Kylie Kendall has served these past six years as Safe Places Professional Standards Consultant. As advised, she is concluding in this role on Friday 17th February 2023. We are very appreciative of the work that Kylie has done both to establish the policy base and consolidate the practice and culture of safety within CCVT. So, we pray for God’s blessing on her as she returns to study to work as a paramedic, which has been a long-held dream for her. We are glad that she will continue to be available to us in a limited capacity for advice and support, but a significant season has come to an end. Kylie nevertheless continues serving in one of our churches.
I have no doubt that you would join us, as a team, acknowledging the many ways Kylie has enabled our Churches and Agencies to build strength and resilience in the practice and culture of safety. Through the years of COVID we were kept up to date in the never-ending maze of mandates, changes and requirements through Kylie’s emails. These were always signed off by an appropriate meme or point of humour! You received training facilitated by Kylie in the Safe Churches Awareness Workshops. You may have been encouraged through Kylie’s availability for a phone call or email with one or more questions about the requirements of safety ranging from the Code of Ethics, Working with Children or Police Checks. Perhaps your correspondence was focused on professional standards matter.
Regardless I think you might agree that Kylie’s contribution has been professional, consistent, principled, clear, and provided with a slice of appropriate humour. We will miss her.
We are also pleased to announce the appointment of Viliamu (Vili) Leuga to the role of Safe Places and Professional Standards Consultant for CCVT. Vili has commenced on Thursday 9th February, and has been assisted in his start with a good time of crossover and induction with Kylie.
Vili brings 25 years of experience of working in the Social Policy, Social Services and Community sectors in both Australia and New Zealand. He has experience in the strategic understanding of the legislations that apply to churches, using his cultural skills and knowledge that will assist CCVT affiliates to continue to develop the next necessary approaches of safety while ensuring alignment with the relevant policies and legislation within CCVT.
He also has wide experience as someone where faith is a cornerstone of his own upbringing, and currently serves as an active member of his own church.
Vili is married to Luai and together they have 5 boys.
We welcome Vili to the team and look forward to working together with our Affiliates in continuing to build a culture, practice and communities of safety into the future.
