Professional Standards FAQs

One can readily understand that the Lutheran Church is concerned for the spiritual health of its church and members. But equally so it is also deeply concerned for the physical safety and emotional well-being of all those who come under its banner.

In addition to providing for our spiritual needs through worship, pastoral care and other ministries, our church also has a legislative duty of care, to keep people safe, physically and emotionally.

The Lutheran Church under its Constitution has developed a range of policies and procedures which set out the Church’s standards and expectations. These include, Child Protection Policy, Prevention from Harassment and Abuse Policy, Prevention from Risk of Sexual Offence by a Person of Concern Policy, Social Media, Conflict of Interest Policy, Gift Acceptance Policy, Privacy Policy and the ICT Policy. These policies help us to care for, and protect God's people and to encourage the good use of his gifts to us. Our policies reflect our core values and help us to reflect God's love to each other and to all who come into contact with us.

Our Church has adopted the Standards of Ethical Behaviour (SEB) providing for its members a framework of the expected behaviours and attitudes of all who come under the banner of the Lutheran Church, in Australia and New Zealand. This document intentionally draws our attention to, that as Christians we are called to be witnesses of the Gospel. That we are moved by God’s immeasurable love to us, to reflect this love to others in our relationship with, and care of others. This is how we can bring God’s love to life.

The church has given the Professional Standards Department (PSD) the responsibility to develop and provide a Professional Standards training program by which those in leadership and decision-making positions within congregations and Lutheran bodies are informed around these expectations.

As a signatory to the Safe Church Training Agreement (SCTA) the Professional Standards Training program has been endorsed by the National Council of Churches Australia (NCCA). In October, 2017 under resolution 17/168 our GCC endorsed the direction and intent of the Professional Standards Training program to be consistently implemented across our church.

The purpose of the training is essentially awareness raising of the behavioural and attitudinal expectations that the LCA/NZ has of all those who come under its banner.

The training is focussed towards congregational leadership and decision-makers. Those in governance are in the best position to then take on board this training and work with their own members in their local context, building capacity within their own congregations to foster environments where respectful relationships are able to flourish, and safe communities for all can be maintained.

At the end of the day it is the responsibility of us all, that our church spaces are spiritually, physically and emotionally safe for everyone. Not just for children, but for all, especially for children and those in vulnerable circumstance.

A copy of the PS training model, and who needs to complete each level is provided on the LCA website, Professional Standards training page, www.lca.org.au/psd-training.

No.

If you are simply a participant in a program or activity (that is, not the coordinator or leader or have a role that regularly requires you to work closely with children) your training can be as minimal as viewing/discussing, the SEB video. It is the responsibility of the leader of your group to ensure that this happens.

Those who are regularly helping in children’s ministry in the capacity of supervising or having close intentional interaction with the children are to engage in the relevant training and be screened.

Note, someone serving food over the counter, or cooking a BBQ which will be shared with the children, does not necessarily fit the description of having regular, close and intentional interaction with children. (Where there is opportunity to develop a relationship with a child, particular care needs to exercised.)

All other training is streamlined and relevant to Leadership/decision making roles as outlined in the training model. www.lca.org.au/psd-training

No.

As long as the individual is a participant, and does not have a supervisory, leadership or decision-making role for this group.

All participants in this ministry should however, view and have opportunity to discuss, the Standards of Ethical Behaviour video (12 mins) in terms of their local context. This should be included as an induction into the church-wide expectations of the group.

No.

As long as the individual is a participant, and does not have a leadership or supervisory role for this group.

As such, viewing and being provided with an opportunity to discuss the contents of the SEB video is an appropriate induction process to the expectations our church has.

GCC resolution 17/168 endorsed the Professional Standards Training program to be consistently implemented across our church.

Currently the training is delivered by Professional Standards Officers in each District who have had extensive and ongoing training in the program. As a group we meet regularly, providing support and updates as amendments to the program are implemented. This has the advantage that the training program can be monitored and managed to ensure its consistency church-wide.

The resourcing and administration of ‘trained personnel’ within each congregation, to ensure this same level of consistency of delivery, on a national basis, presents significant complexities. Addressing these may ultimately be at a much greater expense to our Church, with limited guarantee of maintaining consistency.

There is a strategy in place to increase the number of trainers to build capacity of the Church to meet increased demand for training, as well as working towards succession planning.

Speak with your PSO.

The intent of the Professional Standards Training Program is to build capacity within congregations and to empower leadership and decision-makers to embrace and apply the Standards of Ethical Behaviour within their local context. It is also about the systematic implementation of the SP3 Safety Management System across all the congregation’s safety planning of programs and events which are conducted under the auspices of their congregation.

Short term: In the case of the Standards of Ethical Behaviour workshop, it would seem likely that there will be more than one person attending the training who would be able to support and mentor the individual who has missed the training. If there was only one person requiring training it would suggest that others have already engaged. In keeping with the above intent, as the pool of those who have undertaken training increases, then as intended, other leaders and decision-makers within the congregation can provide some introductory direction and ongoing mentoring support to newly elected ‘leaders’ until such time that a workshop or webinar becomes available. The SEB Video, SEB Brochure and other workshop resources such as the SP3 Guides will become especially helpful in these situations. Remember, it is a team effort.

This is, however, not intended to replace attendance at the next available workshop.

When it comes to webinars, in addition to these being regularly scheduled, it is possible to negotiate dates and times that will better suit a group of individuals. Speak to your PSO.

Longer Term:

• Congregations are encouraged to plan, and have trained those who potentially may take on roles in the next year or so.
• Coordinate with the District PSO for a zone and/or neighbouring congregations to host workshops in different years to provide a radius of access for surrounding congregations.

Each aspect of the PS training program is intended to build on the knowledge of the previous level of training. This is particularly so within the SP3 Safety Management System. Indeed it is one of the strengths of the system. It is however, recognised that there can be situations where one aspect of the training is needed to be completed prior to another. When the range of training can occur in a relatively short time frame (which is the case with Webinars) flexibility within reason can, and has been, provided to support these situations. Please speak with your PSO.

One of the challenges of providing multi-modal delivery is that not all have access to technology, whether that be the equipment or the expertise. We also know that there are many parts of Australia and New Zealand where reliable connectivity to the internet is not yet available. We have already managed a number of solutions to these issues. Should this be a concern for you, please speak with your PSO.

Recognition of Prior Learning currently exists in the following areas:

Pre-2017 Professional Standards training:
During the transition period from the pre-2017 PS training into the new format there has, and continues to be, recognition of currency of the former 6 hour, or 4 hour refresher format being applied. This former training remains current for 3 years from the date of the former training. Those for example, who completed their training back in 2014 were due to have commenced the new training in 2017. Those who undertook their last lot of training in 2015 should now be looking to access the relevant new format of training in 2018.

Safeguarding Children Child Protection:
RPL is also available for those who have currency in an accredited Child Protection unit of training – this may be known by different titles in different parts of the country.  Eg Reporting Abuse and Neglect, Child Safe Environments.

Most states and territories have mandated training in this area for those who work with children as part of their paid or volunteer roles in the community, eg Teachers, Child care workers, Medical staff, Emergency Services providers.

We do however, need to be transparent in the RPL process. Direct evidence of the currency of the ‘Child Protection‘ accreditation is required. This could be the provision of a copy of the actual certificate, or perhaps a statement from your employer. If you think you might be in a position to provide this it is important to check with your PSO.

SMO training modules:
RPL is also available for SMO modules which may have been completed as part of volunteer work with different organisations. Recognition can be applied where currency exists in the SMO validation tasks. Evidence (eg a screen shot from their record held in the other organisation) is required for the RPL to be applied against the validation tasks only.  The respective workshop or webinar still needs to be completed.

It is recognised that there are many excellent ‘professional standards’ type programs that currently exist. Each is conducted within the unique context of the professional organisation running the program. Recognition of previous learning under these circumstances brings with it a number of complexities.

The PSD is currently taking advice on this and until it has fully considered all the implications, the position has been taken that the congregational setting is likewise a unique environment. Our PS training is intentionally undertaken in a face to face context so that through the sharing of this ‘expertise’ in the team environment, value can be added to the PS congregational training for a richer experience. Individuals are encouraged to view such prior experiences as an opportunity to share with others the gifts, learnings and understanding with which they have been blessed.

The PS Training is about respectful relationships and safe environments for all, not just for children. Congregations, unlike educational institutions, are not regulated environments, and do not have the same strong support systems intrinsically embedded into their operational structure.

The PSD, is currently engaged in conversation with Lutheran Education Australia, to consider the aspects of the training for which mutual recognition might be afforded.

The Professional Standards Training beyond the core level (SEB) introduces participants to the SP3 Safety Management System. This is not a safety management system normally implemented aross regulated educational institutions.

The Church, by its very nature, is relational.

The workshops particularly set the framework for providing an awareness, and the opportunity for building/affirming a common and shared understanding of the five standards (Ethical Behaviour).

The face-to-face workshops are intentionally designed as a forum for leaders from congregations to come together to discuss, to challenge their thinking, and to work through these standards to arrive at that common and shared understanding to be applied to their local context.

This intentional relational interactive environment is difficult to effectively achieve online.

It is recognised that we have a number of communities within our Lutheran Church for whom some adjustments will be needed to facilitate a more relevant and meaningful delivery.

These include:

• For those who come from a culturally and linguistically diverse background
• Those with special focussed ministry including camping and youth ministries
• The Lutheran Deaf community
• Indigenous communities.

Progressively through a consultative process training will be amended to reflect a more meaningful and culturally sensitive delivery.  In the meantime, we will rely on those within leadership in such environments to work with their communities to assist them in their understanding as they would for any delivery of information that occurs, eg the Sunday worship service.