Newcastle Anglican diocese business manager John Cleary is taking his employer to the Fair Work Commission

His action comes only weeks after he was singled out for praise by abuse survivors at a shocking royal commission public hearing into Anglican abuse in the Hunter, and as the diocese’s synod meets in Newcastle on Saturday.

In a Fair Work Commission claim lodged on Friday Mr Cleary alleged he had been “marginalised, bullied and ostracised” in his position as diocese business manager as a “direct result of my stand for victims of abuse and my attempts to press for reform”.

In a general protections application filed with the commission, Mr Cleary said he had suffered actual harm because of his exposure to details of “horrific and graphic” abuse, which was exacerbated by a “cover up culture” revealed at the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

Public hearings in Newcastle and Sydney in August and November heard allegations of “gangs” of senior church representatives who protected child sex offenders, secret files of abuse allegations, conflicts of interest involving senior diocese representatives and a campaign to undermine reforming Bishop Greg Thompson.

In his claim Mr Cleary said he was relieved abuse within the diocese had come to light through the royal commission, as his time as business manager since 2007 had been “extremely challenging and difficult due to forces within the church”.

“I felt a fundamental conflict working for an organisation which does not reflect my own or, indeed, community values relating to child sex abuse, and its exposure,” Mr Cleary said in a statement on Friday.

“Put simply, I have been punished by the church for being a ‘whistleblower’, and for my actions in trying to get the best outcome for survivors.”

Mr Cleary’s application to the Fair Work Commission is under section 372 of the Fair Work Act.

He is alleging the diocese contravened sections 340 and 351 of the Act by taking “adverse action” against Mr Cleary in the form of “bullying, harassment, marginalisation, victimisation and other adverse treatment” relating to child sex abuse matters.

Newcastle Anglican diocese issued a statement on Friday night in which it acknowledged “the stress and the demands placed on all of its staff in responding to the historic reality of child abuse perpetrated by clergy and church workers, as well as the pressure of responding to and supporting the important work of the royal commission”.

“The Diocese has in place an employee assistance program and provides a high level of support to all staff,” a spokesperson said.

“Mr Cleary has raised concerns with the diocese through lawyers. Given that we are seeking to resolve these matters we feel it would be inappropriate to comment any further.”