Students from St Elizabeth Catholic Primary School opened the Archdiocesan Safeguarding Breakfast with the Safeguarding song and using the power of storytelling, brought the new Safeguarding resource ‘You are God’s Marvellous Creation’ to life at Duxton Hotel on Thursday, 9 September. Photo: Max Hoh.
The importance of Safeguarding in Catholic communities remains a key priority of Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB, who welcomed more than a hundred guests to the fifth Archdiocesan Safeguarding Breakfast on Thursday, 9 September, held in conjunction with the National Child Protection Week (1 to 7 September).
The event held at the Duxon Hotel Ballroom, themed ‘Every Child in Every Community Needs A Fair Go,’ was attended by Perth Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton, Archdiocesan staff, Catholic Education Western Australia representatives, Perth Anglican Archbishop Kay Goldsworthy, clergy, and guests. Hosted by Tina Alteri, the morning featured Retired Commissioner of WA Police Dr Karl O’Callaghan as keynote speaker.
Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB acknowledged the positive impact that the Safeguarding Office has on the Perth community. Photo: Michelle Tan.
Guests were greeted with a performance by students from St Elizabeth Catholic Primary School who opened the event with the Safeguarding song and using the power of storytelling, brought the new Safeguarding resource ‘You are God’s Marvellous Creation’ to life.
Since its’ inception in 2015, the world-first Archdiocesan Safeguarding Project, headed by Safeguarding Office Director Andrea Musulin, have develop policies, procedures, processes, and guidelines while engaging with the community to eradicate abuse in the Perth Catholic setting.
More than 250 trained Safeguarding Officers volunteer and assist in parishes today, and in collaboration between Catholic schools, agencies, clergy, parents, and students who attend the breakfast yearly to present, dialogue, and partake in the cause – remain key to the program’s success.
Each year, an age-appropriate resource has been one of the highlights at the breakfast, and this year, a fourth resource in the form of a booklet, “You are God’s Marvellous Creation” dedicated to children between the ages of three to eight, was launched.
Keynote speaker Dr Karl O’Callaghan spoke of some of his experiences on issues involving youth, the need for accessible services for children in the community and the responsibility of the wider community when it comes to keeping children safe and giving them a fair go at the Archdiocesan Safeguarding Breakfast at Duxton Hotel on Thursday, 9 September. Photo: Michelle Tan.
Previous resources include “Protecting God’s Children”, which is a resource for parents, “Love, Sex and Relationships” which is a resource for teenagers, and “God Gave Elizabeth Grace the Right to Feel Safe” which is a story book for children between the ages of five to 11. These publications are widely used in WA, but also in many other Catholic dioceses around the country.
During his welcome speech, Archbishop Costelloe offered his hope that the initiatives of the Archdiocese Safeguarding Office, will continue to make a positive impact in the community.
“We will never know just how many children and young people are able to live lives free of abuse and all the dreadful harm it causes because of these booklets,” Archbishop Costelloe said.
“Similarly, we will never know how many children have been protected from harm by the simple and visible presence of our Safeguarding Officers in our local church communities.
“Many of you have heard me say before,
that because the Catholic Church has failed so many of our children so badly in
the past, we must now become active leaders, drivers and innovators of
programmes and initiatives that will ensure – as far as humanly possible,
always of course with the grace of God, that no child, or young person, or
vulnerable adult is ever harmed again in one of our settings,” Archbishop
Costelloe added.
“….I have no doubt, that this new booklet which we launch today, will quickly
become a favourite among many of our younger children. It is aimed particularly
at children in the three to eight-year age bracket, however I suspect, though,
that it will have a much wider appeal.
“Indeed, one adult who read it the other day commented to me that it brought a tear to his eyes precisely, I think, because it touches the heart of anyone who has the well-being and safety of our children at heart.”
Dr O’Callaghan revealed statistics and shared some of his experiences on issues involving youth, the need for accessible services for children in the community and the responsibility of the wider community when it comes to keeping children safe and giving them a fair go.
“There are around 88 000 children aged between (1 to 14 years) in WA who live at or below the poverty line,” he cited.
“7500 children are affected by public housing. Let’s not forget the children who are affected by neglect, abuse, and more – we still have a long way to go to give these kids a fair go.
“Last year, I completed a review of COVID-19 restrictions for the government in the Kimberley, on what the effect the restrictions had on communities using alcohol and substances – and there was an obvious cry for help from almost every support group in the Kimberley who said they need more help with the children,” he added.
“….I speak strongly about advocacy, because I believe you have to become the voice of the kids you interact with, and you must believe that you can help them, you can navigate the roadblocks and make a difference in their lives. Whatever influence you can use, use it.”