Diocesan Glossary of Terms
accredited training means:
(a) training that:
includes the course content in the Safe Ministry Training National Benchmarks so far as it relates to ministry to children, with reasonable adjustments for cultural, linguistic, ability diversity and age; and
is delivered by persons who are authorised, and/or online training which is authorised, by the Diocesan Council; or
(b) training of another Church body or organisation that the Diocesan Council has determined is equivalent to the training in paragraph (a) in the Safe Ministry to Children Statute 2022.
adult means a person who is 18 years of age or above.
Archdeacon means the Clergyman licenced by the Bishop to assist the Bishop in the care of a region.
Bishop means the Bishop of the Diocese.
child means anyone under the age of 18 years.
child abuse means:
(a) the following conduct in relation to a child:
bullying; or
emotional abuse; or
neglect; or
physical abuse; or
sexual assault, sexual exploitation, sexual harassment or sexually inappropriate behaviour; or
spiritual abuse; or
grooming; or
a child offence; or
failure without reasonable excuse to report child abuse;
(b) the possession, production or distribution of child exploitation material.
Church Agency means any separately incorporated entity of the church in the Diocese, which has been established by the Synod, the Diocesan Trustees or the Diocesan Council and includes all Church schools.
Church authority means the Bishop or a person or body having authority to ordain, license, select, appoint, dismiss or suspend a church worker.
Church body means any body corporate, organisation or association that exercises ministry within, or on behalf of, or in the name of, the Church, and is constituted by Statute of the Synod or in respect of which the Synod has power to make Statutes.
Church body audit means an audit as to whether –
(a) any code of conduct that applies to church workers in a Church body in respect of which the Diocesan Council has made a determination pursuant to section 6 gives substantial effect to the standards of conduct and the guidelines for conduct contained in the prescribed code of conduct as appropriately adapted to the context of the Church body.
(b) any requirements in this Statute for safe ministry to children that apply to church workers in a Church body in respect of which the Diocesan Council has made a determination under section 10 give substantial effect to the applicable requirements as appropriately adapted to the context of the Church body.
Church entity means an unincorporated entity including a committee, commission, a parish, a vestry or a parish council in the Diocese or the Cathedral, that exercises ministry within, or on behalf of, the Church with the actual or apparent authority of the Church.
church ministry assessment means a reasonable endeavour made to obtain information about the person from the responsible authority, and if obtained consideration of that information.
Church School means a school or other educational institution established under any Statute of the Diocese, as well as the Provincial schools within the Diocese, which are affiliated with the Church.
church worker means a person aged 13 years or older undertaking any ministry in the Diocese:
(a) who is licensed or authorised by the Bishop; or
(b) who is employed by a Church body; or
(c) who, for payment or not, holds a position or performs a function with the actual or apparent authority of a Church authority or Church body.
clergy means a person who is a bishop, priest or deacon in the Anglican Church of Australia.
code of conduct means the national code for personal behaviour and the practice of pastoral ministry by clergy and church workers.
cogent means clear, logical and convincing
Constitution means the Constitution of the Anglican Church of Australia.
contact means physical contact, oral communication (whether face-to-face or by telephone), written communication or electronic communication (which includes email, instant messaging, social media and video chats).
criminal history assessment means consideration of a National Police History Check of the person, or, in the case of a volunteer aged 13 to 17 years, a Volunteer National Police Certificate.
denominational authority means a person or body of another denomination having authority to ordain, license, elect, appoint, dismiss or suspend a member of the clergy or a lay person of that denomination.
Diocese means the Anglican Diocese of North West Australia.
diocesan administration costs means administration costs centralised within the Diocesan Registry that are incurred in the operation of the Diocese, including ministry and property costs incurred on behalf of ministers, parishes (full or provisional) and mission districts.
diocesan audit means an audit as to whether:
(a) any diocesan code of conduct containing additional standards of conduct for observance, and additional guidelines for conduct to be followed, is inconsistent with the standards of conduct and the guidelines for conduct contained in the prescribed code of conduct, or an equivalent code of conduct in respect of which the Diocesan Council has made a determination pursuant to section 6 of Safe Ministry to Children Statute 2022;
(b) the diocese has standards, and guidelines unless there are cogent reasons for not doing so, that give effect to the prescribed standards and guidelines;
(c) a diocese has in place procedures which:
effectively monitor observance by church workers in the diocese of the standards, and guidelines unless there are cogent reasons for not doing so, applicable to them that give effect to the prescribed standards and guidelines; and
provide for an appropriate response to instances of non-observance;
(d) and the procedures in paragraph (c) have, in all material respects, been followed, and
(e) any additional standards and guidelines for safe ministry to children prescribed by a diocese are inconsistent with the prescribed standards and guidelines, or equivalent standards and guidelines applicable to a Church body in respect of which the Diocesan Council has made a determination pursuant to section 10 of Safe Ministry to Children Statute 2022.
diocesan safe ministry authority means a Church body with responsibility for safe ministry to children in a diocese, and where not established is the Diocesan Council.
Ecclesiastical district means a territory within the Diocese in accordance with section 3 of the Constitution Statute 1961, the boundaries of which may be adjusted from time to time.
Faithfulness in Service means Faithfulness in Service – A national code for personal behaviour and the practice of pastoral ministry by clergy and church workers adopted by the Synod of the Diocese including any amendments made thereto from time to time.
General Synod professional standards position means a professional standards position to which a person is elected or appointed by the General Synod or the Standing Committee or the Primate or the General Secretary.
General Synod safe ministry position means a safe ministry position to which a person is elected or appointed by the General Synod or the Standing Committee or the Primate or the Secretary of General Synod.
gospel partner means an agency or individual who is not a Church Member but who supports the Diocese through providing a service or by praying or by giving money.
grievance means –
(a) a disagreement (including a conflict) between two or more people where at least one person is a member of the Diocese;
(b) a perceived offence has been caused by a member of the Diocese;
(c) a perception by one person that they have been bullied by a member of the Diocese.
grooming means conduct deliberately undertaken with the aim of engaging and influencing a person for the purpose of sexual activity.
lay Ministry Worker means a paid or voluntary church worker, who is not a Clergyman, but is licenced to preach, to lead a church service, or to perform any other authorised ministry.
lay Worker means a paid or voluntary church worker, who is not a Clergyman and who is not licenced for a ministry.
licence means a licence, an authority, or a permission to officiate issued by the Bishop.
licensed clergy means clergy to whom the Bishop of the Diocese has issued a licence.
medical assessment means consideration of a medical report of the person by a registered medical practitioner.
Metropolitan means the archbishop of a province. Our Metropolitan is the Archbishop of Perth.
Minister-in-charge means the most senior officer holder in a ministry centre.
ministry means work of a religious nature, including that conducted by a religious practitioner or a member of his church community and any other work that supports this work, such as work of an administrative nature.
ministry centre means a place of ministry. It can include an Ecclesiastical District or the location of a chaplaincy or a place where a service of divine worship is held.
ministry centre governing group means the committee responsible for the operation of a ministry centre, including but not limited to Parish Council, Mission to Seafarers Management Committee, etc.
ministry to children means work of a kind where a person:
(a) is required to hold a working with children check by reason that the person has contact with a child as part of engaging in a regulated activity; or
(b) exercises a pastoral ministry which has direct, regular and not incidental contact with children; or
(c) provides services to children that are ancillary to the exercise of a pastoral ministry within paragraph (b) which involve:
(i) contact with children during an overnight activity (such as camps and similar activities); or
(ii) close, personal contact with children (such as changing clothes, washing and toileting); or
(d) supervises the ministry of a person within any one or more of paragraphs (a) to (c); or
(e) performs a professional standards role; or
(f) performs a safe ministry role.
mission district means a territory within the Diocese designated as such by the Diocesan Council as it does not meet the criteria for a Parish or Provisional Parish.
National Register means the National Register established under the National Register Canon 2007.
National Register assessment means a check whether there is any information about the person entered in the National Register, and if so consideration of that information.
neglect of a child means the neglect of a child where the child has suffered, or is likely to suffer, significant harm to his or her wellbeing or development.
non-parochial ministry means a minister serving in a role such as Prison or Hospital or Mission to Seafarers Chaplaincy.
Parish means a territory within the Diocese constituted under the provisions of this Statute, the boundaries of which may be adjusted from time to time, which may contain one or more congregations and/or church buildings.
Parish Council means the governing body for the financial, property and ministry affairs of the Parish and each church of the Parish.
pastoral ministry includes the provision of spiritual advice and support, education, counselling, medical care, and assistance in times of need.
Person of Concern is a person who is currently participating or wishes to participate in the life of a parish or congregation and whose presence constitutes a risk of harm to others in the parish or congregation.
Persons of Concern Policy means the Policy for Safe Ministry in a parish where there is a risk of harm by a Person of Concern that is prescribed by the Synod from time to time.
physical abuse means any intentional or reckless act, use of force or threat to use force causing injury to, or involving unwelcome physical contact with, another person but does not include lawful discipline by a parent or guardian.
Professional Standards Committee means a committee established in accordance with the Diocese of the North West Professional Standards Statute which shall be the investigative body for the purposes of the Reportable Conduct Scheme.
professional standards personnel means church workers performing a professional standards role.
professional standards process means a process for determining the fitness for office of clergy or lay persons under any canon of the General Synod or diocesan ordinance or a process under Chapter IX of the Constitution, where the conduct that is the subject of the process relates to child abuse.
professional standards role means a role in:
(a) recommending or determining whether an action is to be taken; or
(b) providing support to a person; under a professional standards process.
Province means –
(a) a member church of the Anglican Consultative Council other than the Anglican Church of Australia and includes part of a Province; and
(b) a church that is recognised as a member church of the Anglican Communion by the Synod.
provincial authority means the person or body in a Province having authority to ordain, license, elect, appoint, dismiss or suspend a member of the clergy or a lay person of that Province.
provisional parish means a territory within the Diocese constituted under the provisions of the Church Administration Statute 2020, the boundaries of which may be adjusted from time to time, which may contain one or more congregations and/or church buildings but which does not meet all of the criteria for a Parish.
psychological assessment means consideration of a psychological report that includes an assessment of the personal, social and psychosexual maturity of the person by a registered psychologist experienced in psychological assessment.
Registrar means the person holding the office for the time being as the registrar of the Diocese.
Reportable Conduct Scheme means the scheme established by Reportable Conduct Scheme (see Parliamentary Commissioner Amendment (Reportable Conduct) Act 2022), and includes allegations against employees, in relation to
(a) a sexual offence;
(b) sexual misconduct;
(c) a physical assault committed against, with or in the presence of, a child; or
(d) significant neglect of a child; or
(e) any behaviour that causes significant emotional or psychological harm to a child; or
(f) an offence prescribed by the Reportable Conduct regulations;
whether or not a criminal proceeding in relation to the conduct has been commenced or concluded and whether the conduct occurred before, on or after commencement day.
reportable conviction means a conviction for an offence of a sexual nature under a law of Western Australia, another State, Territory, or the Commonwealth committed against, with or in the presence of a child, or other prescribed offences.
responsible authority means –
(a) a provincial authority; or
(b) a diocesan authority; or
(c) a denominational authority.
ritual includes rites according to the use of the Anglican Church of Australia, and also the obligation to abide by such use.
safe ministry means ministry that minimises harm to the people involved with this ministry.
safe ministry assessment means consideration of the person’s completed Safe Ministry Check, and, if applicable, information provided by a person’s former minister or a referee as part of the Safe Ministry Check.
Safe Ministry Check means the questionnaire for the selection of ordination candidates, for the screening of clergy, and for the screening of church workers who have contact with children in his or her ministry, in use in a diocese.
safe ministry personnel means church workers performing a safe ministry role; safe ministry role means a role:
(a) in recommending or determining standards and guidelines for safe ministry to children or with Person of Concern; or
(b) in recommending or determining or supervising safe ministry in a parish or congregation with a Person of Concern;
but excludes a role as a member of the synod of the diocese and, if a diocese has established a diocesan safe ministry authority separate from its diocesan council excludes a role as a member of the diocesan council.
Safe Ministry training - See accredited training
Safe Ministry Training National Benchmarks means the set of national benchmarks for safe ministry training as determined by the Safe Ministry Commission of the Anglican Church of Australia.
screening authority means –
(a) in the case of a person to be ordained as a deacon, or a church worker to be licensed, the Bishop or his delegate; or
(b) in the case of a member of the clergy to be elected as the Bishop, the electing body or its delegate; or
(c) in the case of a church worker, the appointing person or body or their delegate; or
(d) in the case of professional standards personnel and safe ministry personnel, the electing or appointing body or its delegate.
sexual abuse means sexual assault, sexual exploitation or sexual harassment and in relation to a child includes the use of a child for a person’s own sexual stimulation or gratification or for that of others.
sexual assault means any intentional or reckless act, use of force or threat to use force involving some form of sexual activity against an adult without consent or against a child.
sexual exploitation means any form of sexual contact or invitation to sexual contact with another person, with whom there is a pastoral or supervisory relationship, whether or not there is consent and regardless of who initiated the contact. It does not include such contact or invitation within a marriage.
sexual harassment means unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature, whether intended or not, in relation to a person where the person reasonably feels in all circumstances offended, belittled or threatened.
sexual misconduct means the following conduct in relation to an adult:
(a) sexual assault; or
(b) sexual exploitation; or
(c) sexual harassment; or
(d) sexually inappropriate behaviour; or
(e) grooming.
sexual offence means a sexual offence as defined in s36A of the Evidence Act 1906 (WA); and in relation to a particular jurisdiction, has the meaning given it by the applicable legislation of that jurisdiction.
spiritual abuse means the mistreatment of a child or adult by actions or threats when justified by appeal to God, faith or religion where the child or adult has suffered, or is likely to suffer, significant harm to his or her wellbeing or development.
Standing Committee means the Standing Committee of General Synod.
work concern includes, but is not limited to:
(a) dissatisfaction in relation to fulfilling clearly defined job description or role expectations;
(b) concerns about management or ministry style;
(c) incompatibility between church workers and their supervisors;
(d) information in relation to the general functioning of a church worker, including but not limited to physical and mental health concerns.
working with children check means an authority to work with children issued under the laws of Western Australia.