The Sephardi Synagogue’s Commitment to Child Safety and Wellbeing

Introduction

The Sephardi Synagogue aims to ensure that future generations of Jewish children understand, and connect to, their heritage, their culture and their history. The Sephardi Synagogue is committed to the principles of child safety, empowerment and inclusion.

The Sephardi Synagogue practices zero tolerance in relation to child abuse and seeks to understand what makes children feel safe within organisation.

The Sephardi Synagogue encourages active participation from parents/guardians/carers based on a partnership approach and shared responsibility for children’s health, wellbeing and safety.

It is intended that this policy is clear, accessible and user-friendly. The policy forms an integral part of The Sephardi Synagogue’s commitment to child safety and can be accessed on www.sephardi.org.au.  Any questions or comments can be directed to the NSW Association of Sephardim’s board.

Purpose

  • Prevent child abuse occurring within all Sephardi Synagogue environments
  • Outline The Sephardi Synagogue’s commitment to child safety and wellbeing and how to prevent child abuse and how it will respond to child abuse
  • Work towards an organisational culture of child safety
  • Ensure that children know who to speak with if they are worried about their safety, and that they should be encouraged to voice their concerns
  • Ensure that all parties are aware of their responsibilities for identifying possible occasions for child abuse and for establishing controls and procedures for preventing such abuse and/or detecting such abuse when it occurs
  • Provide guidance on action that should be taken where a person suspects any child abuse
  • Provide a clear statement to staff, volunteers, parents/guardians/carers, visitors, contractors, Board Members and others attending the programs forbidding any such abuse
  • Provide assurance that any and all suspected abuse will be appropriately reported and fully investigated.

Scope

This policy applies to all Sephardi Synagogue staff, volunteers, parents/guardians/carers, visitors, contractors, board members and others attending services or programs.

The Sephardi Synagogue will ensure that children know who to talk to and how, if they are worried or feeling unsafe. The Sephardi Synagogue will ensure that children are comfortable and encouraged to raise such issues.

The Sephardi Synagogue recognises the specialised needs of children with a disability and will ensure their safe inclusion.

Reporting procedures

If a child is in immediate danger, the concerned person should immediately call 000 for emergency assistance.

The Sephardi Synagogue requires all staff and volunteers, and encourages parents / guardians / carers and children, to report concerns, disclosures, indicators of abuse or inappropriate behaviour as soon as reasonably possible to the office, whose contact details are:

Phone: 02 9389 3982 / 0424187282                      Email: manager@sephardi.org.au

The Board President can also be contacted to report any concerns around child abuse.

Where a report relating to abuse or inappropriate behaviour has been made to the office, the office must notify the Board. Reports of an allegation of abuse will be handled in a confidential, sensitive manner prioritising the safety of children whilst ensuring procedural fairness. The Sephardi Synagogue will report all child abuse to Child Protection and the police. In addition, The Sephardi Synagogue will ask Child Protection, or the police, as relevant, whether it is appropriate for The Sephardi Synagogue to report the abuse to the relevant school (if applicable) or the parents/guardians/carers and will comply with the advice given by Child Protection / the police in response.

 Child Protection Hotline 13 21 11

Mandatory Reporting

Mandatory Reporters must make a report to Child Protection as soon as practicable if they form a belief on reasonable grounds that a minor (under the age of 17) is in need of protection from abandonment or significant harm as a result of physical injury, sexual abuse, emotional or psychological harm, and the child’s parents/guardians/carers are unable or unwilling to protect the child.

NSW Mandatory Reporter Guide:  https://reporter.childstory.nsw.gov.au/s/mrg

Any allegations of criminal conduct will be reported to NSW Police as a priority. The Jewish Law of mesirah (reporting to a non-Jewish authority) does not apply when it comes to child abuse. Protecting children comes under the mitzvah of pikuach nefesh (saving a life).

Voluntary Reporting

In addition to the above reporting obligations, any person who believes, on reasonable grounds, that a child is in need of protection from child abuse, may disclose that information to the police or Child Protection Hotline:

The Sephardi Synagogue can assist any person to make that report and doing so together will ensure that The Sephardi Synagogue has evidence that the report has been made.

Any person may also disclose a reportable allegation to the NSW ACYP:

Phone: 02 9248 0970 E: acyp@acyp.nsw.gov.au

Reportable Conduct Scheme

The Sephardi Synagogue will comply with their individual obligations under the Reportable Conduct Scheme by reporting any reportable allegations to the ACYP within the required timeframe and continuing to update it in relation to any subsequent investigations.

The Sephardi Synagogue will also ensure that there are systems in place for:

  • preventing reportable conduct by a staff member, volunteer, contractor and Board member (within the course of the person’s engagement)
  • enabling any person, including a staff member, volunteer, contractor and Board member, to notify the office or Board President of a reportable allegation
  • enabling any person, including a staff member, volunteer, contractor and Board member, to notify the ACYP of a reportable allegation involving staff/volunteer/board member, etc
  • investigating and responding to a reportable allegation against a staff member, volunteer, contractor and Board member of The NSW Association of Sephardim

Protection of Reporters

Any staff member, volunteer, contractor and Board member of The Sephardi Synagogue who makes a report in good faith in accordance with their reporting obligations will be supported by The Sephardi Synagogue and will not be penalised or disciplined for making their report.

The chief minister will offer appropriate rabbinical support for the individual making the report, for children and their families, and all those involved. The chief minister ‘s actions in this regard should be informed by the synagogue’s policies and procedures for ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children.

Procedures for Investigation

The Sephardi Synagogue’s first response to concerns or allegations will be to ensure the immediate safety and support for the child. That might include the need for a staff member to discontinue duties while an investigation is being conducted.

The Sephardi Synagogue will report allegations of abuse to the relevant authorities including Child Protection, the police, the ACYP and any other regulatory body as required.

If an allegation of abuse or a safety concern is raised, The Sephardi Synagogue will provide appropriate updates to the children and families on the progress and any actions the organisation takes (subject to any express directions from the police or other regulatory body).

Privacy

As much as is reasonably possible, an individual’s confidentiality is to be protected. Both those who are making reports and those about whom accusations are being made are entitled to confidentiality.

Where there is suspected abuse or misconduct, staff members, volunteers, Board members and contractors of The Sephardi Synagogue must not disclose or make use of the information in a manner that breaches confidentiality, other than to report and act consistently with this policy, and relevant statutory requirements.

The Sephardi Synagogue, in maintaining records on reports of child abuse, will maintain confidentiality and privacy for children and families, and retain those reports, in accordance with legislation.

Risk management

The Sephardi Synagogue recognises the importance of a risk management approach to minimising the potential for child abuse or harm to occur and use this as a basis to plan, implement and review strategies that embed a culture of child safety.

The Sephardi Synagogue’s board of management will bi-annually review its risk management strategies to ensure compliance with all aspects of child safety.

The NSW Association of Sephardim’s Board is responsible for reviewing and endorsing policies (including this policy), incidents and risk management strategies to ensure there is a culture of openness, accountability, compliance and service improvement.

Non-compliance with this policy

Disciplinary measures may be imposed on any person in breach of this policy, including but not limited to:

  • dismissal, cessation of engagement, warning or suspension
  • requiring a verbal and/or written apology
  • requiring counselling, training and/or further supervision to address behaviour
  • reduction or reassignment of duties with no contact with children

Reviewing this policy

This policy will be reviewed every two years, or as required to update relevant changes, and we undertake to seek the views, comments and suggestions from children, parents, carers, staff and volunteers as a part of this process.

Date adopted by the board of the NSW Association of Sephardim:

[3 December 2024]

Next review date:

[3 December 2026]