Team Member Training.

Basic Training is available via two means:

  1. Churches within a classis are encouraged to attend a training day organized by one of those churches in that classis.  The Safe Church Facilitator (ChildSafe Administrator) will visit that church and provide the training on the day.  Please contact SCU to enquire about holding a Basic Training event with the Safe Church Facilitator.
  2. The course may be completed using the online Team Member course offered in SMO (Safety Management Online).  This course may be completed in your own time and you can suspend and restart whenvere you like.  However, there is a fee to complete this course.  As at September 2020 the CRCA reduced fee is $21.00 per attendee.A certificate of completion is available if required.

    Speak to your congregational Safe Church Representative or contact the SCU to find out how you can attend Basic Training.

Under 18’s attending Basic Training

From time to time SCU receives enquiries about under 18-year-olds attending Basic Training. As the training content includes material relating to child abuse and general information about abuse it is not recommended that people aged under 18 attend. However, if a person under 18 wishes to attend they must be at least 16 years old (the age of consent in Victoria) and a signed parental permission form must be completed and returned to the Safe Church Representative prior to attendance.