Child Safety

Crossway LifeCare has zero tolerance of all forms of child abuse. We are committed to ensuring that the best interests of children are upheld.

As required by law and as an expression of our concern for the well-being of children, Crossway has adopted a Child Protection Policy. This statement is a summary of that policy.

Crossway’s Child Protection Policy includes:
practices to be followed in the recruitment and screening of staff and volunteers, together with a requirement for a knowledge of child protection practices and ongoing child protection training;
necessity of those having contact with children within their Crossway role to have ongoing supervision by a senior staff member;
procedures for dealing with conflicts of interest (especially those involving a child or children and Crossway); and
procedures on responding to reports of suspected child abuse.

It is Crossway’s practice to require ALL adult volunteers, not just those who work directly or indirectly with children, to have a valid Working with Children Check.

Crossway has four Child Protection Officers (“CPOs”) – the Senior Pastor, the Generational Ministries Pastor, the Director, Operation & Administration and the Director, LifeCare Services. The CPOs are available for consultation with any member of the Crossway community on
matters of child safety and wellbeing.

A person who is experiencing or has experienced child abuse or has a reasonable belief that a child is, or may be, being abused by a member of the Crossway community is strongly encouraged to speak with a CPO or other Crossway staff member regarding the complaint / suspicion about the potential abuse.

Action will be taken to contact relevant authorities (for example, the Police and the Commission for Children and Young People) and to access any required support services. Where appropriate, the child’s parent / guardian / carer may be made aware of the concern / complaint and the action(s) to be taken. Crossway will treat all concerns / complaints with utmost respect and confidentiality. Reporting suspected child abuse concerns shall not have any adverse impact on the person(s) connected with the actual / perceived victim of the abuse to receive continued services and support from Crossway.

For further information on Crossway’s Child Protection Policy, please contact our Director of Central Services on 03 9886 3700 or CPO@crossway.org.au.

For more information