Maoz officially launches
The organisation, spearheaded by its president, Dr Michelle Meyer, emerged from a growing recognition of the need for community-wide, culturally-specific safeguarding strategies.
Jewish safeguarding service Maoz, which is focused on child safety in organisations for the Jewish community, was officially launched at a breakfast function at Monash University recently.
The organisation, spearheaded by its president, Dr Michelle Meyer, emerged from a growing recognition of the need for community-wide, culturally-specific safeguarding strategies.
“During the implementation of the Child Safe Standards, I was working as CEO at Tzedek, and we were getting multiple inquiries from organisations to help them with their policy development,” she said.
“I became aware that there was this need in the community, so we set up a policy unit back then.”
After she stepped down from Tzedek, the demand for guidance on policy and child protection continued. Meyer says she realised the community needed an organisation like Maoz.
“We’re starting off offering training and education as a consultancy model. We will be engaging consultants, some of whom are board members, to provide these services, but we’re slowly building up our resources and training options,” she said.
Maoz does not have statutory powers, and would rather not be coercive, but wants to promote organisations that are doing the right thing.
“Ultimately, if organisations are struggling to establish safeguarding policies and procedures to protect children, we are there to help them. Organisations have a legal responsibility to ensure children are safe,” Meyer said.
At the launch function, challenges were identified around safeguarding issues to do with the safety of children and young people in the Jewish community, such as when attending camps or attending synagogue on Shabbat and during the High Holy Days.
Meyer said there’s a need for proper implementation of policies and procedures to regularly train staff, youth leaders and other volunteers.
Organisations also need to recognise unique challenges within the ultra-Orthodox community, such as mikvah use and body safety education.
Meyer acknowledged potential pushback resistance from parts of the Jewish community in educating children about the correct terms for body parts, but emphasised the importance of empowering children with the knowledge and skills.
If a child needs to disclose abuse, she said, they need the correct terms to be understood by adults.
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