© Baptist Churches of NSW & ACT 2019
Document1 8
9. Definitions
In the Safe Church Policy and associated documents, unless the context
otherwise requires:
Church means the local church which adopted this Safe Church Policy, as indicated
on the cover of the Policy.
complaint includes any allegation, suspicion, concern or report of a breach of the
Church’s Code of Conduct or the Baptist Churches of NSW & ACT Code of
Ethics and Conduct (where applicable). It also includes disclosures made to an
institution about any child protection concern.
Creating Safe Spaces means Creating Safe Spaces training offered by the Baptist
Churches of NSW & ACT or alternative training that is Safe Church Training
Agreement approved and has a face-to-face component.
disclosure means a process by which a person conveys or attempts to convey that
they are being or have been abused or neglected.
governance body means the body designated by the constitution of the church to
be responsible for the management of church affairs. This may be the
Diaconate, Elders, or the Church Council.
Mandatory Reporting Legislation means
In NSW, the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998
(NSW) and the Children’s Guardian Act 2019
Pastoral Staff means any pastor or any accredited or recognised minister or any
paid or unpaid staff member of the Church who is engaged in pastoral ministry
through the Church.
Reportable Conduct Legislation means
In NSW the Ombudsman Act 1974 (NSW) / Children's Guardian Act 2019
(NSW)
Safe Church Register means the register required to record information relating to
In NSW staff and volunteers who engaged in Child-related Work and their
relevant details in accordance with section 9A of the WWCC Legislation.
vulnerable means the state of being unable to take care of themselves, or unable to
protect themselves against harm or exploitation by reason of age, illness,
trauma or disability, or any other reason, and includes those that suffer
disadvantage such as social and financial hardship.
WWCC Legislation means the Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012
(NSW).
WWVP Legislation means the Working with Vulnerable People (Background
Checking) Act 2011 (ACT).
young person means a person who is 16 or 17 years old.