An audit of the St Vincent de Paul Society National Council of Australia in April demonstrated a high level of compliance and commitment to safeguarding. Source: ACSL.
The audit was conducted by Australian Catholic Safeguarding Limited and examined activities of St Vincent de Paul Society National Council of Australia Inc.
The St Vincent de Paul Society is an international lay Catholic organisation of men and women founded in France in 1833 by a group of Catholic lay people who formed the first conference.
The Society in Australia consists of more than 1000 conferences that make up diocesan, central, regional, state and territory councils. The national council is the superior council of the Society in Australia, with its decisions binding upon all conferences and lower councils in Australia.
ACSL chief executive Ursula Stephens said the audit demonstrated that there is a philosophy of safeguarding and service that underpins the work of the national council.
“NCSS safeguarding audits are more than just a tick the box exercise, they actually provide the opportunity for Church entities to evaluate how they can be creating and supporting more welcoming and safe communities to deliver good works,” Dr Stephens said.
She said the audit team identified “some minor areas for improvement” for the national Council that “will further embed their safeguarding practices”.
Several of the recommendations have already been implemented and this work will continue over the next 12 months.
The St Vincent de Paul National Council of Australia was assessed against the NCSS and generally does not provide direct ministries or services that engage with children or adults at risk.
“The Society across Australia has worked hard to introduce the National Catholic Safeguarding Standards to all our activities and entities,” national president Mark Gaetani said.
“National council, acting as the Church authority on safeguarding matters, is pleased to have received a positive report of the recent external audit conducted by ACSL.
“ We look forward to a continuing strong working relationship with ACSL.”
The full safeguarding audit report for St Vincent de Paul National Council Australia is available on ACSL’s website.
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Safeguarding is fundamental to the work of National Council, St Vincent de Paul Society (ACSL)
