Thank you for being a volunteer or staff member with Peninsula City Church!

As part of our commitment to ensuring that all our staff, volunteers and those who connect with us are as safe as possible, we ask all volunteers and staff to review our policies annually.  Please read the summaries of each key policy. If you would like to read the entire policy, please click on the links provided. This is compulsory for all our volunteers and staff. 

By checking ‘I acknowledge’ at the end of each of the following policies, you agree to adhere to said policy and, the code of conduct set by Peninsula City Church. 

There are 9 total policies to acknowledge in this form. 

Peninsula City Church is committed to promoting and protecting the interests and safety of children. We have zero tolerance for child abuse.   

Everyone (staff, volunteers and contractors) working at Peninsula City Church is responsible for the care and protection of children and reporting information about child abuse.  
 
Peninsula City Church is committed to promoting and protecting the best interests of children involved in its programs.  

All children, regardless of their gender, race, religious beliefs, age, disability, sexual orientation, or family or social background, have equal rights to protection from abuse.  

Child protection is a shared responsibility between Peninsula City Church, all employees, workers, contractors and members of the Peninsula City Church community.  

Peninsula City Church will consider the opinions of children and use their opinions to develop a child safe environment. Children will be informed regularly about how to access the complaints procedure in culturally safe and age appropriate ways. 

Peninsula City Church supports and respects all children, staff and volunteers. Peninsula City Church is committed to the cultural safety of Aboriginal children, and those from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds, and to providing a safe environment for children living with a disability.    
If any person believes a child is in immediate risk of abuse, telephone 000.  N PROCEDURES 

All staff/volunteers/contractors share the responsibility for the prevention and detection of child abuse, and must:  

• Familiarise themselves with the relevant laws, the Code of Conduct, and Peninsula City Church’s policy and procedures in relation to child protection, and comply with all requirements;  
• Report any reasonable belief that a child’s safety is at risk to the relevant authorities (such as the police and/or the state-based child protection service) and fulfil their obligations as mandatory reporters;  
• Report any suspicion that a child’s safety may be at risk to their supervisor (or, if their supervisor is involved in the suspicion, to a responsible person in the organisation); and   
• Provide an environment that is supportive of all children’s emotional and physical safety. 

Link to full policy: Child Protection Policy

CODE OF CONDUCT FOR EMPLOYEES, VOLUNTEERS AND CONTRACTORS WORKING WITH CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE 

Management, staff, volunteers and contractors at Peninsula City Church are required to abide by this Code.   

Under the board, management will:   

• Be responsible for the overall welfare and wellbeing of staff and volunteers; 
• Be accountable for managing and maintaining a duty of care towards staff and volunteers; and 
• Nominate a Child Protection Officer to provide information and support to all staff, volunteers, children, young people and their carers regarding child protection matters.  

All people involved in the care of children on behalf of Peninsula City Church will:   

• Work towards the achievement of the aims and purposes of the organisation; 
• Be responsible for relevant administration of programs and activities in their area; 
• Maintain a duty of care towards others involved in these programs and activities; 
• Establish and maintain a child-safe environment in the course of their work; 
• Be fair, considerate and honest with others; 
• Treat children and young people with respect and value their ideas and opinions; 
• Act as positive role models in their conduct with children and young people.  
• Be professional in their actions; 
• Maintain strict impartiality; 
• Comply with specific organisational guidelines on physical contact with children; 
• Respect the privacy of children, their families and teachers/carers, and only disclose information to people who have a need to know; 
• Maintain a child-safe environment for children and young people; 
• Operate within the policies and guidelines of Peninsula City Church; and 
• Contact the police if a child is at immediate risk of abuse, phone 000. 

No person shall:   

• Shame, humiliate, oppress, belittle or degrade children or young people; 
• Unlawfully discriminate against any child; 
• Engage in any activity with a child or young person that is likely to physically or emotionally harm them; 
• Initiate unnecessary physical contact with a child or young person, or do things of a personal nature for them that they can do for themselves; 
• Be alone with a child or young person unnecessarily and for more than a very short time; 
• Develop a ‘special’ relationship with a specific child or young person for their own needs; 
• Show favouritism through the provision of gifts or inappropriate attention; 
• Arrange contact, including online contact, with children or young people outside of the organisation’s programs and activities; 
• Photograph or video a child or young person without the consent of the child and his/her parents or guardians; 
• Work with children or young people while under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs; 
• Engage in open discussions of a mature or adult nature in the presence of children; 
• Use inappropriate language in the presence of children; or 
• Do anything in contravention of the organisation’s policies, procedures or this Code of Conduct. 

What happens if you breach this Code of Conduct 

If you breach this Code of Conduct you will face disciplinary action, including and up to termination of employment or cessation of engagement with the organisation. 

Link to full policy: Child Safety Code of Conduct

The Board of Peninsula City Church is committed to protecting the privacy of personal information which the organisation collects, holds and administers. Personal information is information which directly or indirectly identifies a person.   

Peninsula City Church collects and administers a range of personal information for the purposes of ministry activities. The organisation is committed to protecting the privacy of personal information it collects, holds and administers.  

Peninsula City Church recognises the essential right of individuals to have their information administered in ways which they would reasonably expect – protected on one hand, and made accessible to them on the other.  These privacy values are reflected in and supported by our core values and philosophies and also reflected in our Privacy Policy, which is compliant with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth). 

Peninsula City Church is bound by laws which impose specific obligations when it comes to handling information. The organisation has adopted the following principles contained as minimum standards in relation to handling personal information. 

Peninsula City Church will: 

• Collect only information which the organisation requires for its primary function; 
• Ensure that stakeholders are informed as to why we collect the information and how we administer the information gathered; 
• Use and disclose personal information only for our primary functions or a directly related purpose, or for another purpose with the person’s consent; 
• Store personal information securely, protecting it from unauthorised access; and 
• Provide stakeholders with access to their own information, and the right to seek its correction. 

Link to full policy:  Privacy Policy

Policy Statement 

1. All people, regardless of their age, gender, race, religious beliefs, disability, sexual orientation, or family or social background, have equal rights to protection from abuse, neglect or exploitation.  

2. Peninsula City Church commits to promoting and protecting the welfare and human rights of people that interact with, or are affected by, our work - particularly those that may be at risk of abuse, neglect or exploitation. We have no tolerance for abuse, neglect or exploitation. We will take a survivor-centric approach in all that we do. 

3. All staff, volunteers, partners and third parties of Peninsula City Church share responsibility for protecting everyone from abuse, neglect or exploitation. Beyond this, particular people have specific responsibilities, and they must carry out their duties without exception.   

4. Peninsula City Church has a process for managing incidents that must be followed when one arises. 

‘Safeguarding’ means protecting the welfare and human rights of people that interact with, or are affected by, Peninsula City Church, particularly those that might be at risk of abuse, neglect or exploitation. This refers to any responsibility or measure undertaken to protect a person from harm. 

All Staff and Volunteers of Peninsula City Church must: 

1. Familiarise themselves with the relevant laws, the Code of Conduct, policies and procedures for safeguarding;  

2. Comply with all requirements; 

3. Report any incident to the appropriate authority when it is reasonable to suspect that a person’s safety or welfare is at risk   

4. Report any suspicion that a person’s safety or welfare may be at risk to the appropriate authority; and  

5. Provide an environment that is supportive of everyone’s emotional and physical safety. 

Link to full policy: Safeguarding Vulnerable people Policy

Peninsula City Church will not tolerate sexual harassment under any circumstances. Responsibility lies with every employee/volunteer to ensure that sexual harassment does not occur. 

This policy applies to conduct that takes place in any work-related context, including conferences, work functions, social events and business trips. 

No employee or volunteer at any level should subject any other employee, volunteer, or visitor to any form of sexual harassment. 

A breach of this policy will result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment/volunteer role.   

Sexual harassment means any unwelcome sexual advance, unwelcome request for sexual favours, or other unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature which makes a person feel offended, humiliated or intimidated, and where that reaction is reasonable in the circumstances. Examples of sexual harassment include, but are not limited to, 

• staring or leering 
• unnecessary familiarity, such as deliberately brushing up against you or unwelcome touching 
• suggestive comments or jokes 
• insults or taunts of a sexual nature 
• intrusive questions or statements about your private life 
• displaying posters, magazines or screen savers of a sexual nature 
• sending sexually explicit emails or text messages 
• inappropriate advances on social networking sites 
• accessing sexually explicit internet sites 
• requests for sex or repeated unwanted requests to go out on dates 
• behaviour that may also be considered to be an offence under criminal law, such as physical assault, indecent exposure, sexual assault, stalking or obscene communications 

Behaviour that is based on mutual attraction, friendship and respect is not sexual harassment. 

Peninsula City Church strongly encourages any employee who feels they have been sexually harassed to take immediate action. If an employee or volunteer feels comfortable in doing so, they can raise the issue with the person directly with a view to resolving the issue by discussion. The employee or volunteer should identify the harassing behaviour, explain that the behaviour is unwelcome and offensive and ask that the behaviour stops.  

However, given the seriousness of sexual harassment, we recommend that this discussion happens in consultation with the relevant leader or Pastor.  

Alternatively, or in addition, they may report the behaviour in accordance with the relevant procedure. Once a report is made the organisation will determine how the report should be dealt with in accordance with its obligations and this policy. 

Link to full policy: Sexual Harassment Policy

Peninsula City Church is committed to safeguarding the health, safety and welfare of all people who interact with the organisation and discharging its workplace health and safety obligations. 

This policy falls within the field of operation of Peninsula City Church’s overall Risk Management 

Peninsula City Church recognises that workplace health and safety is integral to work performance and staff wellbeing outcomes. The purpose of this policy is to, as far as reasonably practicable: 

• prevent workplace injuries and illnesses 

• promote a safe and healthy workplace culture 

• provide a framework for consulting, collaborating and communicating with workers and health and safety representatives 

• consider workplace health and safety in project planning and work activities 

• allocate adequate resources to prevent health and safety risks and promote a safe and healthy workplace 

• ensure that workers understand their rights and responsibilities, and can identify and control risks in the workplace 

• drive continuous improvement in workplace health and safety. 

Link to full policy: Workplace Health and Safety Policy Dec 2025

Peninsula City Church believes that all people should work in an environment free from bullying.   

Peninsula City Church understands that workplace bullying is a threat to the health and wellbeing of its staff, volunteers and congregation.  

Accordingly, Peninsula City Church is committed to eliminating, so far as is reasonably practicable, all forms of workplace bullying by maintaining a culture of openness, support, and accountability. 

“Bullying” is repeated and unreasonable behaviour directed towards a person or group of persons that creates a risk to health and safety. It includes behaviour that could be expected to intimidate, offend, degrade, humiliate, undermine or threaten. This includes sexual harassment, which may not require repeated behaviour to be actionable under the Fair Work Act 2009, and cyberbullying conducted through digital platforms. 

Reporting Mechanisms 

Any Elder, Board Member, staff member, volunteer, contractor, or community member who experiences or observes bullying must report it immediately. Refer to existing Peninsula City Church Bullying Procedures. 

 Reports can be made to: 

• The immediate supervisor, unless they are the alleged perpetrator 

• The Lead Pastor, unless they are implicated 

• Anonymously through a confidential email or the existing Complaints Form. 

Link to full policy: Bullying Policy v2.0

Peninsula City Church will endeavour to minimise the risk any operation poses to our organisation, our staff, our volunteers, our congregation, or the public.  

Risk management is integral to fulfilling our charitable purpose, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all stakeholders, and maintaining compliance with the ACNC Governance Standards and External Conduct Standards. This policy reflects our commitment to a proactive, systematic approach in identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks in alignment with our values. 

“Risk” is the probability that an occasion will arise that presents a danger to our organisation, our staff, our volunteers, our congregation, or the general public. 

It is the responsibility of staff and volunteers to: 

• Identify and report risks within their areas of responsibility to their Ministry Leader  

• Participate in risk management training and adhere to risk mitigation procedures. 

• Report any incidents or near-misses that could impact safety, finances, or reputation. 

Link to full policy: Risk Management Policy v2.0

Peninsula City Church embraces the use of social media for the promotion, development and delivery of Peninsula City Church’s goods and services and is committed to ensuring that social media engagement connected with Peninsula City Church is lawful, professional and respectful. 

In line with the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024 (as in force from time to time) (effective 10 December 2025), which currently provides for restrictions on users under 16 holding accounts on designated platforms, this policy applies across all church departments and teams. Peninsula City Church will not facilitate social media communications involving individuals under 16 on restricted platforms, as designated by the e-Safety Commissioner from time to time, and must use safer, age-appropriate alternatives such as email, the in-house church app, or other approved channels. 

Peninsula City Church’s social media use shall be consistent with the following core values: 

1. Integrity: Peninsula City Church will not knowingly post incorrect, defamatory or misleading information about our own work or the work of other Churches or individuals. In addition, we will post in accordance with the Peninsula City Church's Copyright and Privacy policies and core beliefs and values  

2. Professionalism: Peninsula City Church’s social media represents Peninsula City Church as a whole and should seek to maintain a professional and uniform tone. Staff and volunteers may, from time to time and as appropriate/authorised, post on behalf of Peninsula City Church using our online profiles, but the impression should remain one of a singular Peninsula City Church rather than a group of individuals. 

3. Information Sharing: Peninsula City Church encourages the sharing and reposting of online information that is relevant, appropriate to our mission and aims, and of interest to our members.   

4. Child and Youth Safety: All social media activity must comply with the Child Protection Policy, 11 Victorian Child Safe Standards, and e-Safety guidelines, especially regarding minors. 

Link to full policy: Social Media Policy 2.0