When Safeguards Fail: My Experience with the Sydney Anglican Diocese's Broken Abuse Reporting System

When Safeguards Fail: My Experience with the Sydney Anglican Diocese's Broken Abuse Reporting System

June 2, 2025

On June 2, 2025, I did what every member of a church community should be able to do: I sent an email to the official abuse reporting address of the Sydney Anglican Diocese, raising serious concerns. I expected, at the very least, a prompt acknowledgment—some sign that my report had been received and would be taken seriously.

Instead, I was met with silence.

Weeks passed. It was only after persistent, respectful follow-up that I learned, through Lachlan C. Bryant and Anne Hywood, the General Secretary, that my email—and any others sent to that address for at least three weeks—had never been received. The abuse reporting system, a supposed safeguard for the vulnerable, had simply failed. No one knew. No one checked. No one acted.

This is not just a technical glitch. It is a profound failure of responsibility and care. In the wake of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, every diocese in Australia claims to have adopted “Faithfulness in Service” as their guiding standard. I even wrote a book about it, believing that these principles would be more than words on a page.

But when the system was truly tested, it failed. And so did the people responsible for maintaining it.

How many others tried to reach out for help during those weeks, only to be met with silence? How many voices went unheard, how many stories were lost, because a basic safeguard was allowed to break down?

It is easy to become frustrated or angry in the face of such failures. Yet, as I have been reminded by wise counsel, it is vital to remain calm, courteous, and respectful—even when holding institutions to account. The dignity of our cause is best served by patience and civility, never by rancour. Like our late Queen, who faced many storms with composure and grace, we must persist with steady resolve.

I have written to the Archbishop, urging a full investigation and the implementation of real safeguards—monitored, tested, and transparent. The community deserves better. Survivors deserve better. We all deserve a church where words like “Faithfulness in Service” actually mean something.

Until then, I remain deeply concerned, but encouraged by the possibility of reform. I will continue to advocate for change, always with respect for the office and the hope that, together, we can build a safer, more accountable church.

If you have experienced similar issues, or if you have thoughts on how we can hold our institutions to account, I invite you to share your story. Change will only come when we refuse to accept silence, and when we insist on both justice and civility.

Editor’s Note: After publication, the office of the Archbishop of Sydney responded to acknowledge the issue with the abuse reporting email system. They indicated that the matter has been referred to their IT department for review.