Reflections from the International Safeguarding Conference

Rome, June 2026

Published by MACS Care in June 2026

The theme of this year’s International Safeguarding Conference in Rome, One Commitment, Many Contexts: Safeguarding Across Cultures, captured both the complexity and universality of safeguarding. While cultural, legal, and organisational contexts vary significantly across countries and communities, the conference reinforced a shared commitment: every child has the right to be safe, heard, respected, and supported.

Throughout the conference, one message remained clear: safeguarding is not a destination but an ongoing journey. Presenters from around the world shared the challenges and opportunities of implementing safeguarding within diverse cultural, religious, and social contexts. Despite these differences, a common thread emerged, the need to move beyond policies and procedures to foster cultures where safeguarding is embedded in everyday relationships, leadership, and decision-making.

We were honoured to contribute to this global conversation by presenting the work of Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools Ltd (MACS) and introducing MACS Care, our newly adopted, system-wide child safeguarding approach.

Our presentation highlighted MACS Care as the beginning of a long-term cultural change journey. Rather than viewing safeguarding solely through the lens of legislative compliance, MACS has intentionally adopted the language of care to express a broader aspiration. Care reflects relationships, trust, accountability, transparency, and the shared responsibility of every adult to create environments where children can flourish. It represents a shift from safeguarding as something we do to safeguarding as an expression of who we are as a Catholic educational community.

Grounded in Catholic social teaching, MACS Care recognises the inherent dignity of every child and affirms safeguarding as both a moral and professional responsibility. It reflects a Catholic vision in which children are not only protected but also known, valued, and enabled to flourish. In this way, safeguarding is not simply a practice we implement but an expression of our faith and mission.

This perspective strongly resonated with the conference theme. Delegates consistently emphasised the importance of respecting local cultures while never compromising the universal rights and wellbeing of children. The challenge is not to create identical safeguarding systems, but to ensure safeguarding principles are authentically lived within each unique context.

"Safeguarding is not a destination but an ongoing journey."

A key aspect of our presentation that generated considerable interest was our commitment to strengthening partnerships between schools and families. Building a shared safeguarding culture across these settings creates greater consistency, mutual accountability, and stronger support networks for children. It reflects the understanding that safeguarding is most effective when communities work together.

Listening to colleagues from around the world was equally inspiring. Whether discussing trauma-informed practice, governance, survivor engagement, cultural responsiveness, or leadership accountability, each presentation reinforced that safeguarding requires humility, continuous learning, and the courage to critically examine existing practice. No organisation has all the answers, but together we can learn from one another’s experiences, challenges, and innovations.

The conference reaffirmed that meaningful safeguarding transformation is achieved through culture, not compliance alone. Policies establish expectations, but it is everyday actions, relationships, conversations, and leadership that determine whether children experience genuinely safe and nurturing environments. Embedding MACS Care is central to creating this culture.

The conference also highlighted the importance of language. Framing our approach around care reflects a commitment to fostering trust, belonging, and shared responsibility. In culturally diverse communities, language can unite people around a common purpose while respecting different traditions and perspectives. Care becomes a unifying concept that encourages every member of the community to see themselves as an active participant in safeguarding.

Reflecting on the conference, we return to its central message: while contexts may differ, our commitment remains the same. Safeguarding is a universal responsibility that demands collaboration, compassion, courage, and continual improvement. Sharing the emerging journey of MACS Care while learning from international colleagues reinforced that lasting change is built through partnership, openness, and a willingness to keep learning.

The conference was more than an opportunity to showcase practice; it was an invitation to join a global community committed to strengthening the safety and wellbeing of children. We left inspired by the collective wisdom of colleagues working across many contexts and encouraged that, despite our differences, we remain united by one enduring commitment, to place children at the centre of everything we do.

This journey of reflection was enriched by a visit to Assisi during the Jubilee Year dedicated to St Francis of Assisi. The experience added a deeply spiritual dimension to the conference, grounding the global conversation on safeguarding within the Catholic tradition. St Francis, renowned for his humility, compassion, and commitment to the dignity of all creation, remains a powerful witness for our mission today. Visiting his relics and lighting a candle for the students entrusted to our care was a moving reminder of the profound trust placed in educators and leaders and renewed my commitment to safeguarding.

A visit to the Australian Catholic University's (ACU) Rome campus further strengthened connections between organisations. It provided an opportunity to explore future partnerships in supporting the formation of school leaders and educators through ongoing safeguarding education. These conversations reinforced our shared commitment to building capability, deepening expertise, and strengthening safeguarding within a Catholic educational framework.

"Safeguarding is a universal responsibility that demands collaboration, compassion, courage, and continual improvement."