Public Responses to Incidents

Even with the best risk management in place, an incident might occur on your premises or at an event you are conducting which impacts on members of the community and/or attracts the attention of the media.

Every engagement with the community or media ought to be truthful, authoritative and compassionate, and avoid or minimise harm or hurt to any person/s.

Examples of incidents that might require a public response from us include: a death of serious injury on church premises; abuse by a church worker; immoral conduct by a church worker; an emergency (eg fire, lockdown, accident); fraud or embezzlement. More examples are included in the policy document.

As a rule, congregations do not have people trained to deal confidently and competently in situations such as this, especially if the incident is unfolding rapidly and is attracting significant community and media attention. It is best to be prepared, so you know what to do in the event of an incident occurring, or the likelihood of something occurring.