|
|
|
|
February 2026 SMR News
Welcome to the February Newsletter!
|
- Safe Ministry to Children Ordinance 2020
- SMR Teams 101 Workshops
- Safe Ministry parish consultations
- Safe Ministry Training Requirements
- Face to face training 2026
|
|
|
|
Welcome to 2026
|
|
|
Safe Ministry to Children Ordinance 2020
|
Just a reminder that the amended Ordinance came into effect on 31 December 2025.
|
|
Accordingly, from 31 December 2025, any safe ministry personnel, parish councillors or wardens who have not completed Safe Ministry Training within the prior three years, may remain in their office only until the next AGM or equivalent; but will not be eligible for re-election or re-appointment until they have met the Safe Ministry Training requirement.
|
|
The current Safe Ministry to Children Ordinance 2020 is available here.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
New and new-ish Safe Ministry Reps - Teams Workshops
|
The next SMR 101 Teams workshops will happen in March 2026.
|
|
If you are new (or new-ish) to the role of SMR, then invest an hour in this workshop and reap the benefits!
|
No booking or rego required - just boot up your device at the right time and click the appropriate link below. Have your questions and a notebook ready!
|
Two days/times - identical content.
|
- Monday March 9th @ 10:30am - 11:30am
- Wednesday March 11th @ 07:30pm - 08:30pm
|
|
|
Safe Ministry Consultations
Would you like to improve safe ministry practices in your church in 2026?
|
|
Then participate in a Safe Ministry Parish Consultation.
|
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.
|
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.
|
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.
|
|
|
|
Safe Ministry Training Requirements
|
A few training reminders:
|
# When a Junior Leader turns 18 years, they MUST complete the Essentials course (not Refresher), even if they have previously completed the Junior Leader course. More information is available here.
|
|
|
|
|
Face to face training (English) - 2026 Dates
|
Registrations open 4-5 weeks prior to the event
|
Course enrolments close 48hrs prior to the event
|
|
Listed below are the dates and venues for face-to-face training events to be held in 2026.
|
Saturday 28 February 2026 - Registration now open
Safe Ministry Essentials | 9.00am – 3.00pm
The Bridge Church, Neutral Bay
Toongabbie Anglican Church
Penshurst Anglican Church
St John’s Moss Vale Anglican Church
Nowra Anglican Church
|
Safe Ministry Refresher | 9.00am – 12.30pm
St James Anglican Church Turramurra
Lower Mountains Anglican Church, Glenbrook
Figtree Anglican Church
|
Saturday 21 March 2026 - Enrolments will open mid Feb
Safe Ministry Essentials | 9.00am – 3.00pm
St Andrew’s House, Sydney
St Paul’s Anglican Church, Terrey Hills
St Barnabas Anglican Church, Ingleburn
St Aidan’s Anglican Church, Blackheath
Safe Ministry Refresher | 9.00am – 12.30pm
St Andrew’s House, Sydney
Wilton Anglican Church
Oak Flats Anglican Church
|
Saturday 27 June 2026
Safe Ministry Essentials | 9.00am – 3.00pm
Safe Ministry Refresher | 9.00am – 12.30pm
|
Saturday 29 August 2026
Safe Ministry Essentials | 9.00am – 3.00pm
Safe Ministry Refresher | 9.00am – 12.30pm
|
Saturday 14 November 2026
Safe Ministry Essentials | 9.00am – 3.00pm
Safe Ministry Refresher | 9.00am – 12.30pm
|
|
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.
|
- 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.
|
|
|
Face to face Safe Ministry training (Chinese)
Saturday 28 February 2026 - Registration now open
Safe Ministry Essentials – Chinese | 9.00am – 3.00pm
St Andrew’s House, Sydney (Mandarin & Cantonese)
|
Saturday 27 June 2026
Safe Ministry Essentials – Chinese | 9.00am – 3.00pm
St Andrew’s House, Sydney
|
Saturday 14 November 2026
Safe Ministry Essentials – Chinese | 9.00am – 3.00pm
Lidcombe Anglican Church
|
|
|
|
|
SMR Facebook Group
A reminder that we have a private Facebook group just for SMR's
|
- 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.
|
|
|
|
Keeping up to date with news
|
An archive of all SMR Newsletters (since we moved to our new system) is available here.
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|