Safe Church Representatives

For the CRCA to effectively embrace and implement the Safe Church Policy and Code of Conduct, Safe Church Representatives are appointed in each congregation or organisation of the church.  The role of the Safe Church Representative is also known in the CRCA as the ChildSafe Coordinator.

It is a responsibility of Sessions (Church Councils) and organisational leaders across the church to ensure that appropriate people are selected and appointed as these representatives.  The Safe Church Representative is a formal session appointment.  Any new appointments approved by the sessions locally must be advised to the SCU, who will update the records in SMO (Safety Management Online), so that the representative can successfully complete his/her tasks.

The role of the Safe Church Representative is to support their own congregation or organisation in Safe Church matters, be responsible for working to ensure compliance and promote Safe Church Training and Online Refresher Training.

Safe Church Representatives play a crucial role in helping the CRCA effectively prioritise and implement the Safe Church policy and code of conduct across the denomination.

Responsibilities of Safe Church Representatives

The responsibilities of Safe Church representatives are as follows:

  • Ensure the Safe Church Policy is displayed prominently in their congregation/organisation building/s
  • Keep records of all people in their congregation/organisation who work with children and who have Working With Children Checks
  • Keep records of all people in their congregation/organisation who by virtue of holding positions of authority have Working With Children Checks
  • Ensure the above records are kept up to date in SMO (Safety Management Online)
  • Ensure that when a new volunteer indicates that they wish to commence in ministry with children that they undergo the Volunteer Approval Process, as outlined in the ‘Volunteers’ page on this website. This includes ensuring the required forms are completed and conducting and documenting the referee checks (Team Leaders may conduct the interviews).
  • Ensure that when a person transfers from one CRCA church to another and wishes to commence working with children in the new church, that the Safe Church Facilitator is advised to arrange the transfer in SMO
  • Promote and attend Safe Church Training – Team Member Training
  • Promote and attend Safe Church Advanced Training – Team Leader Training
  • Promote and view the Safe Church Online Refresher Course
  • Be responsible for completing the Compliance Audit (Safe Church Health Check) Schedule and forwarding this document (keeping a copy for their own records) to the SCU
  • Ensures Session (Church Council) has prepared an Emergency Response Plan

Safe Church Teams

A Safe Church Team may include paid staff and/or volunteers, a model role description is available by simply clicking here.  It is an important role that will report directly to the pastor and Church Council. It is important that the Safe Church Team has at least one male and one female team member. We recommend that the team consists of the ChildSafe Coordinator (Safe Church Representative) and an elder.  If you have an appointed Child Protection Officer in your church, that person would also make a great candidate.

What makes a person Safe Church compliant?

A Safe Church compliant person:

  • Has a current Working With Children Check/Blue Card and has provided the number and expiry date to the Safe Church Representative for the records
  • Has attended Safe Church Basic Training and views the Online Refresher Course as a reminder of Safe Church CRCA implementation and requirements
  • Where required – has attended Safe Church Advanced Training (Team Leader Training) – for specific roles required
  • Has undergone the Volunteer Approval Process prior to commencing in their role working with children – this element only applies to people working with children in the CRCA. Other non-child related roles do not require the completion of the VAP