Stopline is a third-party Australian company which specialises in providing pathways for people to share concerns about the conduct and behaviour of workforce within organisations. Stopline has been at the forefront of disclosure management services for over a decade and trusted by some of Australia’s most well-known companies to manage serious complaints. Further information is available at: www.stopline.com.au.

Churches of Christ in Queensland (CofC) believes that anyone involved with the organisation should have the opportunity to share concerns about the behaviour of people and the environment in which we operate. Providing this service assists in ensuring Churches of Christ in Queensland maintains its status as an ethical organisation. This independent service helps Churches of Christ in Queensland strive for better practices and compliance with corporate governance standards.

Anyone can report to Stopline about:

• Whistleblower – concerns about wrongdoing or misconduct of a CofC workforce member which includes paid staff, volunteers, students, church leaders or contractors.
• Child Safe – concerns about the risk of sexual abuse to a child that interacts with CofC or if harm has occurred to a child that interacts with CofC.

Depending on whether you are making a Whistleblower or Child Safe report, there are several ways you can make a report. Stopline offers an independent, confidential and impartial way to share information about corporate wrongdoing or the sexual abuse or risk of sexual abuse of children and young people. The Stopline team are experienced in handling sensitive information.

Visit Whistleblower Reporting to make a wrongdoing or misconduct report via online form, phone, email or by post.

Visit Child Safe Reporting to make a report about risk or harm to a child via online form, phone, email or by post.

No, you can report anonymously if you wish. Let the Stopline team know that you wish to remain anonymous, and they will not ask for any personal details. If you do provide your name and contact details, this information will be provided to a small number of dedicated representatives at Churches of Christ in Queensland. Providing your name and contact details makes it easier to stay in touch with you, but if you choose to remain anonymous Stopline will give you a confidential reference and password so you can check the status of your report at a later date.

The Whistleblower Protection Officer is a position within Churches of Christ. They are responsible for ensuring that all reports are handled sensitively, fairly, promptly and appropriately. The Protection Officer may share information with a small number of appropriate staff within Churches of Christ who will work to resolve your concerns or take action to keep a child safe.

If you have a concern, you can contact Stopline via online form, phone, email or by post. The Stopline team manage your concerns confidentially and anonymously if you wish. The team may need to ask you questions to get a better understanding of the issues. They will then provide the confidential information to the Whistleblower Protection Officer at Churches of Christ in Queensland. Stopline do not share your information with any other parties unless this is requested by law.

Child Safe Reporting is a pathway to capture information about the sexual abuse, or risk of sexual abuse to a child or young person associated with Churches of Christ.

Whistleblower is a pathway to capture information about other serious wrongdoings within Churches of Christ such as, theft, fraud, dishonesty, bullying and harassment, breach of policy such as Code of Conduct, unethical behaviour, or unresolved workplace safety hazards.   

You can find them here: Whistleblower Protection & Disclosure Policy and Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy. These are also available on the CofC intranet.

The Churches of Christ in Queensland Whistleblower line is an independent and confidential service available to receive information relating to improper conduct, unlawful or unethical behaviour and supports Churches of Christ in Queensland’s values and Code of Conduct.

The types of concerns that can be reported are, theft, fraud, dishonesty, bullying and harassment, breach of policy such as Code of Conduct, unethical behaviour, or unresolved workplace safety hazards. You can find many of our policies here. If you have a concern and are unsure, please call the Whistleblower Reporting line on 1300 30 45 50 to speak with one of the team. You can do this anonymously. 

Churches of Christ is committed to the protection of those making disclosures. Maintaining confidentiality is a crucial component of this protection, and Churches of Christ in Queensland has appointed Stopline to ensure confidentiality and anonymity for those people making reports.

Yes. You will be kept advised about the status of the report, decisions made regarding how the matter is to be handled, time frames that apply and the result of any investigation and action taken. If you choose to remain anonymous, you will be issued with a confidential reference and password and must initiate contact through one of the methods outlined on the home page to receive feedback and find out about any follow up information.

The strength of Stopline is that all allegations will be professionally managed by trained Stopline staff. The experience of Stopline is that vexatious calls occur very infrequently. Stopline focuses on the message, not the messenger. The Whistleblower Protection Officer may decline to investigate the matter if they are satisfied that the disclosure is trivial, frivolous or vexatious.

Where a person who makes a disclosure is implicated in the misconduct, Churches of Christ in Queensland will use all reasonable efforts to protect the individual from reprisals; however the act of reporting improper conduct may not shield the person from the reasonable consequences flowing from any involvement in serious misconduct.

The Child Safe Reporting line is a pathway to capture information about the sexual abuse or risk of sexual abuse m to a child or young person associated with Churches of Christ. Here, you can make a report about behaviour or incidents that are harmful to a child or young person caused by an adult that is part of the CofC workforce*.

*a workforce member can be any person connected to the CofC organisation or movement that is an employee, foster carer, student, volunteer, church leader, church governance group member or a contractor.

If you have reasonable suspicion that a child or young person is being harmed, or at risk of being harmed, you must report it. This can be done anonymously if you wish, and there are multiple ways to report on the Child Safe Reporting line – through online form, email, phone or by post.

If you are a workforce member of Churches of Christ you have a legal responsibility to protect children from the risk of a sexual offence being committed by an adult associated with the organisation or movement. If you fail to protect a child you may face a penalty of 5 years imprisonment. Please see the Reporting Child Sexual Abuse Procedure for more information about your legal responsibilities.

In Queensland and Victoria, all adults must report any sexual offending by adults against children to the police unless they have a reasonable excuse. If you do not report sexual offending to police, you may face a penalty of 3 years imprisonment.

A reasonable excuse includes:

• you have already reported the offence to an appropriate authority (e.g. Department of Child Safety) or you know another person has or will report it—for example, if you are:
• a nurse and have already reported it to the Department of Child Safety
• a teacher and your school principal or another teacher has already reported the offence according to other laws
• you believe the information has already been given to a police officer
• you received information about the victim who is now an adult and you reasonably believe they don’t want to reveal it to the police
• you believe reporting the offence would endanger you or another person (other than the alleged offender) and that failure to give the information to police is reasonable.

However, a ‘reasonable excuse’ is not defined exhaustively and may include other circumstances. For more information visit: Failing to report sexual offences against children | Your rights, crime and the law | Queensland Government (www.qld.gov.au)

Harm to a child may be physical, sexual, emotional abuse or neglect.

The National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse 2021–2030 defines child sexual abuse as any act that exposes a person aged under 18 to, or involves them in, sexual activities that:

• they do not understand
• they do not or cannot consent to
• are not accepted by the community
• are unlawful

Child sexual abuse can occur in all settings, including within families, by other people the child or young person knows or does not know, in organisations and online.

If you have concerns about a young person being harmed by someone in Churches of Christ, please report through Child Safe reporting line. This can be done anonymously, or you can share your details. Any information you share will be managed responsibly and carefully. You will be supported and treated with respect when you provide information in relation to the safety of children.

If you need to report that a child is being harmed at home by a parent or adult household member, please contact the relevant government department:  

Queensland: 
Phone: Regional Intake Services, or after business hours: 1800 177 135
How to make a report: Reporting Child Abuse

Victoria: 
Phone: Child Protection Contact, or after business hours: 13 12 78
How to make a report: Reporting Child Abuse

For more information about types of harm and what should be reported if you suspect a child is being harmed by a parent or adult household member please visit:

Queensland:
Reporting child abuse – Department of Child Safety, Seniors and Disability Services (cyjma.qld.gov.au)  

Victoria:
Reporting child abuse – DFFH Services (Victoria)

You should report child sexual abuse as soon as possible if:

• A child or young person has disclosed that they are being or have been sexually abused
• If you have concerns that sexual abuse may be occurring or has previously occurred
• If you become aware of sexual abuse regarding a child or young person
• If you believe on reasonable grounds that a child is in need of protection
• If an adult discloses that they were a victim of child sexual abuse or exploitation when they were under the age of 18.

It can be difficult reporting child sexual abuse. Many people don’t want to think about the possibility that a child may have been harmed or abused, but reporting risk or harm could prevent further abuse for a child or young person. Reporting can help keep them safe, and give them an opportunity to get support to heal from the trauma. By reporting a person or situation that presents risk, you are also likely to create safety for other children.

We ask you to remember:

• every child and young person has the right to be cared for and protected by safe adults
• a child or young person is never to blame for their abuse
• abuse can affect a child or young person for the rest of their life
• children and young people almost never lie about being sexually abused
• if you have a reasonable belief a child or young person is being abused you must report it
• if the offender is a child or teenager, reporting the abuse can help them get support to change their behaviour
• if you do not report harm or risk of harm the abuse may continue or escalate. It may also mean that other young people are at risk.
• Always ensure you keep information or any notes you may make confidential to protect the privacy of the child and maintain the integrity of any police investigation. Any interviews or investigation will be managed by Police, other authorities or specialised Churches of Christ staff.

If you are ever unsure about reporting, please contact [email protected]

You can report to Stopline or tell the police any information that makes you reasonably believe a child has been or is being sexually abused or is at risk of sexual abuse. If you provide this information in good faith, you will not be held responsible if the information turns out to be incorrect. 

Historical child sexual abuse refers to child sexual abuse that happened to someone who is now an adult, when they were under the age of 18. The abuse could have happened many years ago and may not have been disclosed ever before or for a long time. You can report child sexual abuse at any time; there is no time limit on this, and reports can be made to the police regardless of how long ago the abuse occurred. Police can investigate child sexual abuse weeks, months and even years after it has occurred.

If you choose to share your name and details, you will be advised about the status of the report, any decisions that are made about how to handle the matter, timeframes, and the outcomes. You can call Stopline any time to find out information about your report.

If you choose to remain anonymous, you will be issued with a confidential reference and password, and you can contact Stopline any time to receive information about the status of your report. 

Any information you share will be managed responsibly and carefully. You will be supported and treated with respect when you provide information in relation to the safety of children.

This is not an easy process for anyone, so we encourage you to find the support you need. You can find a list of supports here.