ACSL Annual Report 2025 FINAL DIGITAL (spreads) v3 - Flipbook - Page 8
Message from the Chair
2025 has been an important
and busy year for ACSL. The
theme of the Jubilee year cast
us as Pilgrims of Hope on
an important safeguarding
journey with our Members
and subscribers. We hope
that the work we have
undertaken together has
significantly strengthened
both safeguarding awareness
and practice.
Within the ACSL constitution, there is a requirement that the
Board undertake a review of the company’s activities by the
end of 2025. The Corporate Review report was presented to
the Member Representatives in October 2025.
The process of completing this review provided the Board with
the opportunity to consider in depth the achievements and
challenges that have occurred during the first 5-year period
of the company. We appreciate and thank all those who
contributed to our deliberations and provided insights into the
opportunities that present themselves to ACSL in the future.
The review made several key observations that related to the
need to continue the operation of ACSL for at least another
5 years, and that every effort should be made to promote a
whole-of-church approach to safeguarding.
The review also assisted the Board in identifying that a specific
need for the next 5 years was to move to more deeply fostering
the development of the safeguarding culture within Church
Authorities by focusing on increased education and professional
learning opportunities.
Subsequently a process of discernment has commenced
between ACBC, CRA and AMPJP in their roles as Members of
the company and the ACSL Board, which will likely culminate
in a revised ACSL Constitution, new Strategic plan and new
subscriber model from January 2027.
While the Corporate review was a dominant theme during 2025,
the day to day work of ACSL continued. The safeguarding audit
program has yielded strong evidence to support the cultural
changes we are working to see. ACSL’s sponsorship of the visit
by Fr Hans Zollner SJ to Australia was an important opportunity
for us to reach deeply into our safeguarding community, and
the work of the ACSL team and Australian delegation at the
International Safeguarding Conference in Rome demonstrated
leadership and solidarity with the global church initiatives.
I take this opportunity to again thank the Company Members for
their support, my fellow Board Directors, our subscribers and all
those who assist in making our Church safer.
To Ursula Stephens, our CEO and the staff of ACSL, we give our
sincere thanks for their ongoing contribution to creating a safe
church for everyone.
Mr David Penny,
ACSL Board Chair
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ACSL AN NU AL R E P OR T 2 0 2 5
ACSL staff were some of
the many delegates from
across the world at the
International Safeguarding
Conference in June 2025
themed "Women of Faith,
Women of Strength".
