About the Role

We are seeking a Safeguarding Coordinator role to lead implementation of the Spirituality Ministry’s Safeguarding Framework.

As part of the leadership team, the role reports to the Head of Finance and Corporate Services and provides advice and support to Department Managers and the Safeguarding Committee (which reports to the Ministry’s Board).

The Safeguarding Coordinator is responsible for setting policy and procedures, ensuring our workforce is trained, supported and confident to implement policy and procedures, and manage any safeguarding concerns that arise.

The Safeguarding Coordinator can be based in any of the Spirituality Ministry Centres, though our preference would be for the role to work from Baulkham Hills or East Melbourne.

The role is offered at 0.6 FTE (three days per week) with flexible and hybrid work arrangements.

 

Key Accountabilities

In carrying out the role, the Safeguarding Coordinator is required to meet the following key requirements:

 

1.0 Purpose, Vision, Mission and Values

• Uphold, through word and deed, the purpose, vision, mission and values of the Mary MacKillop Spirituality Ministry.
• Ensure work activities are in accordance with the purpose, vision, mission and values of the Mary MacKillop Spirituality Ministry.
• Actively support the Sisters of Saint Joseph and their Mission.
• Establish and maintain harmonious working relationships with all stakeholders.
• Lead and promote a climate of hospitality and welcome.

2.0      Position Responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities of the Safeguarding Coordinator include:

2.1      Safeguarding Policy and Procedures

• Ensure the Spirituality Ministry’s Safeguarding Policy and Procedures outline how we meet relevant legislation, child safe standards, and the Australian Catholic Safeguarding Standards.
• Monitor implementation of the Spirituality Ministry’s Safeguarding Policy and Procedures, including completing annual reviews.
• Support the CEO and Senior Leadership team to embed safeguarding into the Ministry’s Risk Management Framework.
• Manage a quality improvement plan that ensures the Spirituality Ministry is continually improving its approach to Safeguarding.
• Develop processes and tools that support full implementation of the Safeguarding Policy, Procedures and Risk Management Framework.

2.2      Awareness Raising and Stakeholder Engagement

• Introduce user-friendly and child-friendly materials that communicate the Spirituality Ministry’s approach to safeguarding across its diverse client groups.
• Lead internal communication and awareness raising about the Ministry’s Safeguarding Policy and Procedures.
• Role model safeguarding practices, encouraging an open culture that supports all people to report suspected safeguarding breaches.
• Report on the implementation of Safeguarding Policy, Procedures and Improvement Plan, including to the CEO and Safeguarding Committee.

2.3      Training and Support

• Implement the Spirituality Ministry’s safeguarding training plan. The focus of the training plan is to ensure all Workplace Participants understand their safeguarding roles.
• Deliver annual safeguarding training. Ensure that the training curriculum remains relevant and updated.
• Help build a Safeguarding Focal Point structure across states and provide expert technical guidance and support to implement safeguarding requirements in their areas.
• Provide technical guidance to the Directors and Heads of Units to implement safeguards in their areas.

2.4      Managing Concerns and Complaints

• Receive and manage safeguarding concerns or complaints.
• Make required external reports (or ensure that such reports have been made) to statutory bodies, such as reportable conduct, child protection or the police.
• Oversee external safeguarding investigations.
• With relevant departments, ensure that records are kept and maintained for all aspects of safeguarding complaints and investigations.
• Map local service environment, ensuring that referral pathways are in place.

 

3.0      Key Performance Indicators

• Purpose, Vision, Mission and Values

• Evidence of active support for the Spirituality Ministry and its Purpose, Vision, Mission and Values

3.2  Safeguarding Policies and Procedures

• All relevant safeguarding policies and procedures are in place and reflect expected safeguarding standards including the Australian Catholic Safeguarding Standards and relevant Australian and State based child safe standards.
• Safeguarding Risk Assessments completed across all Centres.
• Implementation, monitoring and reporting against the Ministry’s Safeguarding Improvement Plan.
• Annual review of safeguarding practice against Safeguarding Policies.
  • Contribution to child safe culture.
• Quarterly information and awareness raising sessions.
• 100% workforce completion of safeguarding induction and annual safeguarding training.
• Posters and other user friendly/child friendly awareness raising materials.
• Participation in appropriate professional development for the Safeguarding Coordinator Role.
• Transparent reporting of progress, achievements and challenges to the Ministry’s leadership team and Safeguarding Committee.

3.4  Effective Complaints Handling

• Oversight of an effective, documented complaints handling process.
• Timely statutory reporting compliance (as outlined by legislation in each State).
• Evidence of timely and accurate documentation and records in accordance with Safeguarding Standards.

4.0      Qualifications, experience, and competencies

• Required experience

• Minimum 3 years’ experience in safeguarding or similar role.
• Expert understanding of child protection legislation, child safe standards, state based mandatory reporting and reportable conduct legislation. An understanding of the Australian Catholic Safeguarding Standards is preferred.
• Experience in delivering safeguarding training.

 

        Desirable experience:

• Previous investigation experience, with strong skills in child focused

4.2  Required skills

• Highly developed written and verbal communication skills.
• Interpersonal skills that support your ability to build relationships across the Ministry.
• Trauma informed practice skills to ensure that our safeguarding framework is survivor centred and trauma informed.
• Ethics and integrity, ensuring high levels of confidentiality and professional judgement.
• Cultural safety, willing and able to incorporate culturally safe practice.
• Strengths based, able to identify and build from existing strengths.
• Analytic thinking, able to assess and resolve challenges.

Applications close 27/03/2026.

Posted on 03/03/2026.