Privacy and Confidentiality

When responding to disclosures of abuse, it is important to only inform relevant and appropriate people within your church structures on a ‘need to know’ basis.

You are in a position of trust, which is why the disclosure of abuse has come to you in the first place.  You are bound by Privacy laws (Privacy Act 1988 Commonwealth and State/Territory based privacy and confidentiality Acts). These laws protect the person’s information from any maleficence or further/secondary harm.

Relevant and appropriate people are: Ministry Coordinators, Senior Ministers/Pastors/Priests, Denominational Professional Standards Office and Statutory Authorities. Information should not be shared otherwise.

Police and other statutory authorities will be helpful in determining who may be apprised of the details of the situation.