Spring Quarter 2026
The information below is relevant for the Spring Quarter 2026. Updates will be made to this page as they come to hand and will be included in the Summer Edition of the Safe Church Coordinators eNews. If you did not receive the Spring Edition, you might not be on our mailing list. Please provide your contact details to the Safe Church team safechurch@lca.org.au
Report Abuse poster
The Report Abuse poster has recently been updated with the Frome Street address of Church House and with the removal of the option of contacting Professional Standards via a specific PO box. Click here to download it.
ACTION STEP Please download and print the poster. Take down the old posters and put up the new ones.
Safety Management Online updates
We have recently updated our Working with children type check process, to meet new government expectations and to ensure as best we can that all data links correctly to the LCANZ. The key changes are:
- Locked Fields: You can no longer manually edit the 'Working with children' and 'Background Check 2' fields in the Safety Management Online (SMO) Appointment Status box.
- New Update Process: You now send all members' Working with children type checks and other background check details directly to the Safe Church team via email safechurch@lca.org.au The team will update the records for you.
South Australia - Working With Children Checks
The new Department of Human Services portal for Working With Children Check (WWCC) applications in South Australia has arrived. It is having the expected teething problems, like all new things. Thank you to all who are working with us as we learn our way around the new system together. Important aspects of the new system to be aware of are:
- Each person applying for a WWCC requires a unique email address.
- All ID verification is now done using a smart phone. This can be someone else’s smart phone.
- You will need at least one type of photo ID either a passport or driver’s licence.
- We can initiate your application. The screening unit will send you a confirmation email regarding your application. This needs to be accepted within 24 hours of receipt, and the application must then be completed within 28 days.
We are in the process of putting together more detailed instructions to help South Australian Coordinators and your volunteers with this new process.
Safety Management Online - video help
ChildSafe Australia has some video resources that may help new Safe Church Coordinators navigate Safety Management Online (SMO). These can be found under the “?” mark button on the top right corner of the screen, when you are logged into SMO.
They also have two video resources, which you might find helpful:
- How to navigate the Incident Reporting, Resources and Exception reporting tabs in SMO
- How to navigate the People function in SMO
As a reminder, please contact the Safe Church Service Desk first for any SMO support.
Safe Church Training
As a reminder, all details about Safe Church Training can be found on the LCA website: Safe Church Training - Lutheran Church of Australia
This includes dates and times for our live online webinars, as well as the registration process, for both formats of our online training. Please remember that our Level 1 training consists of two modules.
- Module 1: Induction, and
- Module 2: Safeguarding
For Level 1 Safe Church Training to be accredited, both modules need to be completed. We find that some people are completing the Induction module and forgetting to proceed to Safeguarding. We appreciate your support in making this information clear to those you are encouraging to take part in the training.
Got questions? Concerns? We're here to help.
Safe Church Service Desk
Phone 1800 418 588
Email safechurch@lca.org.au
Connected in Christ
Technology can never replace face-to-face community, but it can help strengthen connections, share resources and support ministry. Read how seven LCANZ ministries are using digital tools to engage people in faith and mission.
Read more
Code of Conduct update
A summary of feedback received on the LCANZ Code of Conduct is now available. The General Church Board and College of Bishops will now review the feedback as they revise the Code of Conduct and implementation plan, with further consultation to follow.
Read more
Safe Church training: easier than you think
Safe Church training can sometimes feel like yet another item on a long to-do list. But for Lorraine, who recently completed the training online, the experience was simpler and more informative than she expected.
Read more
Is your Safe Church training up to date?
As 2026 begins, now is a timely opportunity to review Safe Church requirements and ensure that you – and members of your congregation – are compliant.
Read more
Starting in 2026 we are sending a dedicated eNews to Safe Church Coordinators quarterly. Here are the links to the editions published so far.
The eNews is being sent to coordinators who are recorded with our Safe Church team. If you did not receive the Spring 2026 edition, you might not be on our mailing list. Please provide your contact details to the Safe Church team safechurch@lca.org.au
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