• Senior leadership opportunity
• Diocesan-wide focus
• Full-time role and based at Pennant Hills

About Us

The Catholic Diocese of Broken Bay (Diocese) exists to serve the People of God in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, the North Shore and the Central Coast. Our communities are nourished and sustained by the sacramental life of the Church celebrated and available through its parishes and ecclesial communities, Catholic schools, diocesan agencies and ministries. The Diocese works alongside local people and organisations to provide a diverse range of spiritual, pastoral, educational, social and community support services for those who live and work in the Diocese.

Central to the Diocese’s mission and purpose is its commitment to the care, wellbeing and protection of children, young people and vulnerable adults. The role of Safeguarding in the Diocese seeks to ensure children, young people and vulnerable adults are provided with the fundamental right to be kept safe and respected. This commitment is held sacred in our Gospel, international and local laws and within our Church policy and practice.

About the Role

Reporting to the Bishop of the Diocese, the Head of Safeguarding leads, manages and coordinates the Diocese’s obligation to ensure the safeguarding of children, young people and vulnerable adults within its ministries and outreach services.  As a senior leader, you will provide leadership and assurance across the Diocese to ensure that safeguarding is embedded into governance, culture, decision making and practice.

Together with a small safeguarding team, you will have responsibility for safeguarding strategy implementation, governance risk oversight and continuous improvement. The role provides professional independence, escalates material risks through established governance mechanisms, and supports the Bishop to fulfill canonical, civil and moral safeguarding obligations.

You will ensure the Diocese’s safeguarding systems are compliant with civil law, church law, National Catholic Safeguarding Standards and NSW Child Safe Standards, and ensure safeguarding is a core expression of diocesan leadership, accountability and mission across all Diocesan ministries and outreach services.

Guided by the Diocesan Safeguarding Charter and its associated governance framework, you will work collaboratively with key stakeholders to ensure consistent safeguarding standards, capabilities and culture across all diocesan contexts.

Key to this role will be your ability to foster strong working relationships with key stakeholders and to support leaders to ensure they are actively upholding safeguarding responsibilities appropriate to their role and authority.

The role is a full-time role and based in Pennant Hills. Onsite parking is available. Some travel within the Diocese will be required.

About You

We are seeking interest from suitably qualified candidates who would like to share in the mission of the Diocese. Ideally, we are interested in people who meet the following Key Requirements:

• An alignment with the Dioceses mission, with a genuine commitment to the values and purpose of the Catholic Church.
• Deep expertise in safeguarding leadership, including contemporary best practice, trauma-informed approaches, organisation risk and assurance.
• Comprehensive knowledge of relevant safeguarding legislation, standards and regulatory frameworks.
• Significant senior-level experience in safeguarding, child protection, professional standards, regulation, compliance or a closely related field.
• Proven capability in leading organisational wide safeguarding systems, including audits, reviews, regulatory engagement and continuous improvement.
• Tertiary qualifications in law, policing, social work, safeguarding, compliance, governance or a related discipline, or equivalent substantial professional experience.

Enquiries and Application Process

For a confidential discussion about this position and to obtain a copy of the Position Description please contact Anthony Spata Reach HR on 0402 210 055 or [email protected]

Applications should be sent directly to [email protected] and must include a resume andcover letter. Your cover letter should outline your suitability for the role, in particular, how you meet each of the Key Requirements outlined above.

Applications close 29 May 2026.

As this is a full-time role, only candidates with the unrestricted right to work in Australia will be considered.

Preferred candidates must have a Working With Children Check clearance and National Police Check clearance prior to employment.