Pathways Victoria Statement - Appointment of Shane Mackinlay as Archbishop of Brisbane

Pathways Response Victoria (Pathways) congratulates the Most Reverend Shane Mackinlay on his appointment by Pope Leo XIV as the new Archbishop of Brisbane.

The Archbishop-elect has been serving as the Bishop of Sandhurst in regional Victoria since July 2019 and has been an integral member of Pathways.

On behalf of the Catholic Bishops of Victoria, Bishop Mackinlay played a leading role in establishing Pathways as a consistent, state-wide, and contemporary model to respond to allegations of abuses in the Catholic Church.

Bishop Mackinlay and the initial working group ensured Pathways considered reviews of the existing Melbourne Response and Towards Healing models, the National Response Protocols, direct engagement with advocacy groups, and public consultation. The resulting Pathways model has a specific focus on the impact of abuse on individuals and the effect and nature of the trauma. It also responds to the needs of victims and survivors, including those who wish to connect with a one-to-one care coordinator, providing a supportive pathway towards healing and restoration.

The Staff and Board of Pathways are very grateful to Bishop Mackinlay for his support since our inception and wish him all the best in his new significant role as Archbishop of Brisbane, where we know he will do wonderful work.