Concern or Disclosure Report
1. Purpose
To make sure every concern about someone's safety reaches the people who can act on it, and that we have a record of what was known and when.
If you are not sure whether something belongs on this form, use this form. It is always better to send a concern to the safeguarding team and be told it was nothing. Accidents, injuries, near misses and property damage, where nobody is being harmed by another person, go on the Incident Report instead.
2. You do not need to be sure
"ACC People are not required, as an initial response, to establish or investigate if harm has occurred, but rather report reasonable suspicions or concerns of harm, including the grounds for concerns."
(ACC Safer Churches Manual 3rd Edition, Guideline 8)
Report the concern, not the conclusion. Working out what happened is somebody else's job, and doing it yourself can damage an investigation.
3. Use this form when
a. Someone tells you they are being harmed, or are at risk of harm.
b. Someone tells you about another person being harmed, or at risk.
c. You are concerned about someone based on what you have seen: their appearance, their behaviour, something you witnessed, or something you heard second-hand.
This covers children, young people and adults. Vulnerability is not only about age. It can come from disability, isolation, illness, bereavement, language, literacy, financial dependence or circumstance, and it can be temporary.
4. Definitions
Harm includes, but is not limited to:
- Physical abuse: when a person purposely injures or threatens to injure someone.
- Emotional or psychological abuse: an attack on a person's self-esteem, such as bullying, name-calling, threatening, ridiculing, harassing, intimidating or isolating them.
- Sexual abuse: any sexual act or sexual threat imposed on a person.
- Grooming: predatory conduct undertaken to prepare a person for sexual activity.
- Neglect: failing to provide the care, supervision or necessities a person depends on.
- Coercion and exploitation: pressuring or using a person for someone else's benefit, including financially.
- Abuse of power: misusing a position of authority, trust or spiritual leadership over someone.
- Domestic and family violence: violence, threats or controlling behaviour within a family or intimate relationship.
- Self-harm and suicidal ideation: behaviours or verbal indications that a person may be at risk of intentionally harming themselves or ending their life. This includes expressions of hopelessness, withdrawal, or direct statements about wanting to die or self-injure.
5. Introduction
Centrepoint Church acknowledges God's love for all people and our responsibility to provide a safe, nurturing environment, especially for children and vulnerable individuals. As part of the Australian Christian Churches (ACC), we implement the ACC Child Protection Policy and the Safer Churches strategy in all church operations.
Psychological and emotional wellbeing matters as much as physical safety, and we respond compassionately and responsibly to anyone expressing thoughts of self-harm or suicide.
6. What to do
- If anyone is in immediate danger, call 000 first. Then complete this form.
- Report to a pastor or the Safer Churches Coordinator the same day. Do not investigate.
- Complete this form, or pass what you know to a pastor or the Coordinator who will complete it.
- Treat everything as strictly confidential. Never inform the alleged perpetrator.
- Do not promise secrecy. Tell the person you will have to pass this on to someone who can help.
Submit this form within 24 hours.
7. Reportable Conduct Scheme
Where an allegation of child abuse involves a staff member or volunteer, Centrepoint must notify the WA Ombudsman within 7 WORKING DAYS, investigate, and submit a final report.
The 7 working days runs from the day ANY person in the church who could be expected to act becomes aware.
Reportable conduct includes: sexual offences or misconduct involving a child, physical assault, significant neglect, and emotional or psychological harm.
8. You are protected for reporting
A person who reports a concern in good faith cannot be sued, even if the concern turns out to be unsubstantiated, and your identity is not disclosed to the person you reported.
