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We deliver services to the agencies
and ministries of the Diocese of ParramattaSafe CommunityIntegrityVoiceJustice

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Acknowledgement to survivors of abuse

We acknowledge the lifelong trauma of abuse victims, survivors and their families, the failure of churches in Australia to protect, believe and respond to children and vulnerable adults, and the consequent breaches of community trust (CPSL).

Our Function

What does the Office actually do?

It delivers advice and support to the parishes, agencies and ministries of the Catholic Diocese of Parramatta to ensure the Diocese is safe for all people. The Office also receives and manages concerns, reports or complaints regarding the conduct of people who are responsible for leading ministry or providing services in the Diocese.

Make a Complaint
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Our Function

What does the Office actually do?

It delivers advice and support to the parishes, agencies and ministries of the Catholic Diocese of Parramatta to ensure the Diocese is safe for all people. The Office also receives and manages concerns, reports or complaints regarding the conduct of people who are responsible for leading ministry or providing services in the Diocese.

Make a Complaint

News & Events

Keep up to date with news and upcoming events

Safer Internet Day 2020 – Tuesday 11 Feb 2020

08 January 2020
On Safer Internet Day, millions of people around the world unite to raise awareness about online safety issues and inspire positive change. So it’s a great opportunity to kickstart school’s ...
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Office for Safeguarding and Professional Standards Newsletter Issue 3

17 December 2019
Office for Safeguarding and Professional Standards third newsletter includes news on the Revised Diocese Safeguarding Framework, recent local and international initiatives, Parish Safeguarding Toolkits and much more! To access the newsletter, ...
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Office for Safeguarding and Professional Standards Newsletter Issue 2

08 October 2019
Office for Safeguarding and Professional Standards second newsletter includes news on Children's Week 2019, a new Guide called the Complaint Handling Guide: Upholding The Rights of Children and Young People and much ...
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Creating a Safe Church From within – Two Days with Fr Hans Zollner SJ Summary Report

26 September 2019
Over Friday 31 August and Saturday 1 September 2018, approximately 600 people from the Dioceses of Parramatta and Wollongong, together with many members of religious congregations and several other dioceses, ...
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Office for Safeguarding and Professional Standards Newsletter

03 September 2019
Office for Safeguarding and Professional Standards first newsletter includes an update on new resources to support our agencies and ministries in safeguarding. Also included in the newsletter are recent local ...
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Promoting Sunny

19 July 2019
1800 RESPECT have created a new App called Sunny, which connects women with disability impacted by violence and abuse to services. It is free to download for iPhone and Android ...
Read More →

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Telling somebody is the first step

If you're being hurt by someone at Church, it's OK to tell somebody. No matter what you might be going through, no matter how alone or worried you feel, it is super important that you tell, text, message, email somebody what is happening. Abuse is sometimes not talked about out of fear that you will get into trouble, that you somehow caused it to happen or that you won't be believed.
 
  • Abuse in never OK - no matter who is doing it or what they do in the Church community.
  • Abuse is never your fault- no matter where it happened in the Church community or how it happened.

Telling somebody is the first step. If you don't get help at first, then don't give up- tell someone else you can trust until you get the help you need.

Visit Kids Helpline

Telling somebody is the first step

If you're being hurt by someone at Church, it's OK to tell somebody. No matter what you might be going through, no matter how alone or worried you feel, it is super important that you tell, text, message, email somebody what is happening. Abuse is sometimes not talked about out of fear that you will get into trouble, that you somehow caused it to happen or that you won't be believed.

  • Abuse in never OK - no matter who is doing it or what they do in the Church community.
  • Abuse is never your fault- no matter where it happened in the Church community or how it happened.

Telling somebody is the first step. If you don't get help at first, then don't give up- tell someone else you can trust until you get the help you need.

Visit Kids Helpline
Dr. Cathy Kezelman

Having a supportive conversation with someone who experienced childhood trauma can be life changing.

Dr Cathy Kezelman
President, Blue Knot Foundation
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It’s a big thing for people to listen and take note of what we went through.

Katie
Child sexual abuse survivor
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Being abused in faith-based communities can particularly tarnish concepts of God and create additional confusion.

blueknot.org.au
National Centre of Excellence for Complex Trauma

Facts about trauma

  • The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study explored the strong link between childhood abuse and subsequent physical and mental health challenges.
    See video.
  • For many First Nations survivors, the trauma of child sexual abuse could not be separated from the inter-generational trauma associated with child removal ... other First Nations survivors pointed to connections with family, community and culture as sources of strength and resilience.
    (Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Final Report, Volume 5, p 19.)
  • Being trauma-informed means being aware of the impacts of stress on the body and brain. It also means that you understand that people with experiences of interpersonal trauma have had their trust violated and may treat even your well-meant conversation with suspicion.
    (Blue Knot Foundation, Talking about Trauma: Guide to Everyday Conversations for the General Public.)
  • Understanding the connection between prior trauma and current behaviour is an important step towards healing. Often people do develop the skills necessary to survive. At times, people can feel as though they are barely surviving. That they’re barely functioning or not functioning at all. It is important to acknowledge that ‘good enough’ functioning is an achievement.
    (Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Final Report, Volume 3, p 26.)

Contact Us

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Safeguarding Response
PO BOX 3066
North Parramatta NSW 1750

9am - 5pm, weekdays

(02) 8838 3419

Acknowledgement of Country

In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge the traditional custodians of the lands in which the Diocese of Parramatta sits, the land of the Darug and Gundungurra people.

We would like to pay our respects to the Aboriginal Elders past, present and future for they hold the traditions, memories and wisdom of Mother Earth on which we place our feet upon today.

Artwork by Joshua Sly
Aboriginal Education Assistant and Biripi Artist.

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