The Divine Word Missionaries has officially been declared to be a participating institution in the National Redress Scheme.

Minister for Social Services Anne Ruston, made the declaration on August 26 after more than a year of work by the SVD to complete the necessary procedures and documentation.

The commitment of the Divine Word Missionaries AUS Province to building a culture of well-being and safety continues on a range of fronts, including an appraisal process for confreres.

The Provincial Council has asked 33 SVD members to initiate an appraisal process for themselves this year. Such a process was a recommendation of the Royal Commission into Institutional Child Sexual Abuse, and is also aimed at ensuring the well-being of missionaries in their ministry.

The SVD AUS Province has begun the work involved in joining the National Redress Scheme to support survivors of abuse by Church personnel, as part of its ongoing commitment to professional standards and safeguarding.

Fr Michael Hardie SVD, the Professional Standards Coordinator for the Province, has moved from Melbourne to the Provincial administrative centre in Marsfield, Sydney to take carriage of the work.

You may have seen in the news recently that the Catholic Church in Australia was the first non-government institution to sign up nationally to the National Redress Scheme for victims and survivors of child sexual abuse, which was a key recommendation of the recent Royal Commission.

I am pleased to confirm that the Divine Word Missionaries AUS Province has joined the National Redress Scheme as a firm sign of our deep commitment to treating the victims of child sexual abuse with the compassion and justice they deserve.

The SVD AUS Province has begun the work of reviewing and formulating the Province’s policies and protocols in the area of Professional Standards, with the aim of producing a best-practice manual which will contribute to a safer Church and safer society.

The move forms part of the Province’s initial response to the Final Report of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has today given its final report to the Governor General. Many of the findings and recommendations will have significant impact on the way the Catholic Church operates in Australia.

“We acknowledge with gratitude the courage of all those survivors who have come forward to the Royal Commission,” Sr Ruth Durick OSU, President of Catholic Religious Australia said.

As the Royal Commission wraps up its hearings into the Catholic Church’s response to child sexual abuse, the SVD Provincial, Fr Henry Adler, has recommitted the Province to safe ministry and to continuing to provide support and pastoral care to all affected.

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse completed its hearings of Case Study 50, known as the Catholic ‘wrap-up’ last week, after three weeks in which the overall extent of abuse by Church personnel over several decades was laid bare in statistics which were described as “tragic and indefensible”.