Safeguarding Committee

The Safeguarding Committee (Committee) is a committee of the Board of the St Vincent de Paul Society Canberra Goulburn (the Society). This charter governs the meetings and proceedings of the Committee.

Nothing in this charter limits any of the powers or responsibilities of the Board or the Board President (the President).

The Committee’s work is supported by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and his or her nominees, principally the Safeguarding Coordinator.

Safeguarding is the action that is taken to promote the welfare of children and vulnerable adults to protect them from harm. Safeguarding means: protecting children and the vulnerable from abuse and maltreatment, preventing harm to children's health or development and ensuring children and the vulnerable grow up with the provision of safe and effective care. A culture of Safeguarding must be deeply embedded into beliefs and operation of the St Vincent de Paul Society.

The Safeguarding Standing Committee (‘the Committee’) is an advisory body of the Board (‘the Board’) with oversight from the Canberra Goulburn Territory Council of the Society of St Vincent de Paul. The Committee promotes safe environments for children and young people and vulnerable people working and volunteering with, and receiving support from, the St Vincent de Paul Society within the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn.

The scope of the Committee includes:

Providing advice on and monitoring compliance with the Society’s Safeguarding Framework.
As requested by the Canberra Goulburn Board or Territory Council, the Committee will:

1. provide advice on all matters relating to safeguarding;
2. develop and regularly review safeguarding policies and procedures, in consultation with the Board and the Council;
3. oversee complaints handling procedures in response to safeguarding matters;
4. monitor compliance with the national safeguarding framework, state and federal law and the Catholic National Catholic Safeguarding Standards as amended from time to time.

Developing and implementing the St Vincent de Paul Society Safeguarding Framework.
As requested by the Board in consultation with Council, the Committee will:

1. support the development and implementation of the St Vincent de Paul Society Safeguarding Plan which outlines the monitoring and continual improvement of child safeguarding practices.
2. monitor compliance with the St Vincent de Paul Society Safeguarding Framework of all operations delivered within the Archdiocese Canberra Goulburn in the name of the Society;
3. support and liaise with other state and territory councils to implement the St Vincent de Paul Society Safeguarding Framework.

Ensuring compliance with the National Redress Scheme (‘the Scheme’)
As requested by the Board, the Committee will:

1. oversee the Society’s involvement in the Scheme in collaboration with St Vincent de Paul Society National Redress Scheme Limited;
2. work in collaboration with St Vincent de Paul Society National Redress Scheme Limited to monitor the compliance of the Board with the requirements of the Scheme.

In fulfilling this scope, the Committee will ensure adherence to, and faithful interpretation of, the Statutes of the Society, the Rule of the St Vincent de Paul Society and the civil and canon laws and other relevant legal sources for the work of the Society.

2024 Meeting Dates

Members:

• Patrick Supple (Chair)
• Catherine Carter (Board Director)
• Brian Stacey

Advisers:

• Antony Allen (COO)
• Lucy Hohnen (CEO)
• Patrick McGrath (Director of Community Engagement and Youth)

Secretariat:

• Frances Neuss

Safeguarding Committee Charter