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For more information about who's who, visit the MRN staff page

Fax:   08 8227 0470
Email: mrn@sa.uca.org.au This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Phone: 08 8236 4243
Street Address :2nd Floor, 212 Pirie St., Adelaide SA
Postal Address: GPO Box 2145, Adelaide SA 5001, AUSTRALIA

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This page is to help leaders in Children and family ministry know what they need to do to be a leader and what they can do to be a better leader through training and resources.

Requirements for leaders in the Uniting Church:
A UCA Screening.

This screening is required to be updated every 3 years. The information and form is available here for downloading and printing:   icon UCA Screening General Info Form (706.8 kB)

Mandatory Notification Training.

It is also recommended that a ½ refresher course is taken every 3 years.

What is it?

Mandatory Reporting is the legal requirement to notify Family and Youth Services of any suspected instances of child abuse or neglect.
Why do we do it?
Children and young people have the right to be emotionally and physically safe at all times. Churches have a fundamental role in supporting families and the community to carry out their responsibilities to care for and protect children and young people. No one organisation can effectively ensure that children receive adequate protection from abuse and neglect. In a spirit of partnership, churches need to ensure that people who work with and care for children and young people are aware of their responsibilities to protect children.

What is covered in notification training?

•    What is child abuse and neglect
•    How to recognise the signs of abuse/neglect
•    How and when to notify
•    How values, attitudes and experiences may impact on understanding and responding to child abuse and neglect
Who runs the training?

A number of organisations run training days including the UCA/SA Synod through it's 'Called to Care' initiative. All sessions must be accredited FAYS training where a Certificate of Attainment is given to each participant. For further info contact Linda Vinall P: (08) 8236 4248.

Familiarity with the Called to Care Package.

This package is available in your local congregation. If you are unable to find it please contact Linda Vinall. There is also the called to care course available if leaders want to learn more about Duty of Care.

Training recommended for leaders in children’s ministry:

Christian Journey with Children

This course is run over 2 semesters. Part A looks at the nature and purpose of ministry with children, nurturing the spiritual lives of leaders and children, teaching and learning with children, the Bible with children, and building Christian community. Part B focuses on children in worship and sacraments, celebrating Christian festivals, mission and outreach, pastoral care, ministry with families, intergenerational ministry and skills and resources.

Who runs this training?

Adelaide College of Divinity, 34 Lipsett Terrace, Brooklyn Park SA 5032
Contact: P: (08) 8416 8427, E: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it W: http://college.sa.uca.org.au

Called to Care
The Church is Called to Care because congregations have a gospel imperative and a legal responsibility to do so. The Called to Care package was released in early 2004. It builds on A Safe Place for Children - a manual produced by the Assembly in 1999.

The aim of the Called to Care package and training is to equip church councils, church leaders and employees to provide a safe environment for mission and ministry.

This package encourages people to continue sharing the Good News, while managing our risks and responsibilities.
It is also important that the Uniting Church is proactive in showing the wider community that the church is a safe and caring place.

The Called to Care package includes resources for key target audiences:
•    Handbook for Church Council
•    Data/information/Fact sheets
•    Handbook for Key Leaders (Children and Young People)
•    Workbook for Leaders (Children or Young People)
•    Handbook for Key Pastoral Leaders

Who runs this training?
The Uniting Church. Contact Linda Vinall (08) 8236 4248 for more information.

First Aid
It is strongly recommended that anyone involved in Children's Ministry completes at least a basic level of first aid training so they can handle any emergency that may arise when caring for children. St John's SA and the Red Cross have a variety of courses on offer from a basic first aid course, to First Aid for Centres and Schools (which is required for registered teachers in SA) to a Senior First Aid course.

Who runs this training?

St John SA:
Phone: 8306 6999
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website: http://www.stjohnsa.com.au/courses/body.asp

Red Cross SA:
Phone: 8293 9200
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website: http://www.redcross.org.au/sa/first_aid_training.htm

Useful resource for training leaders in your church:
Called to care package
Available from:

Uniting Church Duty of Care Office
L2 212 Pirie Street, Adelaide, SA 5000
P: (08) 8236 4248 E: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

The Very Essential must-have really useful Guide to Working with children.
Available from:
 Scripture Union
28 Croydon Rd  Keswick SA 5035
P: 08 8371 0811  E: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it W. www.su.org.au/sa

Other training resources and courses
A variety of other resources and people to run training courses are available through the Children’s Mission Planner. Contact Heidi Jane Harding on P: (08) 8236 4281 or E: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it