The **Safe Church Unit** (SCU) is supervised by the **Safe Church Committee** (SCC) of the [Presbyterian Church of Victoria](https://pcv.org.au/about/who/) (PCV), commissioned by the general assembly in 2013 and commencing operations in 2014.

We encourage and assist the church in its commitment to ensuring that all of its congregations and organisations are safe in respect of everyone with them, specifically helping the church to protect and care for the young and vulnerable in our church, and care for the victims of abuse and hurt in our community. We see safe gospel ministry and fellowship together as being in obedience to Scripture.

The SCU will initiate particular care for victims where appropriate and coordinate external investigations as required. The SCU is not a court of the church or place of jurisdiction, but a place for directing concerns and reports to the appropriate courts for resolution, and assisting these courts in compliance with relevant law and policy.

## **Committee**

The SCC is appointed by the general assembly of the [Presbyterian Church of Victoria](https://pcv.org.au/about/who/) (PCV) to advise the Safe Church Unit and the general assembly on any matter that bears on the church's compliance with federal and state law insofar as to the purpose of the committee.

The committee drafts and recommends updates to Safe Church policy and procedure in response to federal and state law and liability insurance policies, and advises relevant church courts of required action to mitigate risk to the young and the vulnerable.

::Gallery
  :::GalleryImage{src="/_upload/about/Rosemary Fethers.jpg" alt="Dr Rosemary Fethers (Acting Convenor)"}
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  :::GalleryImage{src="/_upload/about/Don Elliot.jpg" alt="Rev Don Elliot"}
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  :::GalleryImage{src="/_upload/about/Heather Thomas.jpg" alt="Mrs Heather Thomas"}
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  :::GalleryImage{src="/_upload/about/Nick Atrill.jpeg" alt="Mr Nick Attrill"}
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  :::GalleryImage{src="/_upload/about/Phil Court.jpg" alt="Rev Phil Court"}
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  :::GalleryImage{src="/_upload/about/Ashley Manly.jpg" alt="Mr Ashley Manly (Compliance & Administration Officer)"}
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::Profile{title="Mr Ashley Manly: Compliance & Administration Officer"}
Ashley works **Monday, Thursday and Friday 9am - 5pm** and is responsible for accreditation of churches, organisations and individuals within the PCV.

Ashley handles Safe Church compliance enquiries, Safe Church material requests, [Volunteer Approval Process](https://sc.pcv.org.au/screening/) applications, [Working With Children Check](https://www.vic.gov.au/working-with-children-check) compliance, and administrative support of [Safe Church Training](https://sc.pcv.org.au/training/) events.
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::Callout{icon="📑" background="default"}
The SCC's purpose, structure and duties are established at point 20 of the General Assembly Committee Regulations, published in the [Code Book](https://pcv.org.au/resources/documents/) of the [Presbyterian Church of Victoria](https://pcv.org.au/).
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## **Partnerships**

### **Kooyoora**

The SCC has contracted [Kooyoora](https://www.kooyoora.org.au/), an independent not-for-profit dedicated to delivering professional standards and safeguarding solutions to charitable entities, to respond to all [incident reports and complaints of misconduct](https://sc.pcv.org.au/reporting/) within the church. They are responsible for handling reports and concerns, liaising with relevant authorities, and responding to [National Redress Scheme](https://pcv.org.au/nrs/) applications.

::Bookmark{href="https://www.kooyoora.org.au/"}
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