Kooyoora

25/10/2026

Voices of Courage: Pathways to Healing and Justice | DeCult 26

The Kooyoora team is grateful to be part of DeCult 26, listening, learning and connecting with others committed to creating safer communities.

One message has really stayed with us: “Communities choose care over silence.”

We’ve been reflecting on the power of courage, personal stories, the psychological chains of coersion and compassionate interventions including the importance of gently helping people recognise patterns of control and letting them know that someone cares about their safety.

This also invites us to look beyond individual experiences and consider the systems in which they occur. What do organisational patterns tell us about power, culture, accountability and whether people feel safe to speak up?

Choosing care over silence means being willing to notice, ask difficult questions and act, even when the issue is bigger than one person.

Because safer organisations are built by responding to individual concerns AND having the courage to examine the systems that shape people’s experiences.

💬 What helps create a culture where people feel safe to speak up and know someone will listen?

24/10/2026

This week, Kooyoora acknowledges the eighth anniversary of the National Apology to Victims and Survivors of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse.

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse was a catalyst for Kooyoora’s establishment, and its findings continue to shape our work.

We recognise the courage of victim survivors and the importance of listening with compassion, respecting their experiences and ensuring every voice is heard.

An apology matters, but meaningful change requires ongoing action, accountability and a commitment to safer organisations.

Today, and every day, we remain committed to listening, learning and helping create environments where everyone is treated with dignity, care and respect.

Next week, our newsletter introduces Amplifying Survivor Voice, a four-part series exploring lived experience, organisational responses and how listening can lead to meaningful change. Sign up to receive Safeguarding Matters https://lnkd.in/g3pvjRYN




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18/10/2026

Strengthening child safety starts with the right safeguards.

Changes to Victoria’s Working with Children Check (WWCC) arrangements are an important opportunity to strengthen how organisations protect children and young people.

But why do these changes matter?

Stronger accountability – Clearer processes for verifying and maintaining WWCC information help organisations take responsibility for who is engaged in child-related work.

Better-informed decisions – Strengthened screening arrangements help ensure relevant information can be considered when assessing a person’s suitability to work with children.

Ongoing oversight – Keeping clearance information and worker records up to date helps organisations maintain appropriate safeguards, rather than treating screening as a one-off recruitment task.

A stronger culture of safety – Effective screening sends a clear message that child safety is a priority, supported by consistent processes, leadership accountability and a willingness to act on concerns.

A Working with Children Check is an important safeguard, but it cannot prevent harm on its own. Safe organisations also need clear codes of conduct, appropriate supervision, accessible reporting pathways and a commitment to responding to concerns.

Kooyoora recognises that safeguarding is not simply about meeting regulatory requirements. It is about building organisational cultures where children are valued, risks are taken seriously and everyone understands their responsibility to help keep children safe.

Compliance is a starting point. Creating and sustaining safe organisations is the goal.

Strengthening child safety starts with the right safeguards. Changes to Victoria’s Working with Children Check (WWCC) arrangements are an important opportunity to strengthen how organisations protect children and young people. But why do these changes matter? Stronger accountability – Clearer pr...

03/10/2026

Sexual Violence Awareness Month

Safety is not just a policy. It’s a responsibility.

This October, Kooyoora stands with those who have experienced sexual violence and those working to prevent it.

Creating safer organisations means listening, taking concerns seriously, responding with care, and being willing to act when something isn’t right.

Everyone has a role to play in creating environments where people are safe, respected and heard.



Listen to what Australian Childhood Foundation have to say

October is Sexual Violence Awareness Month. This month, we’re starting a new series, What Survivors Want Adults to Know, with Emma Håkansson, Lead, Lived Experience Engagement and Advocacy at Australian Childhood Foundation. Survivors of child sexual abuse have already told us so much about what ...

11/09/2026

Every conversation matters. And every conversation can lead to action.

This National Child Protection Week, Kooyoora is proud to be joining NAPCAN in the call to shift conversation into action.

We’ve launched a new section on our website dedicated to safeguarding children and young people, bringing together information about child safety, safeguarding and the importance of creating environments where children are safe, heard, respected and supported.

We’ve also made our Kooyoora Child Safety Pledge because protecting children isn’t simply about having the right policies and processes. It’s about the actions we take, the conversations we have, and the culture we create every day.

We pledge to put children and young people at the heart of all we do. To listen to children, believe them and act when something isn’t right.

We believe child safety is everyone’s responsibility.

Because conversations matter but action creates change.

Explore our new safeguarding information

National Child Protection Week (6-12 September 2026) is a reminder that keeping children and young people safe is a shared responsibility. Creating child-safe environments requires more than policies and procedures. It involves listening to children, recognising concerns early, responding approp

28/08/2026

💜 Wear It Purple Day 2026

Kooyoora is proud to Wear It Purple and celebrate the diversity, strength and individuality of LGBTQIA+ young people and communities.

Everyone deserves to feel safe, respected, accepted and valued for who they are: at home, at school, at work and in their community.

Creating safe and inclusive environments is something we all have a role in. It starts with listening, challenging discrimination and making sure people know they belong.

Today, we wear purple to say:

💜 You belong.
💜 You are valued.
💜 You deserve to be safe.
💜 You can be yourself.

We believe that safety, dignity and respect should be at the heart of every community.

16/08/2026

Building connections at the Anglican General Synod.

It was wonderful for the Kooyoora team to attend Synod, connect with people across the Church, and have meaningful conversations about our work in safeguarding, complaints management and supporting safer communities.

These opportunities to listen, share ideas and build relationships are an important part of our work. We value the chance to talk about how independent safeguarding and complaints processes can strengthen organisations and, most importantly, support people who come forward.

We were very excited to give away a Safe Church in the Box. This is an amazing resource developed by the Anglican Diocese of Bendigo. Bishop Matt Brain assisted with the draw and congratulations to Aunty Di Langham from the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Anglican Council (NATSIAC), who was the lucky winner! 🎉 We have no doubt this box will be used to create safe space. Get yours here https://lnkd.in/gjk5R6ZM

Thank you to everyone who took the time to connect with us at Synod. We look forward to continuing the conversations and working together to strengthen safeguarding across our communities.

10/08/2026

Kooyoora is excited to be part of these important conversations.

Kooyoora is excited to be part of such an important event. Thanks Kim Porter

08/08/2026

🌏 International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples

Today, we recognise and celebrate the strength, resilience, cultures, knowledge and enduring connections to Country, land, sea and community of Indigenous Peoples around the world.

Kooyoora are privileged to work alongside people and communities from diverse Indigenous cultures including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, Māori and Pacific peoples.

While every culture and community is unique, there are important shared lessons about the value of culture, connection, community, identity, collective responsibility and self-determination.

For safeguarding and complaints work, cultural safety means more than recognising difference. It means listening, understanding context, respecting cultural ways of knowing and being, and creating processes where people can participate safely and meaningfully.

Today, we honour the voices, knowledge and lived experiences of Indigenous Peoples and reaffirm our commitment to working respectfully alongside communities to strengthen culturally safe, fair and independent safeguarding and complaints processes.

Listening is the beginning of respect. Respect is the foundation of trust.

10/07/2026

Kooyoora hosts: Building Stronger Safeguarding Networks Across Australia.

Over two enriching days, Directors and leaders responsible for Compliance, Safeguarding and Professional Standards from Anglican dioceses across Australia gathered for a valuable Network Conference focused on collaboration, support and sharing best practice.

Representatives attended from the Dioceses of Sydney, Ballarat, Bathurst, Northern Territory, Tasmania, Perth, Bunbury, Melbourne, Bendigo, Wangaratta, Gippsland, Adelaide, The Murray, and Willochra, creating a unique opportunity to learn from one another, strengthen professional connections, and discuss shared challenges and opportunities in safeguarding.

A highlight of the conference was an address from the newly appointed Archbishop Ric Thorpe of the Diocese of Melbourne, who shared insights into his background, ministry journey, and vision for the future. His commitment to fostering safe, healthy and thriving church communities provided both encouragement and inspiration for attendees.

Participants were also introduced to the innovative "Safe Church Box", presented by the Registrar of the Diocese of Bendigo. Developed in Bendigo for use by parishes in any diocese, this practical resource assists churches in teaching child-safe standards through engaging and age-appropriate Sunday school sessions. The box contains lesson plans, activities and learning materials centred on specific Child Safe Standards, making safeguarding education accessible and meaningful for children. Can be purchased at https://www.kooyoora.org.au/store/p/protectivebehavioursbox

Another significant contribution came from Dr Gabrielle Hunt, registered psychologist and PhD Candidate at Australian Catholic University. Dr Hunt shared her research into the prevalence and prevention of child sexual abuse and sexual harassment, with a particular focus on faith-based settings. Her presentation explored current safeguarding practices, emerging research findings, and the broader implications for child protection policies and practices across faith communities.

The conference reinforced the importance of working together across diocesan boundaries, sharing knowledge and resources, and maintaining a collective commitment to creating safer environments for children, young people and all members of our church communities.

Anglican Diocese of Wangaratta Anglican Diocese of Melbourne

The aim of this box is to empower children, youth and churches to build loving and safe communities of faith. It is based on biblical texts and principles for child safe organisations. It includes activities for the young and old(er) alike.