TRAINING AND EVENTS >
LCA Safe Church Training
By providing a comprehensive Safe Church training program, the Professional Standards Department (PSD) assists congregations and other bodies to promote high standards of ethical behaviour and care for all, especially for children and others in vulnerable circumstances.
Our training is part of the LCA’s commitment to reflecting God’s love through the way we treat each other and those who come into contact with our church.
Safe Church Training
Face-to-face, online and refresher
Some topics covered in the Safe Church training may raise sensitivities for you. It is important that you do what you need to do, to feel comfortable. Everyone is different – for many, face-to-face training will be better because you are likely to be surrounded by friends who can care for you. Others might prefer to undertake the online training, in the comfort of their own home and amongst family.
In any event, before engaging with this training, please ensure you have a person you can trust to talk to about any of the issues raised. This might be a friend or a medical professional. The free helplines to the right may also be useful.
If you are feeling apprehensive about attempting any part of the Safe Church training, you are certainly welcome to get in touch with your District Professional Standards Officer to figure out the best training approach for you and your individual circumstances.
We understand that training requires a significant commitment of time for the participants. It is important that we consider this as an investment in safe ministry practice. For more information, please see the Safe Church Training Overview.
Contact your District PSO with any questions you may have about the training currently available online, what it involves and who is required to do it. You can find their details on our Professional Standards homepage.
Required training
Level 1 | Level 2 | Role |
x | x | Pastor |
x | x | General Church Board member |
x | x | Governance/council chair or their representative |
x | x | Safe Church Coordinator, ministry leader, person in key decision-making position (eg Sunday school superintendent) |
(x) | (x) | Employee/volunteer, where and as specified in their position description |
x | Pastor emeritus in active service | |
x | Board member/council member/committee member/district or general synod delegate | |
x | Chaplain/elder/pastoral assistant/lay reader/lay worship leader/welcomer | |
x | Person (paid or volunteer) who engages with children or vulnerable persons as part of their ministry/position | |
(x) | Congregation members welcome (not required) |
- All Safe Church Training is valid for three years
- To be considered eligible for refresher training you will have completed all components of Level 1 Safe Church Training within the last three years.
- The suggested order for Safe Church Training is to complete Level 1 – Session 1, 2 and 3 in its entirety (or provide evidence of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for appropriate sessions) within the last three years before commencing Level 2.
Recognised Prior Learning is available for Level 1 of the Safe Church Training.
- Session 1: Standards of Ethical Behaviour
Eligibility criteria: Valuing Safe Communities version 4 valid for three years from the completion date & current version 5) Currency in both Initial training (both workshop and online components), or VSC 4/5 online Refresher, or VSC 4/5 Trainer accreditation.
Not eligible for RPL is the VSC 4/5 Volunteer and Relief Staff
- Session 3: Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults
Eligibility criteria: Currency (within 3 years) in an accredited child protection course. Eg: Reporting Abuse and Neglect, Through Their Eyes, In Safe Hands, ISQ Child Protection for Schools, Child Protection (Complispace), Mandated Child Protection … there may be others.
This will generally apply to those working with children in areas such as schools, childcare, medical environments, emergency or community services and the like.
Those seeking RPL
- The applicant must hold current certification as relevant and is responsible for providing the evidence.
Process
- The person seeking the RPL supplies their District Professional Standards Officer (PSO) with a copy (not the original) of their current accreditation as relevant
- Information required to determine RPL status
1. Training/program/course eg: Valuing Safe Communities 4 Initial / VSC 4 Refresher, ‘Child Safe Environments’, ‘Reporting Abuse and Neglect’, ‘Child Protection’
2. Name of accrediting body
3. Date of accreditation
4. Expiry date of accreditation (where available)
5. Certificate/Document Reference No. (where available)
6. List of topics covered (where available) - This could take the form of either:
- a copy (not original) of the actual certificate (which includes the above information)
- a signed letter (on official letterhead) confirming applicant’s training (as relevant) currency, from the accrediting body or an employer, which cites all of the above information (1–6).
Note: The applicant may wish to have a pre-written letter or email with the above relevant information, available for the employer/trainer to sign/endorse.
- PSO forwards this information to the National Training Coordinator for validation.
- Determination is provided and recorded. Possible determinations will be:
1. RPL granted.
2. RPL to be granted on successful completion of a validation task.
3. RPL not granted (the applicant will then need to undertake the relevant sessions of the Level 1 workshop). - National Training Coordinator confirms the outcome with the applicant and PSO.
To be noted
- RPL currency only extends to a three-year period from the date accreditation was granted, NOT from the time the RPL was granted.
- Other organisations are unlikely to accept LCA Professional Standards Safe Church Training as RPL.
- A current Working with Children type check (WWCC)/Police Check, while it might be necessary for the role of working with children or vulnerable adults, on its own is insufficient to be considered for RPL for this training.
General inquiries
- To be directed to the District PSO.
Registration
Click on the accordion tabs for your relevant district, for more information, registration links and details of each workshop/online session.
Safe Church Level 1 Face-to-Face Workshops – locations, dates and registration
Safe Church Level 1 Refresher Face-to-Face Workshops - (alternative to online training) locations, dates and registration
All Safe Church Training is valid for three years
To be considered eligible for Level 1 Refresher training you will have completed either a previous Level 1 Refresher session or all components of the full Level 1 Safe Church Training within the last three years.
You may wish to contact your District PSO to check whether you are eligible for Level 1 Refresher training prior to registering.
If you have not completed a previous Level 1 Refresher session within the last three years components of the full training that must have been completed, or equivalent Recognition of Prior Learning granted, are:
- Session 1: Standards of Ethical Behaviour
- Session 2: Introduction to Safety Management
- Session 3: Safeguarding Children & Vulnerable Adults
Unable to find a suitable workshop? Contact your District PSO.
Carolyn Kiss
0457 770 100 | carolyn.kiss@lca.org.au
All Safe Church Training is valid for three years
To be considered eligible for Level 1 Refresher training you will have completed either a previous Level 1 Refresher session or all components of the full Level 1 Safe Church Training within the last three years.
You may wish to contact your District PSO to check whether you are eligible for Level 1 Refresher training prior to registering.
If you have not completed a previous Level 1 Refresher session within the last three years components of the full training that must have been completed, or equivalent Recognition of Prior Learning granted, are:
- Session 1: Standards of Ethical Behaviour
- Session 2: Introduction to Safety Management
- Session 3: Safeguarding Children & Vulnerable Adults
If you are looking to book a workshop, please contact the NZ Professional Standards Officer, Denise Muschamp via pso@lutheran.org.nz
or mobile: 614 3718 0928
All Safe Church Training is valid for three years
To be considered eligible for Level 1 Refresher training you will have completed either a previous Level 1 Refresher session or all components of the full Level 1 Safe Church Training within the last three years.
You may wish to contact your District PSO to check whether you are eligible for Level 1 Refresher training prior to registering.
If you have not completed a previous Level 1 Refresher session within the last three years components of the full training that must have been completed, or equivalent Recognition of Prior Learning granted, are:
- Session 1: Standards of Ethical Behaviour
- Session 2: Introduction to Safety Management
- Session 3: Safeguarding Children & Vulnerable Adults
Unable to find a suitable workshop? Contact your District PSO.
Elizabeth Kloeden
0437 252 736 | elizabeth.kloeden@lca.org.au
Darling Downs (Toowoomba), Wilsonton|Glencoe Lutheran Parish
St Johns Lutheran Church, Wilsonton Hall
431 Bridge Street, Toowoomba Qld 4350
- 20 April 2024
- 9:00 am – 12:30 pm (sign-in from 8:45 am)
- To register click on this link: https://cvent.me/Nwb9my?Refid=Toowoomba_R_20240420
- Registrations close 15 April 2024
- Tea & Coffee provided - bring a plate to share for Morning Tea
(BYO Lunch)
All Safe Church Training is valid for three years
To be considered eligible for Level 1 Refresher training you will have completed either a previous Level 1 Refresher session or all components of the full Level 1 Safe Church Training within the last three years.
You may wish to contact your District PSO to check whether you are eligible for Level 1 Refresher training prior to registering.
If you have not completed a previous Level 1 Refresher session within the last three years components of the full training that must have been completed, or equivalent Recognition of Prior Learning granted, are:
- Session 1: Standards of Ethical Behaviour
- Session 2: Introduction to Safety Management
- Session 3: Safeguarding Children & Vulnerable Adults
Unable to find a suitable workshop? Contact your District PSO.
Dave Biar
0427 946 012 | dave.biar@lca.org.au
Barossa Valley (Nuriootpa), St Petri Lutheran Church
21 Second Street, Nuriootpa SA 5355
- 8 April 2024
- 5:45 pm – 9:15 pm (sign-in from 5:30 pm)
- To register click on this link: https://cvent.me/EPqbLy?Refid=Nuriootpa_R_20240408
- Registrations close 3 April 2024
- Soup/roll available for gold coin donation from 5:30 pm Tea/Coffee/Cake supplied during break-time
Mallee Region (Buccleuch), St Johns Lutheran Church
6 Hensel Street, Buccleuch SA 5254
- 14 April 2024
- 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm (sign-in from 12:45 pm)
- To register click on this link: https://cvent.me/mB117y?Refid=Buccleuch_R_20240222
- Registrations close 8 April 2024
- Lunch & Afternoon Tea will be supplied
All Safe Church Training is valid for three years
To be considered eligible for Level 1 Refresher training you will have completed either a previous Level 1 Refresher session or all components of the full Level 1 Safe Church Training within the last three years.
You may wish to contact your District PSO to check whether you are eligible for Level 1 Refresher training prior to registering.
If you have not completed a previous Level 1 Refresher session within the last three years components of the full training that must have been completed, or equivalent Recognition of Prior Learning granted, are:
- Session 1: Standards of Ethical Behaviour
- Session 2: Introduction to Safety Management
- Session 3: Safeguarding Children & Vulnerable Adults
Unable to find a suitable workshop? Contact your District PSO.
Denise Muschamp
0437 180 928 | denise.muschamp@lca.org.au
All Safe Church Training is valid for three years
To be considered eligible for Level 1 Refresher training you will have completed either a previous Level 1 Refresher session or all components of the full Level 1 Safe Church Training within the last three years.
You may wish to contact your District PSO to check whether you are eligible for Level 1 Refresher training prior to registering.
If you have not completed a previous Level 1 Refresher session within the last three years components of the full training that must have been completed, or equivalent Recognition of Prior Learning granted, are:
- Session 1: Standards of Ethical Behaviour
- Session 2: Introduction to Safety Management
- Session 3: Safeguarding Children & Vulnerable Adults
Registration for refresher training should be submitted prior to the earliest expiry of any training component noted above.
Unable to find a suitable workshop? Contact Professional Standards
08 8267 7300
psd@lca.org.au
NSW–ACT
Carolyn Kiss
0457 770 100 | carolyn.kiss@lca.org.au
NZ
Denise Muschamp
04 385 2540 | pso@lutheran.org.nz
Qld
Elizabeth Kloeden
0437 252 736 | elizabeth.kloeden@lca.org.au
SA–NT
Dave Biar
0427 946 012 | dave.biar@lca.org.au
Vic–Tas
Denise Muschamp
0437 180 928 | denise.muschamp@lca.org.au
WA
08 8267 7300 | psd@lca.org.au
Safe Church Level 2 Face-to-Face Workshops (alternative to online training) – locations, dates and registration
Safe Church Level 1 Online Training (alternative to face-to-face workshop) – registration
Safe Church Level 1 Online Refresher Training
Safe Church Level 2 Online Training – registration
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