ACSL Annual Report 2025 FINAL DIGITAL (spreads) v3 - Flipbook - Page 13
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SUPPORTING PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS
AND RESPONSES TO COMPLAINTS
In 2025 ACSL continued to strengthen its national leadership
in complaints response and professional standards, with a
focus on system reform, transparency and consistency across
Catholic entities. The Catholic Church in Australia has a range
of Professional Standards. These are:
y Vos Estis Lux Mundi (Pope Francis’ Apostolic letter)
y National Catholic Safeguarding Standards (NCSS)
(to be reviewed 2028)
Developing a New National
Complaints Database
A major strategic priority during the year has been the design
and development of a new national complaints management
database. This purpose-built platform will replace the existing
National Database and enable the secure transition of historical
data into a modern, fit-for-purpose system.
y Integrity in our Common Mission (Universal code of
conduct across Australia)
The new database is being custom designed to support
Catholic entities in managing complaints locally, while also
enabling appropriate national oversight, trend analysis and
reporting. It reflects contemporary best practice in complaints
handling, including improved workflow management, document
control, data security and reporting capability.
Religious Institutes draw on the NRP and their own
Constitutions and Rules.
The database will be launched in 2026, following data
migration, user testing and implementation planning.
Supporting Individuals and Entities
in Complaints Processes
Reviewing the National
Response Protocol
We continued to provide advice, guidance and support to
individuals who approached us with safeguarding concerns.
This work included assisting victims and survivors to
understand available pathways and gain information about
available review processes.
During 2025 we commenced a comprehensive review of the
National Response Protocol to ensure it remains contemporary,
clear and aligned with evolving legal, regulatory and
safeguarding expectations.
y National Response Protocol (NRP- the framework for
Catholic entities a to respond consistently to concerns or
allegations of child abuse)
We also supported Catholic entities with managing complaints
and review processes within their own jurisdictions. We
worked alongside leaders to ensure all responses to
compplaints processes were procedurally fair, traumainformed and aligned with the National Response Protocol.
During the year, ACSL facilitated three full reviews under its
review framework. These reviews conducted by the National
Appeals and Reviews Panel chaired by The Honourable
Duncan Kerr examined aspects of complaint investigation
processes and findings, and provided independent
oversight to ensure matters were handled in accordance with
established standards.
A first draft of the revised Protocol was circulated in November
2025 to the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC),
Catholic Religious Australia (CRA) and Catholic entities for
consultation and feedback. This consultative approach reflects
ACSL’s commitment to shared ownership of safeguarding
standards and to ensuring the Protocol remains practical and
implementable across diverse ministry contexts.
Feedback received will inform the finalisation of the revised
Protocol in 2026.
This investment in collaborating represents a significant step
forward in strengthening consistency, accountability and
transparency in complaints management across the Church
in Australia.
Thank you so much for
taking the time to read my
email and for understanding
my concerns. I truly appreciate
your response and the attention
you have given to this matter.
Thank you also for your kind
words in recognising the personal
nature of this matter for my family.
Your assistance in helping to ensure
the complaint is properly received
is very much appreciated.
Thank you for your
thoughtful response and
for taking the time to
read and register
my disclosure.
Thank you.
This is the first
compassionate and
common-sense response
we have had.
AC S L A N N U A L R EP O R T 2 025
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