This National Child Protection Week (7–13 September 2025), the Diocese of Parramatta is reaffirming its commitment to care, safety, and healing within the Church. As part of this commitment, the Diocese has launched a new Child Safe Resources Hub and appointed a Healing and Support Counsellor to provide additional support for children, families, and parish communities.
This year’s theme, ‘Every Conversation Matters – Shifting Conversation to Action’, highlights that while dialogue is essential to raising awareness, challenging harmful norms, and generating new ideas, real change comes when conversations are turned into meaningful action.
National Child Protection Week leads into Safeguarding Sunday on 14 September, an initiative of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference.
A hub giving children a voice in safeguarding
The Child Safe Resources Hub is divided into three sections: Junior, Middle School, and Older Kids – each will contain an age-appropriate children’s code of conduct, guidance on what to do if safety concerns arise, links to key information and contacts, downloadable posters and more.
It features artwork from children who participated in the 2024 Kids’ Voices Art Competition, reflecting the theme, ‘My Church is a safe place for me’.
“I was so impressed with the way the children expressed themselves through the artwork,” said Maria Kervin, Manager, Prevention, Healing & Support.
The new child safe resources hub offers information and support for children of all ages.
Maria explained that the hub, through its imagery, is designed to give children a genuine voice on the important topic of safeguarding.
“The hub allows children to engage with safeguarding in an age-appropriate way, express their thoughts and feelings, and share them with peers in their own age group,” she said.
“It will grow over time, providing ongoing support and education for children and our communities.”
Becoming a humble and healing Church
Lorena Portocarrero recently commenced as a Healing and Support Counsellor in the Diocese of Parramatta, providing therapeutic support to individuals who may have experienced harm, including those indirectly affected.
“I aim to facilitate holistic support by providing therapeutic care as well as resources, tools, and pathways that promote healing and recovery,” Lorena said.
Motivated by her faith, Lorena emphasised the importance of creating a safe and welcoming space for individuals who have experienced trauma, “where they are genuinely heard and welcomed”.
“Through our smallness, we hope to reflect the love, arms, and heart of Jesus, so that the Church can be a source of care, growth and hope.”
“My role is to accompany them on that journey, but the healing itself belongs to God and the person, which looks different for every person.”
Our commitment to safeguarding
Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, Bishop of Parramatta, said the following in the Diocese of Parramatta’s Statement of Commitment to Safeguarding:
“Our past failings cannot be undone,” he stated. “However, we remain steadfast in our future commitments to ensure our current child-protection processes and procedures offer a safeguard from predatory behaviour.
“In all of our works, ministries and activities, we respond to the call of the Gospel to protect those who are vulnerable by fostering culture, education, systems, processes and environments where the safety and wellbeing of children and vulnerable people is paramount.”
Tracy Mcleod-Howe, Head of People and Culture, said safeguarding is more than policies and box-ticking.
“We are committed to a culture of safeguarding where the best interests of children are always paramount, leaders at all levels prioritise safety, and everyone engaged by the Diocese is suitably screened, supported, and trained for their role,” she said.
“We also listen to the voices of survivors, children, families, and our diverse communities, maintaining transparent policies and procedures, and creating safe spaces – both physical and online – where all can feel genuinely protected and heard.”
Explore the Child Safe Resources Hub today, or visit Safeguarding to learn more.
If you need confidential support, we’re here to help you – please email safeguarding@parracatholic.org or complete the online form
These initiatives are guided by the Diocesan Pastoral Plan and its commitment to becoming a humble and healing Church.
Get involved: download and share resources for National Child Protection Week and Safeguarding Sunday through your parish, school, agency, community, or on social media
