Parramatta Diocese appoints safeguarding expert Robert Fitzgerald as council chair, reinforcing child protection and accountability.
Newsroom (30/07/2026 Gaudium Press ) Australia’s Diocese of Parramatta has appointed nationally respected safeguarding and governance expert Robert Fitzgerald as chairman of its Safeguarding Council, marking a significant step in the diocese’s ongoing commitment to protecting children and vulnerable people.
The appointment, announced July 30, brings to the council one of Australia’s most experienced leaders in child protection, institutional accountability and social justice. Fitzgerald’s selection reflects the Western Sydney diocese’s determination to continue strengthening a safeguarding culture that has become a defining feature of its pastoral and administrative life.
Led by Bishop Vincent Long, Australia’s first Vietnam-born Catholic bishop, the Diocese of Parramatta has spent years developing comprehensive safeguarding policies, procedures and educational programs designed to promote safe environments throughout its parishes, ministries and agencies. According to the diocesan announcement, safeguarding practices have been embedded across the life of the local Church, with particular attention given to transparency, accountability and the protection of vulnerable people.
Fitzgerald brings decades of public service and leadership to his new role. He is widely known for his work as a Commissioner of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, one of the most consequential inquiries in Australian history. Through the commission’s work, he helped examine institutional failures, advance reforms in safeguarding practices and contribute to broader discussions on accountability and cultural change within organizations.
His distinguished career has also included service as Australia’s Age Discrimination Commissioner, Productivity Commissioner and Community and Disability Services Commissioner in New South Wales. These positions have given him extensive experience in governance, public policy and the protection of people facing vulnerability or disadvantage.
For Bishop Long, the appointment is closely aligned with the diocese’s broader mission of defending human dignity and ensuring safe communities within the Church.
“Our safeguarding journey has been centered around protecting and promoting the dignity and rights of children and all persons, especially those who are vulnerable,” Bishop Long said.
He expressed confidence that Fitzgerald’s expertise would strengthen the work already underway in the diocese.
“I am pleased to appoint Robert Fitzgerald to our Safeguarding Council and am sure that his exceptional experience, integrity and lifelong commitment to justice will be an enormous gift to our Diocese as we continue to strengthen our safeguarding culture,” the bishop said.
Bishop Long also paid tribute to outgoing chair Kathryn Greiner AO, thanking her for guiding the council’s work and helping foster what he described as a culture characterized by zero tolerance for abuse, transparency, accountability and continuous improvement.
Fitzgerald said he was honored to accept the appointment and emphasized that effective safeguarding requires sustained commitment at every level of an institution.
“Strong safeguarding depends on leadership, accountability and a willingness to continually improve. It is essential to honoring our promise to keep safe children and vulnerable adults,” he said.
“I am pleased to join the Diocese of Parramatta’s Safeguarding Council and contribute to its already significant work in promoting safe environments and strengthening public trust.”
The council’s renewed membership will also include Sebastian Duhau as youth representative, along with Bianca Grella and Dr. Greg Elliott. The diocese said the group brings together a broad range of professional expertise and lived experience, supporting a collaborative approach to safeguarding and governance.
The appointment comes as the Diocese of Parramatta continues to emphasize survivor-centered practices and ongoing formation initiatives. Church leaders believe these efforts have contributed to safeguarding developments beyond the diocese itself, influencing wider discussions and practices at the national level.
Created by the Vatican on April 8, 1986, the Diocese of Parramatta serves more than 322,000 Catholics across Western Sydney. It is recognized as Australia’s youngest and most multicultural Catholic diocese, encompassing more than 40 cultural communities, many of them made up of migrants from Asia and African nations.
In this diverse setting, safeguarding remains a central pastoral priority. The appointment of Fitzgerald signals not only continuity in the diocese’s commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults but also a determination to deepen accountability and strengthen public confidence in the Church’s mission. As the Diocese of Parramatta continues its safeguarding journey, diocesan leaders hope the experience and credibility Fitzgerald brings will help further advance a culture where dignity, justice and protection remain at the forefront of Catholic ministry.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from UCA News
