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December 2024 SMR News
Welcome to the December Newsletter!
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- Christmas Greeting
- Thank you
- Office closure
- WWCC - update to personal details
- Safe Ministry parish consultations
- Face to face training 2025
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Christmas is here
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An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord". This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
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Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God saying, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests". Luke 2:9-14
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This Christmas may you be full of joy as we celebrate God's goodness to us. Hallelujah our Saviour Jesus is born.
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Thank you
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Thank you to all the Safe Ministry Representatives.
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I am encouraged by your dedication to ensuring your ministries are safe for children and youth
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Your hard work during 2024 is noticed and appreciated.
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I hope you have an opportunity to take a break over Christmas and have some special time with family and friends.
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Office closure for holiday period
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The Safe Ministry office will be closed from Monday 23 December 2024 to Friday 3 January 2025. Limited staff will review enquiries through January.
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Reports of abuse or requests for support and advice submitted during this time will be responded to when the office reopens on Monday 6 January 2025.
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If you think a child or young person is at risk of harm from abuse or neglect, contact the Child Protection Helpline on 132 111 (TTY 1800 212 936), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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Reminder to update personal details with the Office of the Children's Guardian (WWCC)
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Please remind all those in your churches who have a WWCC that it is their responsibility to update their personal details with the Office of the Children's Guardian within 3 months of any changes. This includes name, address, phone and email address.
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Failure to keep WWCC contact details up to date, without reasonable excuse, could attract a penalty.
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Safe Ministry Consultations
Would you like to improve safe ministry practices in your church in 2025?
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Then participate in a Safe Ministry Parish Consultation.
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A Safe Ministry Parish consultation provides an opportunity to obtain feedback about your church’s safe ministry practices and receive recommendations for making improvements as part of your church’s continuous improvement process.
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Since 2022 under the NSW Child Safe Scheme churches are required to implement the 10 Child Safe Standards.
A Parish consultation can assist your church to:
- Highlight where your church is already meeting the Standards
- Bring to light gaps in implementation and develop a plan for continuous improvement
Additionally the consultation will review compliance with the Safe Ministry to Children Ordinance 2020.
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What’s involved?
+ Completing an online Child Safe Standards Self-Assessment tool
+ Meeting with the Parish Consultant and relevant staff in your church
+ Receive a Report which includes recommendations for improving Safe Ministry practices.
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Face to face training (English) - 2025 Dates
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Registrations open 4-5 weeks prior to the event
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Course enrolments close 48hrs prior to the event
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Listed below are the dates and venues for face-to-face training events to be held in 2025.
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Saturday 22 February 2025
Safe Ministry Essentials | 9.00am – 3.00pm
St James Anglican Church, Turramurra
St John’s Anglican Cathedral, Parramatta
Eagle Vale Anglican Church
Safe Ministry Refresher | 9.00am – 12.30pm
All Saints Anglican Church, Albion Park
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Saturday 29 March 2025
Safe Ministry Essentials | 9.00am – 3.00pm
St Andrew’s House, Sydney
St Stephen’s Anglican Church, Mittagong
Safe Ministry Refresher | 9.00am – 12.30pm
St Andrew’s House, Sydney
St Stephen’s Anglican Church, Belrose
St Aidan’s Anglican Church, Blackheath
All Saints Anglican Church, Nowra
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Saturday 14 June 2025
Safe Ministry Essentials | 9.00am – 3.00pm
Narellan Anglican Church
St John’s Anglican Church, Ashfield
Safe Ministry Refresher | 9.00am – 12.30pm
Figtree Anglican Church
St James Anglican Church, Mt Druitt
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Saturday 30 August 2025
Safe Ministry Essentials | 9.00am – 3.00pm
St Andrew’s House, Sydney
Safe Ministry Refresher | 9.00am – 12.30pm
St Andrew’s House, Sydney
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Saturday 15 November 2025
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Please encourage those in your church who would benefit from face to face training to enrol, and be prepared to assist them if necessary with the technology.
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- Applicants for face to face training need to have an account on the Safe Ministry Training website, log in and enrol in the course.
- Once they complete the course, they will be emailed their certificate a day or so later, and a copy of their certificate details sent to you, their SMR.
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SMR Facebook Group
A reminder that we have a private Facebook group just for SMR's
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- A safe and private place for SMR's to ask questions, support each other, share ideas or solutions to problems, etc
- The address is: https://www.facebook.com/groups/173114257798286
- Involvement in this group is entirely optional - but it is proving to be a useful extra channel for SMR's to chat amongst themselves and pose questions.
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Keeping up to date with news
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An archive of all SMR Newsletters (since we moved to our new system) is available here.
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That's it for this edition! Back soon with more info about what is happening in the Safe Ministry scene.
If you are no longer the SMR for your church, please unsubscribe using the link below and drop me an email to let me know.
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