In 2013 the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria agreed to establish the Safe Church Unit (SCU). The SCU commenced operations in 2014. The SCU is committed to providing all PCV congregations, presbyteries, organisations, and committees with the best possible support, advice and resources in relation to Safe Church matters, including prevention and response to child abuse and adult abuse-related issues.

The Convener of the Safe Church Committee, provides supervision of the Safe Church Unit.

The Safe Church Facilitator (Kooyoora an independant safeguarding organisation) is responsible for

  • Training support - the Safe Church Facilitator is the contact person for any questions arising from the Safe Church Basic and/or Advanced Training

  • Safe Church best practice support and advice

  • Receiving Safe Church reports and concerns

  • Serving the Church by facilitation of response to Safe Church reports and concerns, including external referrals and reporting

  • record keeping

  • Safe Church support and advice for PCV ministers, elders and other leaders

  • Liaison with relevant government departments and authorities in regards to Safe Church matters

  • National Redress Scheme response

The Safe Church Compliance & Administration Officer, Mr Ashley Manly, works Monday, Thursday and Friday 9am - 5pm and is responsible for

  • Working With Children Checks and Compliance Audit Schedule enquiries and compliance

  • compliance accreditation for PCV churches, organisations and individuals, including issuing of certificates

  • training compliance enquiries and support

  • administering Volunteer Approval Process applications

  • handling Safe Church material requests, including requests for manuals and brochures

The Safe Church Committee is the General Assembly of Victoria designated committee for Safe Church PCV. The Safe Church Committee provides oversight and governance of the Safe Church Unit and reports annually to the General Assembly of Victoria on the Safe Church programme, proposing deliverances to the Assembly to aid the continuous improvement of preventing and responding to abuse in the PCV and the safety of children in the Church. The annual report of the Safe Church Committee is published in the public record of the Assembly, known as the Blue Book, which may be accessed here The Safe Church Committee regulations are here

Each year the Safe Church Unit reviews and evaluates the Safe Church programme, seeking to improve safe ministry in the PCV, and, in particular, child safe practices. The Safe Church Committee provides oversight and governance of this regular process.

Ministers, paid ministry workers, volunteers, families, children and youth are welcome to provide feedback to their own church leadership about the children’s and youth ministries and child safe practices in their church and can also contact the Safe Church Unit about implementation of the Child Safe Standards via the PCV Safe Church programme.

The Safe Church Panel of Reference, a sub-committee of the Committee, consults in reference to particular complaints and related procedure whenever required.