Parish Safeguarding Project

Throughout all facets of its work, the Parish is committed to creating a welcoming and safe environment for all, but especially for children. The Safeguarding Project, an initiative of Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB establishes the Perth Catholic Archdiocese as a Child Safe Organisation, under the Western Australian Commissioner for Children and Young People.

The Safeguarding Project is a community-wide project, and calls on all of us to play our part to ensure the protection of vulnerable members of our Parish.

While the Parish does work for the protection of all children, the Safeguarding Project is particularly concerned with preventing abuse and harm to children and other vulnerable individuals within our community. By putting children first in all instances, and establishing clear and comprehensive policies and procedures, the risk of any abuse is dramatically reduced.

Safeguarding Officers within the Parish report directly to the Archdiocese’s Safeguarding Project Coordinator, and work closely with Fremantle’s Parish Priest, Fr Meno Basti OMI, and the wider Fremantle Parish community. These Officers play a number of important roles in the Parish, including:

• being the first point of contact for any concerns about the safety of children or other vulnerable people;
• implementing Parish and Archdiocesan policies and procedures for the protection of children and other vulnerable people; and
• educating the Parish community on the Safeguarding Project.

Any information given to the Safeguarding Officers in confidence will be passed to the Safeguarding Project Coordinator, where professional and confidential assistance is provided.

The Project within the Fremantle Parish extends beyond the Basilica, encompassing St Patrick’s Primary School, CBC Fremantle and St Anne’s Church in North Fremantle.

The policies and procedures introduced through this Project cover all who play a role in the Parish, whether in official or unofficial capacities. Regular information sessions are held to ensure everybody knows the role they have to play in the safety of the Parish’s children and vulnerable adults.

If you have any concerns about a child or vulnerable adult’s safety in the Parish, our Safeguarding Officer, Lynn Tomlinson, can be contacted through the Parish Office, or through the contact details provided on posters throughout the Basilica and St Anne’s Church.

The Safeguarding policies and procedures can be found on the Archdiocese Safeguarding Website here.