The Trans Pacific Union Mission (TPUM) office hosted its first Adsafe training on October 26. TPU office staff took part in the online half-day professional development and training session conducted by South Pacific Division’s Adsafe department team.
Created to facilitate healing and justice pathways for both child and adult victims of sexual and physical abuse, Adsafe has been operating in Australia and New Zealand since 2017.
In the Pacific, operations started more recently in 2019 with Meri Vuloaloa appointed TPU’s first Adsafe training and development officer on September 1, 2021.
The first session served as awareness training for the TPUM staff, introducing them to the types of operations and services offered by Adsafe.
Data shared during the session revealed alarming figures on sexual and physical abuse throughout all countries in the Trans Pacific region, which is a major concern for church leaders in the Pacific.
“It was great to be reminded that abuse has no place in our Church. This has to be true in every area: in all our departments, schools, missions, institutions, everywhere,” said TPUM secretary Matthew Brown.
Ms Vuloaloa and SPD Adsafe development and training officer Litiana Turner are optimistic that through the help of church leaders around the Pacific and with God’s leading, the Church will fulfil the vision of creating a safe, abuse-free environment where everyone can come and experience the love of God.
