The resource, developed by child safety experts across the UCA, guides people working with children through basic program engagement.

“Listening to children in our care and instilling in them the confidence to speak out and be taken seriously is a crucial principle of a child safe organisation,” said Dr Palmer.

“The more children are empowered to participate in decisions affecting them, the safer they’ll be – and we really want children to be safe in our churches and institutions.”

This resource has been developed by the Uniting Church to enable the implementation of Principle 2 from the Royal Commission’s National Principles for Child Safe Organisations: “Children and young people are informed about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously”.

Tools for Listening is recommended by the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress, the National Association for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect and the National Council of Churches in Australia.

Executive Officer of the UCA Royal Commission National Task Group Rev. John Cox thanked all the contributors to the resource.

“Collaboration and sharing across our Church and agencies has been a strong part of our response to the challenges of the Royal Commission,” said Rev. Cox.

“The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse recommended that children and young people be involved in the strategic development, design, implementation and evaluation of initiatives, that children participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously, and that families and communities are informed and involved.”

“This resource and others that follow are a key part in creating safe places for all in our care.”

Tools for Listening is available for download at assembly.uca.org.au/tools-for-listening

If you are a Uniting Church member and would like information about safe church training, please contact your Synod or Presbytery.