A Ministerial PJP perspective on the Implementation Advisory Group (IAG)

Part of the commitment of Ministerial PJPs to the development of a healthy and safe Church is represented through our membership on the Implementation Advisory Group (IAG). The IAG was established in May 2018 by the ACBC and CRA to provide advice and leadership on the implementation of the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. This process has the potential to ensure clear and effective change within the Catholic Church in Australia with respect to its cultures, structures and pocesses which previously failed to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of children and adults.

In late 2018, Danielle Cronin, a Trustee of St John of God Australia, joined as a member of the IAG. Danielle has a broad background that will be a great benefit to the IAG:

• Extensive experience in Catholic education leadership including as Director of Education Policy, Catholic Schools NSW, Deputy Director and Acting Executive Director of the National Catholic Education Commission;
• Member of the Australian Catholic Council for Pastoral Research and former member of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Education Council’s Schools Policy and Data Strategy groups;
• Current Trustee of St John of God Australia;
• Current Director of Jesuit Education Australia;
• Current Assembly Member of Good Samaritan Education and GSE Company Member of Mount St Benedict and Stella Maris Colleges;
• Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and Australian Council of Educational Leadership; and
• Australian Churchill Fellow

The IAG exists within the structure and governance framework of the Catholic Church in Australia that includes various entities responsible for the ensuring the implementation of the Royal Commission. That IAG is committed to working collaboratively with each entity to ensure that each relevant recommendation will be comprehensively addressed and implemented in a consistent way and avoids duplication of process. Through this process the IAG will ensure that the Catholic Church within Australia is embedded in a healthy culture that focuses on a future that is safe, open and inviting, with a mission to spread the gospel and live by its values.

The IAG is independent of ACBC and CRA and is both guided by and committed to the principles of the Truth, Justice and Healing Council. The IAG is made up mostly of lay people, with one bishop and one religious sister on the IAG.

The responsibilities and obligations of the IAG are directed by three major documents being:-

1. The Final Report of the Royal Commission issued in December 2017;
2. The Truth Justice and Healing Council (TJHC) Report of the TJHC issued in April 2017;
3. The ACBC and CRA’s Response to the Royal Commission issued on 31 August 2018.

The key areas of research, policy development and reform that will be the focus of the IAG will include the:

1. Conduct of a national review of the governance and management structures of dioceses and parishes, including in relation to issues of transparency, accountability, consultation and the participation of lay men and women.
2. Conduct of a national review of Towards Healing and Melbourne Response and the development of national guidelines for Catholic Church authorities in responding to concerns and allegations of child sexual abuse and codes of conduct which focuses particularly on the need for all responses to prioritise the protection of children and ensure that any ongoing work or ministry by a person does not create an unacceptable risk to children.
3. Research and policy development to ensure national guidelines in relation to:
4. selection, screening and initial formation of seminarians and novices;
5. support, supervision and performance appraisal of clergy and religious;

• selection, screening, induction and ongoing formation of clergy and religious from overseas.

1. Coordination and support in the provision of evidence based research to the Holy See with respect to:
2. the recommendations which the ACBC has referred to the Holy See with respect to canon law; the sacrament of confession and mandatory celibacy,
3. matters relating to February 2019 meeting of Episcopal Conference Presidents convened by the Holy Father.

The principal “monitoring role” of the IAG is to be both;

1. A ”holding of the feet to the fire” in regard to the Church Authorities’ implementation of recommendations informed by the Royal Commission’s Final Report; the TJHC Analysis Report (April 2018) and the ACBC and CRA Response of 31^st August 2018;
2. The conduct of research, policy development and reform on emerging issues arising from the recommendations of the Royal Commission and TJHC.

The IAG has scheduled eight meetings for 2019.

The IAG will be assisted by their recently appointed Executive Officer, Anna Tydd. Anna has a legal background and has worked in the area of child protection and professional standards for the last 20 years both in Ireland with respect to the Murphy Inquiry in Dublin and here in Australia for the Royal Commission. Most recently Anna was the Director of Professional Standards and Safeguarding for the Diocese of Wollongong.