Congregation Governance Toolkit Checklist & Survey

The Risk and Compliance Team has recently created the Congregation Governance Toolkit Checklist & Survey.  

The checklist is provided to guide church councils on a range of key compliance tasks and recommendations which have been communicated throughout the year in the Congregation Governance Toolkit.  

The checklist is intended to assist church councils to review their understanding of the various compliance activities and to provide access to further information and support resources on each topic.  The checklist will provide feedback to Synod and to presbyteries about the areas where more support is needed.  

To help congregations to prepare to complete the Congregation Governance Toolkit Checklist & Survey, we have developed a resource below. This tool gives access to the questions in the checklist, and the references referred to.  

Remember that many congregations won’t have been able to get to everything on the list. This process is designed to help prioritise some key things, so it is okay just to say it hasn’t been achieved yet. This will help the Synod Office to know the pain points so we can give more support and assistance in the right areas.

Activities

Reference Materials
  • Are you aware of the new Congregation Volunteer Policy and Procedures? 

  • Are you keeping a Volunteer Register?
Activities

Reference Materials
  • [NSW only] Do all appropriate people (including volunteers) working with children have a current and verified Working with Children Check?

  • [ACT only] Do all appropriate people (including volunteers) working with vulnerable people have a current and verified Working with Vulnerable People Check? 

  • Does the Church Council maintain a register of all verified working with children/vulnerable people checks? 

 
Activities

Reference Materials
  • Does the Congregation have a Safe Church Commitment Statement displayed and communicated?

  • Has a Safe Church Contact Person been appointed?

  • Are leaders and other mandatory reporters aware of mandatory reporting requirements related to risks of significant harm to children or young people?

  • Are leaders aware of how to do a reportable conduct report?

  • Does the Church Council have awareness of the Persons of Concern (POC) Policy? 

 

Activities

Reference Materials

  • Has the Church Council committed to a Health and Safety Policy Statement?

  • Have all properties been inspected for safety in the last 12 months?

  • Is there a current Fire Safety Statement in place?

  • Is a First Aid Kit available?

  • [NSW employers only] Are you displaying the ‘If you get injured at work’ Workers Compensation poster?

  • [ACT employers only] Are you displaying the appropriate Working Compensation poster?

  • Have all work-related injuries or illnesses of employees or Ministers’ been reported? 

 

 

Activities

Reference Materials
  • Is Church Council being held at least once per quarter?

  • Is the Congregational Meeting being held at least once a year? 

Activities

Reference Materials
  • Was the last Annual Information Statement submitted to the ACNC by 30 January 2022?

  • Does the Congregation engage in overseas fundraising?

  • Was your last Annual Financial Return (AFR) submitted to the Synod Office by 31st October 2021?

 


 

Activities

Reference Materials
  • Has the Speak Out in confidence reporting service been publicised to the congregation? 

Further Resources

A document covering the questions and resources above is also available as a ‘cheat sheet’.  

For a printable version of the checklist & survey, and full reference packs which include the range of reference documents and resources, please see below. 

We hope the checklist supports your congregation with compliance responsibilities, but please contact the Risk and Compliance Team if you need any assistance to risk@nswact.uca.org.au or the Synod Risk Officer on 02 9159 9630. 

Congregation Governance Toolkit Checklist & Survey Step by Step

For Congregations accessing online

Prepare to complete the Congregation Governance Toolkit Checklist & Survey. Get access to the questions in the checklist, and the references referred to.  

Resource 

Congregation Governance Toolkit Checklist & Survey – Preparation Toolkit [Cheat Sheet]

Include the Congregation Governance Toolkit Checklist & Survey in the agenda of the next Church Council. 

Address any task that could be done before filling the Congregation Governance Toolkit Checklist & Survey if you wish. 

Complete the Congregation Governance Toolkit Checklist & Survey online before 31 August 2022.

 

For Congregations without online access 

Receive a Congregation Governance Toolkit Checklist & Survey pack from your Presbytery containing the Checklist & Survey, reference material and a preparation tool. 

Resources for printing

Prepare to complete the Congregation Governance Toolkit Checklist & Survey. Get access to the questions in the checklist, and the references referred to.  

Include the Congregation Governance Toolkit Checklist & Survey in the agenda of the next Church Council. 

Address any task that could be done before filling the Congregation Governance Toolkit Checklist & Survey if you wish. 

Complete the Congregation Governance Toolkit Checklist & Survey before 31 August 2022 or contact the Synod Risk Advisor to complete it over the phone. You can do this by phoning Synod Risk Officer, Guiselle Vargas, on 02 9159 9630.

Resource

When the checklist is complete, it can be posted to the Synod Office: 

Synod Office 
Attn: Synod Risk Officer 
PO Box A2178 
Sydney South 1235 

Alternatively, the checklist can be completed over the phone. You can do this by phoning Synod Risk Officer, Guiselle Vargas, on 02 9159 9630.