National Committee for Professional Standards

The National Committee for Professional Standards (NCPS) is a joint committee of Catholic Religious Australia (CRA) and the Australian Catholic Bishops. 

The committee was established to oversee the development of policies, principles and procedures in responding to Church-related abuse complaints. The committee’s purpose is to ensure pastoral care for victims and survivors of sexual and physical abuse by church personnel.

It is responsible for developing professional standards among clergy, religious and lay church workers, both employees and volunteers. The committee has produced three key documents-Towards Healing, Integrity in Ministry and Integrity in the Service of the Church. In recent years the committee has called on outside experts to revise Towards Healing and Integrity in Ministry.

Towards Healing sets out the principles that must form the basis of the Church’s response to complaints of abuse and the procedures to be followed in responding to individual complaints.

Integrity in Ministry is a resource for those preparing for ministry in the Catholic Church and a code of conduct and guide for reflection for those already in ministry.

Integrity in the Service of the Church sets out principles and standards for lay workers and volunteers in the Catholic Church which can be used to develop their own specific guidelines, documents and processes.

In addition to this committee there are state directors and professional standards and resource groups to advise and assist in matters concerning Church-related abuse.

Executive Officers for the NCPS Sr Denise Fox rsm and Fr Tim Brennan msc

PO Box 7132 South Sydney Business Hub

Alexandria NSW 2015

T: (02) 9669 6218
F: (02) 9669 6216
E: consultant@ncps.org.au

Download the Towards Healing policy 2010 

Download the Integrity in Ministry policy 2010

Download the Integrity in the Service of the Church 2011

Visit the National Committee for Professional Standards web page