The Safeguarding Unit (previously called the Professional Standards Unit) was established on 1 March 2018 and is structurally situated within the Archbishop’s Office, and supersedes the Office of Professional Conduct and Ethics which operated from 2012-2017.

The Safeguarding Unit has been established to:

  • provide advice and support across the Archdiocese to the leadership, clergy, employees and volunteers to ensure that children, young people and adults are safe from all forms of harm and abuse.
  • promote, model and sustain a safeguarding culture within parishes, agencies and entities to ensure the safety, protection and wellbeing of children, young people and adults is paramount
  • effectively respond to current and historical allegations of abuse and misconduct to meet the Archdiocese’s moral, ethical and legal obligations.

Get in touch with the Safeguarding Unit

The office operates from Monday to Friday from 9am-5pm.

Phone: (03) 9926 5621
Email: safeguardingunit@cam.org.au

Safeguarding Director

Rachel Averbukh
Email: rachel.averbukh@cam.org.au
Phone: 0439 435 182

Safeguarding Officers

Eastern Region | Brech Burgess
Email: brech.burgess@cam.org.au
Phone: 0448 474 731

Northern Region | Tara McNamara
Email: tara.mcnamara@cam.org.au
Phone: 0455 217 237

Southern Region | Tamara Cugnetto
Email: tamara.cugnetto@cam.org.au
Phone: 0447 128 125

Western Region | Hailey Elkington
Email: hailey.elkington@cam.org.au
Phone: 0467 089 265