From 5 to 8 February, clergy, religious, institute leaders, diocesan representatives, and safeguarding personnel from Catholic institutions across Australia gathered at Peter Canisius House in Sydney for the Australian Safeguarding Retreat. Convened through Jesuit and Ignatian Spirituality Australia, the retreat is understood to be the first residential retreat of its kind in Australia dedicated specifically to safeguarding within a spiritual and formational framework.
The retreat was facilitated by Fr Hans Zollner SJ, an internationally recognised authority in safeguarding and Director of the Institute of Anthropology at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome. The programme was intentionally designed to integrate theological reflection, professional safeguarding practice, and personal spiritual renewal.
Over the three days, participants engaged in structured input from Fr Zollner, complemented by group reflection, facilitated conversation, personal prayer, and the daily celebration of the Eucharist. This rhythm allowed participants to engage in safeguarding not only as a professional responsibility but also as a deeply relational and spiritual commitment rooted in the life of the Church.
Fr Zollner’s formal inputs were organised around three interconnected themes.
First, safe spaces, safe processes, and safe relationships, emphasising that safeguarding requires an integrated approach encompassing physical environments, institutional systems, and interpersonal conduct.
Secondly, aporias in safeguarding, addressing the inherent tensions and unresolved questions that arise in safeguarding practice, particularly where institutional, legal, pastoral, and cultural considerations intersect.
Thirdly, self-care in safeguarding, recognising the cumulative emotional, psychological, and spiritual demands placed on those entrusted with safeguarding responsibilities and the necessity of intentional care for those undertaking this work.
Reflecting on the retreat, Fr Zollner observed:
“Safeguarding is not a set of procedures to be fulfilled, but a sustained conversion of heart and practice that must be rooted in prayer, presence, and a profound respect for the dignity of every person.”
Participants consistently noted the value of the retreat’s contemplative structure, which allowed space for silence, shared reflection, and honest conversation alongside engagement with safeguarding principles.
The retreat provided a rare and deeply necessary space for those entrusted with safeguarding responsibilities to pause, reflect, and be spiritually renewed. It reinforced that effective safeguarding depends not only on technical competence and compliance but also on sustained attentiveness to relationships, culture, and the dignity of every person.
It highlighted the importance of formation models that intentionally bridge spiritual life and safeguarding practice, offering a framework that may inform future initiatives within Australia and the wider Asia Pacific region.
Fr Zollner and the author both serve on the Organising Committee of the International Safeguarding Conference, which is held annually in Rome. In 2026, the conference will take place from 16 to 19 June under the theme “One Commitment, Many Contexts: Safeguarding Across Cultures.”
