National Safe Ministry Framework

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF AUSTRALIA

NATIONAL SAFE MINISTRY FRAMEWORK

(Adopted by the General Assembly of Australia, September 2019. Pursuant to GAA 2019, Min. 43(4), this text has been enumerated to “simplify navigation, reference and
communication.”)

Preamble
This document is a national Statement of approach – in principles, policies, practices and procedures – that seeks to achieve so far as possible the uniform protection against abuse of children by or within the Church’s organisations. It is to be read as working within, subject to, interpreted by, and administered in accordance with, the laws of the relevant State or Territory of the Commonwealth and the laws of the Church. It is not itself a law of the Church and does not of its own force override or modify the laws of the Church or laws of
the relevant State or Territory in which it is being administered. Church organisations must be familiar with and act in accordance with those relevant secular and Church laws including the Church’s national Code of Discipline (which itself is subject to secular laws). Church organisations in each State and Territory undertake to conform so far as possible to this statement in their particular principles, policies and practices and procedures, taking into account differences in secular and Church law in different States and Territories.

Some State churches cover in their jurisdiction one or more of the Territories of the Commonwealth. Although a reference to Territory is not specifically mentioned each time secular law of a State is referred to, those State churches will need to be careful in the appropriate presbyteries or charges of the Church to abide by Territory law if it differs from that of the State. There may in due course be Commonwealth secular law that needs to be followed as well.