Authorisation & Code of Conduct

AUTHORISATION PROCESS

The Authorisation Process and Safeguarding Code of Conduct Policy clarifies the standards of behaviour that is expected of all employees, volunteers, religious and lay people working as SRE Teachers (Catechists) in the Diocese of Wollongong. SRE teachers are to endorse the principles of the current Child Protection Law and follow the Department of Education Special Religious Education Procedures as an essential responsibility.

As part of the Authorisation Process, the following steps are required:

  1. Obtain a Working With Children Check (WWCC) Clearance.

  2. Complete an SRE Teacher Engagement Form and Teacher Declaration. This includes meeting with the Parish Priest to have a compulsory conversation about the ministry and to go through the Volunteer Service Agreement.

  3. Complete Safeguarding & Classroom Management Courses.

  4. Participate in Mandatory (Level 1) Training.

  5. Adhere to the Safeguarding Code of Conduct Policy.

  6. Added to Authorisation Letter for particular school.

  7. Supplied with an Authorisation Card.

  8. Supplied with an official Diocese of Wollongong Name Badge.

SRE TEACHER ENGAGEMENT FORM (TEF)

An SRE Teacher Engagement Form and Teacher Declaration are to be completed and submitted to your Parish Coordinator. If accepted, the TEF, signed by the Parish Priest, is sent to the Diocesan Coordinator of CCD to be verified, and is then stored at the Office of the Bishop. The Teacher Declaration was introduced in 2024 and added to the TEF for convenience. Every SRE Teacher must sign the declaration to state that they do not have criminal convictions (within the meaning of the Criminal Records Act 1991) and that they have a verified WWCC clearance.

The following records are kept for each SRE Teacher at the Diocese of Wollongong Office of the Bishop:

  1. Full name

  2. Contact details

  3. Date of Birth

  4. WWCC number

  5. Verification date

  6. Verification outcome

  7. Expiry date

  8. Record of Training

WORKING WITH CHILDREN CHECK CLEARANCE (WWCC)                

In accordance with the Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012, all SRE Teachers are required to apply for a WWCC and obtain a clearance number. The number and your date of birth must be provided for verification by the Diocese of Wollongong through your parish secretary. The WWCC involves a national criminal history check and a review of findings of workplace misconduct.

Safeguarding TRAINING

All SRE Teachers have a responsibility to report risk of harm concerns about children and young people, within  their roles, and to provide support to children and young people.

It is a responsibility to ensure that all SRE teachers:

  • Have participated in an initial Safeguarding Training and subsequent refresher courses

  • Are aware of the indicators of abuse and neglect of children and young people

  • Are aware of their obligation to advise the principal or workplace manager of concerns about the safety, welfare and wellbeing of children and young people that arise during the course of their work

  • Are aware of their mandatory obligation to report suspected risk of significant harm and of the procedures for doing so

MANDATORY TRAINING (CATECHIST LEVEL I TRAINING)

Once a person has been accepted as a new SRE Catechist (teacher or helper), it is expected they will participate in the mandatory training required and agreed to by the Department of Education and the NSW/ACT Bishops Conference. These modules include:

  1. Safeguarding Training

  2. Classroom Management Training

  3. The SRE Teacher in Parish and Schools

  4. Development of the Child and Adolescent

  5. Introduction to the Bible

  6. Using an Authorised Curriculum for Lesson Planning

  7. The Mission and Ministry of the Catechist

  8. The Teaching Authority of the Catholic Church

The Wollongong Diocesan CCD Coordinator arranges for and facilitates this training, and maintains a record of training undertaken by SRE Catechists.

CODE OF CONDUCT

All SRE Catechists entering Public Schools as SRE Teachers are representing their Parish, their Diocese, their Bishop and their Church. They are therefore expected to adhere to the Diocese of Wollongong Safeguarding Code of Conduct Policy. The Code of Conduct gives guidance in areas where staff and volunteers need to make personal and ethical decisions.

The Diocese of Wollongong Safeguarding Code of Conduct Policy is aligned with the Department of Education’s Code of ethics and conduct and SRE teachers are expected to be aware of and follow both.

The Safeguarding Code of Conduct Policy is summarised on the Teacher Engagement Form.

NOTIFICATION TO SCHOOLS

Once authorised, the Catechist’s (SRE Teacher’s) name will be added to the Authorisation Letter, which lists the name and date of birth of SRE Teachers teaching in the school and a contact phone number for the Parish Coordinator. NEW: The Department of Education requires all SRE Teachers to complete a Digital Declaration before entering schools in 2027.

AUTHORISATION CARD

Once Authorised, SRE Catechists will receive an Authorisation Card at the beginning of each year, which is to be signed by the Catechist and their Parish Priest. The card also states the School/s in which they will be teaching.

The Authorisation Card is renewed each year. The Authorisation Card must be carried at all times the Catechist is on the school premises and must be shown upon request. 

OFFICIAL DIOCESAN NAME BADGE

The Name Badge must be worn at all times the Catechist is on the school premises.