National Council Safeguarding Commitment Statement

To fulfill this commitment, National Council will:

Respect the inherent rights and dignity of all individuals no matter their age, race, gender, background, beliefs, culture, abilities or sexual orientation;

Promote and protect the human rights of adults at risk, particularly those who may be at higher risk of abuse or harm;

Foster and promote a positive, inclusive and accountable safeguarding culture across the Society;

Implement and uphold the National Catholic Safeguarding Standards, National Principles for Child Safe Organisations and applicable frameworks and legal obligations;

Maintain and manage policies, procedures, systems and practices that support the prevention, identification and response to safeguarding risks;

Respond to safeguarding concerns, allegations and disclosures compassionately, promptly, appropriately and in accordance with legal and organisational reporting obligations;

Listen to, believe, and meaningfully consider the voices, experiences, rights and wishes of victim-survivors in decisions that affect them, using victim-survivor-centred, trauma-informed and culturally safe approaches;

Promote environments in which all people feel safe, respected, heard, included and able to raise concerns without fear of reprisal; and

Continuously improve safeguarding policies and practices through reviews, feedback, monitoring and learning the experiences of children and adults at risk.