We are a welcoming, friendly, and inclusive faith community in Yarralumla seeking to follow Jesus the best we can.

Safety is not an afterthought — it’s central to who we are.

At Yarralumla Uniting Church, we believe a Culture of Safety is integral to living out our faith. It’s not just about meeting legal requirements - it’s about caring for every person as a child of God, creating spaces where people feel respected, protected, and nurtured. This commitment shapes all we do.

What a Culture of Safety Means for Us

• We proactively attend to wellbeing, dignity, and protection for all, especially children, youth, and vulnerable people.

• We implement clear policies, procedures, training, and oversight to prevent harm and respond well when issues arise.

• We support transparency, accountability, and ongoing learning — acknowledging we must continually improve.

• We foster an environment where everyone feels safe to voice concerns, knowing they will be heard and acted upon.

The Synod’s Culture of Safety program emphasises that a safe church is more than compliance — it’s “an outworking of our desire to make a Jesus-shaped difference in our communities.” nswact.uca.org.au

Key elements often included are:

• Training in duty of care, abuse prevention, leadership, supervision, and mandatory reporting 

• Policies such as Child Safe Commitment Statements and safe ministry guidelines 

• Safe governance practices including managing “Persons of Concern” with confidentiality, regular review, and defined safety agreements

Our Culture of Safety Coordinator

We are pleased to introduce Ailsa Lawton as our Culture of Safety Coordinator. Ailsa’s role is to:

• Oversee and guide our safety practices, policies, and training

• Be a point of contact for concerns, questions, or disclosures

• Work with leadership, volunteers, and the community to ensure we live out our commitment in day-to-day life

If you ever have concerns, feedback, or simply want to understand more about how we keep our church safe, you can reach out to Ailsa.

Why It Matters

• Trust & Assurance: Every person who comes into our church should feel confident they are in a safe, caring environment.

• Spiritual Integrity: Our mission and witness demand that we embody Christ’s love in tangible ways — protecting the vulnerable is central to that.

• Resilience & Healing: A safe culture helps prevent harm and ensures that, should anything go wrong, there is clear support and response.

• Community Reputation: We stand publicly for a faith that protects, honours and cares — it matters how we live that out.